Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
OPEN HOUSE INTERNATIONAL, cilt.48, ss.1-22, 2023 (AHCI)
Purpose – Public spaces, which offer opportunities for social, cultural and recreational activities, enhance
urban life quality (ULQ). Thus, this study aims to investigate the impact of public spaces and physicalenvironmental criteria affecting the usability of ULQ in Adana city, Turkey.
Design/methodology/approach – The study method consists of three stages. Firstly, public spaces and
physical-environmental criteria that can be effective in ULQ were determined. Secondly, the effect of the
determining criteria on ULQ was evaluated through a 5-point Likert scale questionnaire (1 5 very negative,
5 5 very positive). The survey was conducted with 601 people in the four central districts of Adana, including
Çukurova, Seyhan, Sariçam and Yuregir. Participants evaluated ULQ for both the residence district and Adana €
city. Lastly, factors affecting ULQ were determined using exploratory factor analysis (EFA). In addition,
MANOVA was used to determine the changes in factors according to socio-demographic characteristics.
Findings – Based on the EFA, the results show that the criteria affecting the ULQ are grouped into four
factors, including (1) open spaces, (2) cultural, sports and recreation, (3) environmental and (4) transportation.
In evaluating these factors, while gender does not affect the perception of ULQ, residence districts show a
statistically significant difference in the perception of ULQ. Cultural and transportation factors show statistical
differences according to education and age.
Research limitations/implications – This study has a limitation in that it relies solely on the quantitative
perceptions of residents with varying demographics, such as age, gender and educational level, to evaluate
public spaces and physical environment criteria. While these perspectives are valuable, they may not
necessarily reflect the qualitative reality of the urban environment. Therefore, future studies combining
quantitative and qualitative data could provide a more comprehensive understanding of the factors affecting
ULQ in urban areas.
Social implications – The implementation of the survey showed the subjective perception of ULQ in Adana
city. Urban green spaces, including cultural, sports and recreational areas, should be improved in areas with
insufficient facilities that affect the quality of urban life. Additionally, the impact of climate conditions on the quality of life should be taken into account when designing the city to ensure maximum utilization of public
spaces. Furthermore, safe cycling transportation networks should be developed.
Originality/value – The novelty of this study lies in its unique approach to investigating the effects of public
spaces and physical environmental criteria on ULQ based on combining residents’ perceptions, literature
review and data analysis. The study provides a valuable perspective often overlooked in urban planning
research, especially in developing countries like Turkey. Additionally, the study’s findings can inform the
development of strategies to enhance ULQ.
Keywords Urban life quality, Urban public spaces, Exploratory factor analysis (EFA), MANOVA, Adana city