Analyzing the Moat of Walled City of Nicosia as a Public Open Space Doğa Üzümcüoğlu Submitted to the Institute of Graduation Studies and Research in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Architecture Eastern Mediterranean University January 2016 Gazimağusa, North Cyprus i Approval of the Institute of Graduate Studies and Research Prof. Dr. Cem Tanova Acting Director I certify that this thesis satisfies the requirements as a thesis for the degree of Master of Science in Architecture. Prof. Dr. Özgür Dinçyürek Chair, Department of Architecture We certify that we have read this thesis and that in our opinion it is fully adequate in scope and quality as a thesis for the degree of Master of Science in Architecture. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Mukaddes Faslı Supervisor Examining Committee 1. Prof. Dr. Şebnem Önal Hoşkara 2. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Mukaddes Faslı 3. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Beser Oktay Vehbi ii ABSTRACT Public open spaces are the common places for everybody which give opportunities like gathering, resting, meeting, enjoyment etc... There are various types of public open spaces such as streets, squares, parks, waterfronts and moat. Moats are the components of walled cities. Historic places express cultural past of the cities. The walled city of Nicosia was constructed in the Venetian Period (1489-1571) for defensive purposes and it has a moat around it. Nowadays, the moat of the walled city is an important strength of the walled city. It could be used efficiently by local people and visitors if a proper design proposal is adapted it. As it is observed, the moat of walled city of Nicosia today is in poor condition in terms physical, functional, and social qualities. However, it has a potential to be used more efficiently, if it is well designed and improved. The aim of this research is to analyze the moat of the walled city of Nicosia, in order to determine its potentials. Then, according to the findings, some recommendations will be given in order to increase its uses and attractiveness. This research is limited with the analysis of the whole moat, however, the recommendations will be given only for the northern Nicosia. Furthermore, some clues will be given about the uses of the whole moat in case of possible solution of the political situation. This study will be organized in four chapters. The first, introduction is given. The second, theoretical information is given about public open spaces, moat and walled cities. The third chapter, the analysis of the moat around the walled city and its evaluations are put forward. Finally conclusion and recommendations are given. iii The results from the physical, functional and social analyses show that moat of the walled city of Nicosia has some weaknesses that decrease it’s attractivenes. Such as; inappropriate and inadequate sitting opportunities, lack of greenery, lack of maintenance, and lack of social activities. Keywords: Public Open Spaces, Walled Cities, Moat, Walled city of Nicosia, Physical Qualities, Functional Qualities, Socio Economic Qualities iv ÖZ Kamusal alanlar toplumun dinlenmek, toplanmak ve eğlenmek amacıyla ortak kullandığı alanlardır. Kamusal alanların başlıcaları; sokaklar, meydanlar, parklar, su kenarları olabileceği gibi, hendekler de kamusal alan olarak kullanılabilmektedir. Hendekler, surlu şehirlerin bir parçasıdırlar ve tarihi surlar kültürel tarihi yansıtmaları nedeniyle büyük önem taşırlar. Mevcut Lefkoşa surları Venedik döneminde (1489- 1571) savunma amaçlı olarak inşa edilmiş ve etrafı hendekle çevrilidir. Lefkoşa Surları etrafında bulunan hendeğe, uygun tasarımın uygulanması halinde, yerli halk ve ziyaretçiler tarafından daha etkin kullanılabilmesi sağlanabilecektir. Bununla birlikte, fiziksel, fonksiyonel ve sosyal açıdan başarılı bir önerinin uygulanması ile de, daha aktif kullanılabilme potansiyeli taşımaktadır. Bu araştırmada, Lefkoşa Suriçi hendeğinin potansiyellerin belirlenmesi amacıyla analizinin yapılması hedeflenmektedir. Analiz sonrası tespit edilen bulgular ışığında, surların etrafının kullanımının sürdürülebilmesi için öneriler sunulacaktır. Bu araştırma sadece Lefkoşa surlarının ve hendeğinin araştırılmasıyla sınırlanmaktadır. Araştırma sonrası elde edilen bulgular ışığında, kuzey Lefkoşada kalan kısmın iyileştirilmesi ile ilgili öneriler verilecektir ve olası bir çözüm durumunda tümünün nasıl kullanılacağına dair öngörüler yapılacaktır. Bu çalışma dört bölümden oluşmaktadır, ilk bölümde giriş, ikinci bölüm kamusal alanlar, hendekler ve surlu şehirlerle ilgili teorik bilgiler yer alacaktır. Sonrasındaki üçüncü bölümde ise, Lefkoşa Suriçi hendeğinin analizi ve değerlendirmesi yerini alacaktır. Sonuç kısmında ise elde edilen bulgular doğrultusunda, öneriler verilecektir. v Fiziksel, fonksiyonel ve sosyal analizler