Nowadays, many cities try to turn their historic city centers into centers of attraction both for inhabitants and visitors by reorganizing and revitalizing them. These reorganization and revitalization processes change the users of the place as well as its physical structure. Thus, this change also creates deep impacts on human-place relationship. Traces of these impacts can be observed via &lsquo / sense of place&rsquo / and &lsquo / place image&rsquo / concepts. Studying these concepts is difficult due to their subjectivity / however, it is necessary to understand the change of place in all dimensions. It is possible to observe a similar process in Kalei&ccedil / i, the historic city center of Antalya. This research examines the process of change in Kalei&ccedil / i over the last five decades regarding the impacts on the &lsquo / sense of place&rsquo / and &lsquo / place image&rsquo / . It identifies &lsquo / physical setting&rsquo / , &lsquo / activity&rsquo / and &lsquo / meaning&rsquo / as observable components of these concepts / and it examines the change in these components through the in-depth interviews with three different user groups (i.e., users before 1980, those after 1980 and present users) and cognitive maps. The research considers that the first conservation practices in Kalei&ccedil / i started in 1980s, thus, it examines the change in &lsquo / sense of place&rsquo / under the headings of before 1980, after 1980 and present time. This research shows that the &lsquo / sense of place&rsquo / and &lsquo / place image&rsquo / between these user groups vary significantly. It indicates that the sense of place of the first user group is generated mostly regarding &lsquo / meaning&rsquo / component shaped by experiences / whereas the sense of place of the second and third category users mostly relates with physical environment and historical identity of the place. Besides, this research comes to a conclusion that there is a direct link between the change in sense of place and the efforts of turning the area into a center of attraction for tourism.

Sustainability, livability and quality of life have become widely and in-depth discussed issues in the literature of urban zlanning and design. This study primarily aims to investigate the concept of walkability as a part of the literature on livability. To draw a wider theoretical framework for this study, it first seeks to answer the questions of what the terms of &lsquo / livability&rsquo / and &lsquo / quality of life&rsquo / mean, and what components they constitute. Then, it focuses on the concept of &lsquo / walkability&rsquo / as one of the major components of these terms and as a measurable notion in urban design. Thus, this research seeks to define the notion of &lsquo / walkability&rsquo / and to identify a set of measures of walkability in public spaces to be used for the assessment of the &lsquo / walkability capacity&rsquo / of urban space. It should be noted that this research particularly tries to use the indicators of walkability which can directly impact on the design quality of urban space. Third, this research focuses on Mersin historic city center which has been in the process of deterioration for a while due to various current urban policies and strategies. As the case studies, it examines Uray and Atat&uuml / rk Streets which constitute the major thoroughfares of the historic city center by using the set of walkability measures. It investigates the walkability quality of four different character zones of Uray and Atat&uuml / rk Streets, and identifies their walkability capacities, problems and potentials. Finally, it suggests the policy and practical solutions on the design of these public spaces that will not only improve the walkability capacity of these streets, but also be helpful for the revitalization of the historic city center.

Un Centro de Interpretación de Cultura es aquel equipamiento arquitectónico que promueve la investigación, conservación, divulgación y puesta en valor del objeto que lo constituye mediante la revelación del significado del legado cultural o histórico a través de la interacción del público con la información expuesta en cada ambiente que lo conforme. Mediante el presente proyecto de tesis se presenta la propuesta del Primer Centro de Interpretación de la Cultura Cusqueña, proyecto que nace de un previo análisis de la problemática y la fijación de objetivos, y del estudio del lugar donde este se emplazará, para lo que se buscaron referentes existentes a nivel mundial y nacional. Posteriormente, se procederá con el análisis técnico del lote, y con la programación arquitectónica del proyecto. / A Cultural Interpretation Center is an architectural equipment that promotes the research, conservation, diffusion and valuing of the object that composes it by the revelation of the cultural or historical legacy meaning from the interaction between the public and the information that each room provides. This thesis project presents the proposal of the First Cusco’s Cultural Interpretation Center, the project was born of the problem analysis and the goal setting and the study of the possible project location which was achieved by the study of the global and national references, to continue with the technical analysis of the area and the architectural program of the Project. / Tesis

Master’s thesis focuses on urban design of Jihlava river waterfront in Třebíč, its connection to the city center and urban renewal of Stařečka, former historic settlement, partially demolished in the 80s. The goal is to integrate given area into the city center and revive the waterfront as a functional public space.

Changes of physical, functional and social structure of the city as a result of the group of variously interrelated changes and events that are fundamentally participate in the formation of the image of the urban development. This doctoral thesis is based on research of the historical city center - squared. First part is focuses on the historical development of urban texture of the inner city of Brno and its squares. We are talking about Square of Freedom, Vegetable Market, Dominican square, Jacobs square, Capuchins square and Šilingrovo square. Based on individual characteristics, describing the emergence of morphological and functional changes in Brno square was created urban classification of basic types of square. City of Brno, as the capital city of region has a significant position in the structure of settlements. This fact has become one of the key aspects for the selection of examples of European cities and their squares. The second part of the thesis is based on comparative studies of different types of historical squares. In order to define the value of public spaces, it is necessary to look at the public places of historical perspective and deal with the causes that led to the decline of the importance and role of public spaces. Austrian capital cities of region (Graz, Linz, Klagenfurt and Salzburg) will be examined with regard to similar climatic conditions and a common cultural and historical context of the city. Based on urban patterns and graphic diagrams of each square are observed inner relationships between shapes of square, form, function and location of the position of an artwork. Research areas are also focused on comparing aspects of transport, green space, functional use, visual unit and social activities. The public space is shaped by a set of characteristics that promote diversity and interdependence of functions. For a better interpretation of the results have been established two benchmarks - symbol of identification with the place and the Magnet (function and filling space). The objective of the thesis is to define an aspects and elements of space which were involved in square use.