Transformation, Connectivity and Accessibility Analysis of Elazığ s Urban Squares

Urban squares are significant public spaces utilized by city dwellers for social, cultural, political, and commercial purposes, in short, they are central venues for urban life. City users frequently prefer urban squares to carry out recreational activities. Within the process of urbanization, the most intensively used urban spaces are squares and the main streets associated with them. Streets that provide access to these squares, along with the squares themselves, serve as carriers of the social memory accumulated throughout a city's historical development, while also forming the core of urban life as elements of cultural heritage. Furthermore, urban squares stand out as key areas that reflect urban identity and play an important role in shaping the city’s image. This study aims to analyze the historical development, spatial transformation, urban context, and accessibility levels of 15 Temmuz Demokrasi Square and Republic Square located in the city center of Elazığ. The physical and functional transformations these squares have undergone from past to present are evaluated together with their impacts on urban memory and social life. Within the scope of spatial analysis, the positions of the squares in the street hierarchy, along with their local and global integration levels, are examined. In the accessibility analysis, service areas at the neighborhood scale are determined based on walking distances.