An Investigation of the Effects of COVID-19 on Public Space Design Principles in the Cases of Beşiktaş, Kadiköy, and Üsküdar Istanbul

Resumen

The COVID-19 epidemic changed our lifestyles. In this study, we examine examples of public space design principles
that reflect current lifestyles in the ongoing pandemic and investigate the effects on design principles before and after the pandemic. Through fieldwork, on-site detection, observation, and photography, a study was conducted regarding design principles defined by Hartleben (2020). The research team studied ‘polyfunctionality’, ‘loose fit’, ‘redundancy’, ‘access at all levels’, ‘modularity’, and ‘signaling’, in three squares of Istanbul. These principles are multidimensional and key to maximizing the successful adaptation of the public space to unexpected conditions. The results show that the principles of ‘polyfunctionality’ followed by ‘redundancy’ are those most affected by the social distance and hygiene policies during the pandemic. This study suggests that social distance adequacy and the presence of hygiene should be considered in the existing design principles.