**8.2 Second main criterion**

In this criterion, taking the environmental quality as a basis, there are three subcriteria. None of these sub-criteria could exceed the score of 0.30 (appearance and

*Sk*ð Þ¼ *xi*

*T x*ð Þ¼*<sup>i</sup>*

*T*(*xi*) is the evaluation of all criteria for the element k.

**8. Discussing the results by the criteria**

sub-criteria k.

**342**

*Weights of the main criteria.*

*Sustainability in Urban Planning and Design*

**Table 4.**

X*n j f k*

where *j* = 1,2, … ,9; *Sk*ð Þ *Xi* is the element evaluation *X <sup>I</sup>* and j criteria for all

X*n j*

The results obtained for Turkey in terms of the criteria examined for the urban planning and design approach by considering 4 main criteria and 13 sub-criteria are

*<sup>j</sup>* ð Þ *xi wkj* (2)

*Sk*ð Þ *xi wk* (3)

cleanliness). The lowest score was that of "the compliance of the urban built environment with the natural environment" (0.15). Thus, the score of the main criteria is 0.27. These results indicate that the compliance between Turkish cities' physical environment with their natural environment is at very low levels. Nature has been neglected and deteriorated via urban interventions. But, the results of planning and design procedures integrated with nature are more successful and more important for sustainability. Besides that, as a result of the urban spaces left to the production of motorized vehicles and industrial production, noise pollution is one of the most negative situations. Although it has a higher score than the other sub-criteria, the level of appearance and cleanliness in Turkish cities is much lower than the intermediate level.

the scope of fuzzy logic used in the present study, a multi-criteria method was used. Thirteen sub-criteria and four main criteria were selected, and they were weighted according to the opinions of 73 specialists. All the values were normalized in order

The results showed that the urban design quality of the Turkish cities is very low. In these cities coming to the forefront with their planned development from past to present, the negative results have various reasons. However, one of the most important reasons is the lack of an urban design approach that will guide spatial decisions. The urban design approaches do not comply with urban plans. For this reason, the upper scale plans fall short in shaping the spaces or shape them in an

Within the scope of this study, a general evaluation was made on the urban design approach of Turkey. However, it is believed that similar results would be achieved even if the cities are separately examined. These results indicate that the "urban design" approach shaping the spatial decisions has not been integrated into the planning approach of Turkey. The upper-scale plan approach that does not deal with the urban space has served only for the motorized vehicles, taken the design aspect away from the cities, and reduced the design to a mechanical process. The present study is important for an understanding of the urban design approach of Turkish cities. The results obtained here can be used in order to define the current problems and to suggest solutions. After determining the problematic criteria, it might contribute to supporting the urban planning decisions aiming to improve the urban design approaches. The problems detected have arisen from the fact that the planning policies giving low importance to the design and implementation processes are still in effect. However, the urban design has become more important from various aspects in the modern planning approaches, and it becomes

In any field, quality is related to a product's ability to solve the targeted problems and meeting the physical, social, and other needs. The quality of the urban design is directly proportional to its ability to meet the vital needs in urban spaces and ensuring urban comfort. Since the concept of quality is a multidimensional concept, the urban design quality should be considered together not only with the functional characteristics of the urban spaces but also with their descriptive characteristics. Urban quality can be achieved with the right urban space design. Increasing, ensuring, or maintaining the quality of spaces, in which humans live and their lives are shaped, affect all the life segments including the culture, economic status, and physical aspects as the components of urban quality. The more perceptible and readable the urban space is and the more complementary the urban components are, the more satisfactory it is for the spatial quality of life and urban quality. In order to increase urban quality, the actors related to urban design should support all the interventions to be made on the urban space with social and economic sustainability. Urban design quality can be achieved with the cooperation of all the actors who play a role in urban design in creating urban space focusing on the targeted

to obtain the final order.

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

unqualified manner.

design objectives.

**345**

active together with the planning processes.

#### **8.3 Third main criterion**

Examining the functional quality of Turkish cities, this criterion has three subcriteria. The highest score belongs to the mass transportation opportunity (0.25), whereas the lowest score belongs to pedestrian and non-motorized vehicle access (0.10). The score of the main criterion is 0.25. Hence as in the other criteria, the level of success is very low in this criterion. In particular, the score of the criterion "pedestrian and non-motorized vehicle access" is a result of a desperate situation. Turkish cities have been designed for the motorized vehicles, and all the planning-designing processes strengthen this resignation. The pedestrians and non-motorized vehicles are given second priority in the cities. The priority is given to motorized vehicles. It is gradually becoming more difficult to be a pedestrian in the cities. In this parallel, the mass transportation opportunities are limited, and there is a lack of alternatives. In some of the cities, the buses are used only at specific hours. The alternatives (metro, light rail system, sea transportation, train, etc.) do not seem to be a dominant approach yet. The urban services start to fall apart from the city centers. They are relegated to the borders, access to which is difficult. This is one of the reasons why the functional quality of the city centers has decreased.

#### **8.4 Fourth main criterion**

This criterion examining the security in the cities has two sub-criteria. The scores of these two sub-criteria are very low (0.10 and 0.15). The security here is not limited to the statistical values related to crime. The secure presence of pedestrians in the cities was especially taken into consideration. If all the pedestrian groups such as elderly people, children, patients, pregnant women, etc. can securely reach the locations they want, then that city is a secure city. At this point, the other risk factors such as continuity of the road and confliction with the motorized vehicles were evaluated. Besides that, the transformation of cities into insecure and unsafe places after certain hours was considered within the scope of this main criterion. For this reason, the balance between daytime-nighttime usages is important. The urban services supporting the cities and the planningdesigning approach separating the housing from city centers disrupt the balance between daytime-nighttime usages. The cities become deserted and unsafe at night.