sonucunda, Lefkoşa surları etrafında, kamusal alan olarak kullanılan hendek alanlarının çekiciliğni azaltan bazı zayıf durumların olduğu tespit edilmiştir. Bunlardan bazıları, uygunsuz ve yetersiz oturma elemanları, yetrsiz peyzaj, bakımsızlık ve sosyal aktivitelerin azlığıdır. Anahtar Kelimeler: Kamusal Açık Alanlar, Surlu Şehirler, Hendek, Lefkoşa Suriçi, Fiziksel Nitelikler, Fonksiyonel Nitelikler, Sosyo-ekonomik Nitelikler vi To My Family vii ACKNOWLEDGMENT I would like to express my very great appreciation and thanks to my supervisor, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Mukaddes Faslı for her invaluable contribution during this study. This thesis would not have been completed without her support. I would like to thank also all my A05 family and friends, especially including Kamyar Lotfi, Sobhan Hashemzadeh, Nesil Afşin, Abdullah Can, Sıla Su Yanar, Gizem Çulluoğlu, Eşref Günerman, Emre Çekmegelioğlu, Ceyhun Uludağ, Derviş Taşkıranlar and Eliz Erdenizci for their support, motivation with their encourage and concern. I have special thanks to my committee members, Prof. Dr. Şebnem Önal Hoşkara, and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Beser Oktay Vehbi, for all their continuous support throughout my educational studies. They have been always kind, caring and patient with me, which gave me the strength to successfully finish my studies. I have done it better with all of you, thank you all. viii TABLE OF CONTENTS ABSTRACT ................................................................................................................ iii ÖZ ................................................................................................................................ v DEDICATION ........................................................................................................... vii ACKNOWLEDGMENT ........................................................................................... viii LIST OF TABLES ...................................................................................................... xi LIST OF FIGURES .................................................................................................. xii 1 INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................... 1 1.1 Problem Statement .............................................................................................. 2 1.2 Purpose of Study ................................................................................................. 3 1.3 Research Methodology ....................................................................................... 4 1.4 Limitation of Study ............................................................................................. 5 2 THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK; WALLED CITIES AND PUBLIC OPEN SPACES ..….................................................................................................................7 2.1 An Overview on Walled Cities ........................................................................... 7 2.2 Public Open Spaces .......................................................................................... 11 2.2.1 Physical Characteristics of Public Open Spaces ........................................ 25 2.2.1.1 Proper Design .................................................................................... 26 2.2.1.2 Maintenance ....................................................................................... 26 2.2.1.3 Physical Accecibility ......................................................................... 26 2.2.1.4 Legibility............................................................................................ 27 2.2.2 Functional Characteristics of Public Open Spaces ..................................... 28 2.2.2.1 Variety and Diversity ......................................................................... 28 2.2.2.2 Adaptability and Flexibility ............................................................... 30 ix 2.2.3 Social Characteristics of Public Open Spaces ............................................ 30 2.2.3.1 Equality .............................................................................................. 30 2.2.3.2 Safety ................................................................................................. 31 2.2.3.3 Comfort .............................................................................................. 31 2.3 Moats of Walled Cities as Public Open Spaces ................................................ 32 2.4 Summary of the Chapter ................................................................................... 36 3 EVALUATION OF THE CASE STUDY; MOAT OF THE WALLED CITY OF NICOSIA ................................................................................................................