Public space has critical importance for the city and society because it forms a sense of community. The debate on the end of public space, which is ongoing as the privatization in the city rises, moves on to a new phase with the Covid-19 outbreak. Since the perception of public spaces will be a determinant factor in the future of the city, the question arises: How the perception and usage of the public, virtual public and pseudo-public spaces (particularly shopping malls) have been affected by the recent Covid-19 pandemic? The aim of this study is to examine the changing perception and usage of public and pseudopublic spaces during the Covid-19 outbreak in Istanbul, Turkey. Within this scope, an online survey was conducted with 337 participants living in Istanbul between the dates of 1-5 June 2020. With this survey, the change in perceptions and usage of these spaces based on personal, residential and district characteristics were investigated. The findings of the study revealed statistically significant differences between the perceptions and usage of public spaces and pseudo-public spaces before and after the Covid-19 outbreak in terms of personal, residential and district characteristics. According to survey results, there would be a significant decrease in the frequency of possible visits to public places. The outbreak reduces interest in virtual spaces as a leisure activity, but it also increases the interest in virtual spaces as a shopping and meeting/chat platform. In addition, it was determined that the demand for shopping centres and virtual platforms as both before-after-the-outbreak leisure activities decreased significantly as the amount of green space per capita increases. Besides, the diminishing reputations of pseudo-public spaces and the increasing importance of virtual public spaces may be observed from the survey results. The longer the outbreak, the greater its impact on the design and planning of public spaces and pseudo-public spaces. Rather than planning huge and crowded spaces such as big squares and huge malls, there is likely a shift toward planning a large number of small-scale public spaces within walking distance.

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The present study aims to examine the relationship between urban vitality, healthy environment and density through the city of Istanbul, which is going through the Covid-19 outbreak. In this context, an online survey was conducted to measure the assessments of the residents living in districts with different density categories regarding the neighborhoods and the city they live in. The evaluations made by the citizens in the dimensions of vitality, mobility, safety, healthiness, cleanliness, orderliness were reduced to two main factors as “urban vitality” and “healthy environment” using Principal Components Analysis. Then, the evaluations regarding these six variables and two factors were subjected to cross-inquiries with the personal, residential and district characteristics. Urban residents were also asked to evaluate the city life before and after the Covid-19 outbreak. The main findings of the study reveal that there is a statistically significant difference between the density levels of the districts in terms of the perception of urban vitality and some sub-variables of healthy environment. Also, there is an observed change in the thoughts about urban life in Istanbul due to the outbreak.

The present study aims to investigate the changes that occurred between 2000 and 2018 with regard to spatial accessibility to airports for each district in Turkey. Within this scope, first, the service coverage area of each airport within 1 to 2 h travel time by car for 2000, 2009, and 2018 using the available road networks for the given years is evaluated and each district that can reach at least one airport within 1 to 2 h by car determined. Secondly, the catchment areas of each airport are defined based on geographical distribution and the catchment populations of airports found. Thirdly, the regionalization coefficient for each airport in the given years is calculated to understand the availability of each airport by comparing the catchment area population with the number of domestic passengers. Finally, a gravity-based formula is employed to measure the spatial accessibility value of each district to the airports within the catchment area of 2 h travel time in the given years. The main findings from the study provide clues about the direction of future policies. The last airports to open have reduced the maximum distance covered, especially in eastern Turkey; consequently, airports’ catchment populations have shrunk. However, the regionalization coefficients of airports located in regional centers and hub cities have increased in consequence of the increase in the number of air passengers over the given period. In summary, travel time to main hubs and airports’ total catchment populations have had combined effects on the number of air passengers and spatial accessibility values of districts in Turkey.

There are some differences in terms of spatial form in our cities that constantly change and grow with the developing technology. While some neighbourhoods develop with an organic and spontaneous urban texture, some neighbourhoods may have a grid or radial form. This study aims to examine the relationship between the crime rates and socio-spatial formation of the settlements. In this context, the adjacent Akşemsettin and Hırka-i Şerif Neighbourhoods, which are located in the Fatih District of Istanbul, Turkey and differ in spatial textures, have been selected as the study area. The former one has a grid form that was planned after a big fire that destroyed the traditional organic urban form. The latter one still exists with its traditional organic urban form with dead-end streets. The study area is examined through Oscar Newman's concept of "Defensible Space" and "Space Syntax method" developed by Bill Hillier & Julienne Hanson. The street networks of the grid and organic forms are analysed by the Space Syntax method in terms of axiality, intelligibility, connectivity and integration. Increasing crime rates and safety concerns as a result of rapid crowding of cities affect local and central governments' policy, planning and design decisions. This research forms an important basis for these decisions to create safer spaces in our cities and ensure that all public places of the city, such as streets and parking areas, provide a safe environment to the users. At the end of the study, it is expected that important results will be determined on how urban texture affects crime rates and sense of safety and what kind of factors should be taken into consideration in line with the city planning criteria.