#### **9. Conclusion**

Analyzing the "urban design quality" of countries in terms of various criteria is very difficult because of the depth and multidimensionality of the subject. Within

cleanliness). The lowest score was that of "the compliance of the urban built environment with the natural environment" (0.15). Thus, the score of the main criteria is 0.27. These results indicate that the compliance between Turkish cities' physical environment with their natural environment is at very low levels. Nature has been neglected and deteriorated via urban interventions. But, the results of planning and design procedures integrated with nature are more successful and more important for sustainability. Besides that, as a result of the urban spaces left to the production of motorized vehicles and industrial production, noise pollution is one of the most negative situations. Although it has a higher score than the other sub-criteria, the level of appearance and cleanliness in Turkish cities is much lower than the inter-

Examining the functional quality of Turkish cities, this criterion has three subcriteria. The highest score belongs to the mass transportation opportunity (0.25), whereas the lowest score belongs to pedestrian and non-motorized vehicle access (0.10). The score of the main criterion is 0.25. Hence as in the other criteria, the level of success is very low in this criterion. In particular, the score of the criterion "pedestrian and non-motorized vehicle access" is a result of a desperate situation. Turkish cities have been designed for the motorized vehicles, and all the planning-designing processes strengthen this resignation. The pedestrians and non-motorized vehicles are given second priority in the cities. The priority is given to motorized vehicles. It is gradually becoming more difficult to be a pedestrian in the cities. In this parallel, the mass transportation opportunities are limited, and there is a lack of alternatives. In some of the cities, the buses are used only at specific hours. The alternatives (metro, light rail system, sea transportation, train, etc.) do not seem to be a dominant approach yet. The urban services start to fall apart from the city centers. They are relegated to the borders, access to which is difficult. This is one of the reasons why the

This criterion examining the security in the cities has two sub-criteria. The scores of these two sub-criteria are very low (0.10 and 0.15). The security here is not limited to the statistical values related to crime. The secure presence of pedestrians in the cities was especially taken into consideration. If all the pedestrian groups such as elderly people, children, patients, pregnant women, etc. can securely reach the locations they want, then that city is a secure city. At this point, the other risk factors such as continuity of the road and confliction with the motorized vehicles were evaluated. Besides that, the transformation of cities into insecure and unsafe places after certain hours was considered within the scope of this main criterion. For this reason, the balance between daytime-nighttime usages is important. The urban services supporting the cities and the planningdesigning approach separating the housing from city centers disrupt the balance between daytime-nighttime usages. The cities become deserted and

Analyzing the "urban design quality" of countries in terms of various criteria is very difficult because of the depth and multidimensionality of the subject. Within

mediate level.

**8.3 Third main criterion**

*Sustainability in Urban Planning and Design*

**8.4 Fourth main criterion**

unsafe at night.

**9. Conclusion**

**344**

functional quality of the city centers has decreased.

the scope of fuzzy logic used in the present study, a multi-criteria method was used. Thirteen sub-criteria and four main criteria were selected, and they were weighted according to the opinions of 73 specialists. All the values were normalized in order to obtain the final order.

The results showed that the urban design quality of the Turkish cities is very low. In these cities coming to the forefront with their planned development from past to present, the negative results have various reasons. However, one of the most important reasons is the lack of an urban design approach that will guide spatial decisions. The urban design approaches do not comply with urban plans. For this reason, the upper scale plans fall short in shaping the spaces or shape them in an unqualified manner.

Within the scope of this study, a general evaluation was made on the urban design approach of Turkey. However, it is believed that similar results would be achieved even if the cities are separately examined. These results indicate that the "urban design" approach shaping the spatial decisions has not been integrated into the planning approach of Turkey. The upper-scale plan approach that does not deal with the urban space has served only for the motorized vehicles, taken the design aspect away from the cities, and reduced the design to a mechanical process.

The present study is important for an understanding of the urban design approach of Turkish cities. The results obtained here can be used in order to define the current problems and to suggest solutions. After determining the problematic criteria, it might contribute to supporting the urban planning decisions aiming to improve the urban design approaches. The problems detected have arisen from the fact that the planning policies giving low importance to the design and implementation processes are still in effect. However, the urban design has become more important from various aspects in the modern planning approaches, and it becomes active together with the planning processes.

In any field, quality is related to a product's ability to solve the targeted problems and meeting the physical, social, and other needs. The quality of the urban design is directly proportional to its ability to meet the vital needs in urban spaces and ensuring urban comfort. Since the concept of quality is a multidimensional concept, the urban design quality should be considered together not only with the functional characteristics of the urban spaces but also with their descriptive characteristics. Urban quality can be achieved with the right urban space design. Increasing, ensuring, or maintaining the quality of spaces, in which humans live and their lives are shaped, affect all the life segments including the culture, economic status, and physical aspects as the components of urban quality. The more perceptible and readable the urban space is and the more complementary the urban components are, the more satisfactory it is for the spatial quality of life and urban quality. In order to increase urban quality, the actors related to urban design should support all the interventions to be made on the urban space with social and economic sustainability. Urban design quality can be achieved with the cooperation of all the actors who play a role in urban design in creating urban space focusing on the targeted design objectives.

*Sustainability in Urban Planning and Design*

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