PROPOSAL FOR QUALITY PARAMETERS FOR THE ASSESSMENT OF SQUARES AFFECTED AND CHANGED BY THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC

Although studies on the COVID-19 pandemic and open public spaces are still ongoing, there are few studies on the impact of the pandemic on public spaces and what kind of changes have been made. From this point of view, the study aims to develop quality parameters for squares, one of the public open spaces most affected by the pandemic. In the study, quality parameters for squares were developed in three stages: 1st stage research of the studies before and during COVID-19 and identification of the modified and added parameters, 2nd stage development of the square-oriented public space quality parameters based on the identified parameters, 3rd stage analysis and evaluation of the square-oriented public space quality parameters on the selected squares. As a result of the analysis of the developed 'square-oriented public space quality parameters' on the selected squares; it is seen that pedestrianization, environment for all (inclusiveness), and attraction parameters come to the fore in long-term interventions, while security, territoriality, privacy and social relationship and social distance arrangements come to the fore in short-term interventions. The square-oriented public space quality parameters developed in this study can be used in the evaluation of existing squares as well as in the design of new squares.