*Assessing the Urban Design Quality of Turkish Cities DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.89779*

The "urban design success criteria," which were defined using the literature review, were asked to every specialist separately in the form of survey. Four main criteria and 13 sub-criteria accepted by all the specialists were accepted in the present study. In the next step, the specialists were asked to prioritize the criteria, and the weights of selected criteria representing their importance in the success level of urban design were determined. In the third step, the design and current

Four main criteria and 13 sub-criteria presented in **Tables 2** and **3** were used in analyzing the success level of urban design in Turkey within the scope of this manuscript. In this parallel, the urban design assessment criteria were defined based on the

status of Turkish cities were analyzed in terms of the selected criteria.

relevant literature. These criteria are as follows:

c. Readability and definitiveness

c. Appearance and level of cleanliness

b. Mass transportation opportunities

b. Balance of daytime-nighttime usage

This can be defined as the "location" and its identity. The character is the quality consisting of the combination of topography, building type, geology, traditional structures, urban texture, and borders. In other words, it can be defined as

a. Pedestrian and non-motorized vehicle access

d. Continuity, closeness, coverage, and guidance

a. Urban built environment's compliance with nature

a. Character and identity

*Sustainability in Urban Planning and Design*

1.Urban design quality

b. Diversity

e. Flexibility

2.Environmental quality

b. Level of noise

c. Urban services

**6.1 Character and identity**

a. Pedestrian security

3.Functional quality

4. Security

**336**


#### **Table 2.**

*Evaluation percentages of assessment criteria and sub-criteria pairs.*


improving the townscape and landscape character by supporting and answering the distinguishing/featured texture of the development and culture locally. The positive characteristics and habitats of a location are important for gaining that place a character and a meaningful identity. The landscaping, building types and materials, the structure of local life, and the other characteristics distinguishing the place from

It can be defined as the mixture of appropriate developments and development

It can be defined as assisting the people in finding their way by making use of the definable roads and crossroads. The readability is always neglected; thus, it is very important to strengthen it because, in the design process, it is necessary to consider that not all the people are literate, and they do not get pleasure out of a place in the same way. Women and men, children and adults, visitors and inhabitants, old and young persons, and persons from different cultures perceive and interpret the same location in different ways. For this reason, a frame addressing all

It can be defined as improving the continuity of the street fronts and closeness of "places" via the advancements clearly defining the public and private places. The successful urban space is a field closed and defined by structures, buildings, and landscape components. Both relationships between the structures on a street and between street and structures are an indicator of it. The buildings following the general structure lines define the street and strengthen the effect of the street. The advancements following the borders of street fronts might contribute to clearly

It can be defined as creating advancements answering to the social, technologic, and economic conditions changing in the course of time. The urban spaces should be adaptable for usage at different scales. The most successful spaces are those capable of changing under different conditions. From this aspect, the cities should be able to adapt themselves to the rise and collapse of industries and the change from residential to commercial areas, and the structures and infrastructures should show the same adaptation. Moreover, the spaces should allow diversity in usage

of options and differences between the usages in order to create livable places answering local needs. The usages offering diversity indicate how well a place is used, and it supports the economic and social activities in that place. The urban design criteria specified above are meaningful only when concretized. From this aspect, the design policy is an intermediary design instrument between the urban design criteria and the design instruments allowing the implementation of these criteria. The effective design policies do/should focus on how the urban design

the others are the components of that place's character.

*Assessing the Urban Design Quality of Turkish Cities DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.89779*

criteria can be achieved within a specific scope/context.

**6.4 Continuity, closeness, coverage, and guidance**

distinguishing the public and private spaces.

under different conditions and in different seasons.

**6.5 Flexibility**

**339**

**6.3 Readability and definitiveness**

the perception styles is important.

**6.2 Diversity**

improving the townscape and landscape character by supporting and answering the distinguishing/featured texture of the development and culture locally. The positive characteristics and habitats of a location are important for gaining that place a character and a meaningful identity. The landscaping, building types and materials, the structure of local life, and the other characteristics distinguishing the place from the others are the components of that place's character.
