Browsing by Author "Asur, Feran"

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Determination of User Preferences on Visual Landscape at Urban Context: Van/Edremit (Turkey) Example
(Hard, 2022) Asur, Feran
In measuring the space quality, user preferences regarding the space are one of the important indicators. With the increasing urbanization phenomenon in Edremit district which has important cultural and natural assets in terms of greenness, the distinction between old and new settlements has become more visible. This study aims to determine the factors which increase preference in urban landscapes, user preferences and attitudes towards space, and to make suggestions for the improvement of urban landscapes. The main method of the study based on visual evaluation techniques is the visual questionnaire technique, which is applied with visuals and helps to determine the user's perception of the space. As a result of the study, it was revealed that places with coherence which is among the information processing variables, were liked more by the users. Natural designs seem complex, according to the conclusion that coherence increases with the signs of human existence, it has been revealed that in order to increase the coherence in the field with planting design, balance should be achieved, but naturalness should be avoided. According to the result for sustainable development, the hypothesis of urban designs supported by the green texture is more admirable, and is a confirmed improvement of urban landscapes.
Geospatial Analysis of Lake Scenery as an Indicator for the Environment: the City of Van (Turkey) and Its Surroundings
(Elsevier, 2021) Alphan, Hakan; Asur, Feran
Lake scenery is an important asset to such ground locations, where potential urban/tourism development is a concern. The aim of this paper is to analyse lake scenery using user surveys and a visibility map as a quantified variable. Study area is the city of Van (Eastern Turkey) and the coastal areas in its close vicinity. Visibility map was produced using cumulative viewshed analyses that combine results of a binary (visible/non-visible) function (i.e., intervisibility) applied to observation and target locations. Intervisibilities between a priori determined observation and target locations were calculated and mapped. For this purpose, a total of 7349 target locations were identified on lake surface. Observation locations were described as pixels on a digital surface model (DSM). In addition, qualitative analyses were employed using photographs taken from these 25 points. Visibility maps showed that there are certain patches of undeveloped coastal areas with higher lake visibility value in close vicinity of the city of Van. The important landmarks with high scenery scores were also evaluated. For this purpose, point locations are overlaid onto Lake visibility map. This revealed that 22 out of 25 locations and their neighbouring areas have high level of Lake visibility. Areas with high visibility values were proposed as potential development areas due to their scenic advantages. Computer-aided visualization of landscapes is a promising cost-effective concept for landscape-level environmental planning and management as it helps to conceptualize visual aspects of landscapes. Visibility information has therefore a strong potential to increase the efficiency of urban development plans.
Landscape Analysis and Regain Functionality of Gulistan Garden in the Historic Van Castle
(Health & Environment Assoc, 2020) Asur, Feran; Alp, Sevket
Located along the city shores of Van Lake in Turkey, the city of Van has hosted many civilizations, and historic and archaeological wealth and heritage. The landscape and environmental restoration project, which covers an area of approximately 5.000 m(2) in the northeast of Van Castle supported by Van Governorship, was put into practice in 2006 under the name of "Giilistan Garden". The Giilistan Garden became a recreation area of local and foreign tourists visiting the castle and the old town until 2010. Although the garden is located in the first-degree archaeological site, it has lost its quality landscape image characteristic under negative environmental effects today due to lacking maintenance and repair works. The study aimed to reveal the cultural importance of landscape functionality for the city in today's historical sites by comparing the first years and the current status of the Giilistan Garden in terms of its visual landscape quality in the case of Van city. In the study, the landscape design project of Giilistan Garden was examined, the equipment elements, activity area, plant, and structural assets were taken into consideration, basic features in terms of quantity have been revealed. The first construction and current status visual landscape value were determined. Based on the analyses, two basic suggestions were developed for regaining the functionality of the area and the recovery of the visual value due to the low visual landscape quality and lost quality and maintain the sustainability of its landscape.
Observers' Perceptions of Aesthetic Quality of High-Rise Buildings in the Urban Landscape: the Case of Levent/Istanbul
(Parlar Scientific Publications (p S P), 2020) Asur, Feran; Yazici, Kubra
Growing globalization along with rapidly advancing demographic, technological, and economic motions affects the image of many cities in today's world. High-rise growing, in the world has been clearly seen since the last two decades. In recent years, the city landscape has been impacted by modern high-rise buildings and has become a major matter from the point of the landscape conservation of a city like Istanbul with a historical peninsula silhouette. In this article, which argues the aesthetics of the manmade environment, assorted elements have been assessed by the users based on the formal aesthetic measure in the 4th Levent area, where high-rise buildings are intense. In this context, this article aims to specify the elements that can enhance user preferences, quality of urban landscapes, and the approach of different social groups towards the place. Visual survey methodology, which is applied here to determine the user's perception of the place, is the main method of the study based on visual landscape evaluation techniques. 95 individuals participating in the survey were asked to assess formal aesthetic factors consisting of building facade effect, building aesthetics, sovereignty, diversity, prestige, background, trust and superiority for 15 chosen high-rise commercial buildings. One-way ANOVA, correlation and regression tests were applied on the data which collected through questionnaire. With the regression models to be created, formal aesthetic variables which were meaningfully predictable in the perceptions of the urban area were determined. The findings and results are expected to supply substantial resources to the relevant city stakeholders in future urban landscape studies.
Recreational Assessment of Physical Landscape Assets of Van Fortress
(Parlar Scientific Publications (p S P), 2019) Asur, Feran
The stress caused by the daily and monotonous urban life increases the recreational needs of societies. These recreational activities are shaped in relation to the social, economic, and cultural opportunities of the individuals within the society. In relation to these opportunities, the preference for these recreational areas is based on various factors like their accessibility and utilization, and the services they provide. Based on this fact, whether a recreational area is comparatively preferable for masses can be revealed beforehand, using a method known as "recreational potential analysis". According to this method, either the area itself or and its immediate vicinity -or sometimes, both-are attributed with recreational functions based on their qualities. Presenting a cultural landscape area composed of natural and cultural elements, the Van Fortress and its nearby areas are visited by quite a substantial amount of domestic and foreign tourists every year, perhaps due to the number and quality of the recreational opportunities the location provides. This study was conducted in order to evaluate Van Fortress and its immediate vicinity, the shining archaeological and historic treasures of the city of Van, from a recreational standpoint. For this purpose, personal observations were made in the study area and the outdoor recreational potential of the area was evaluated using the Gulez method, the results of which are presented in the paper. The scoring chart used for this purpose revealed the recreational potential score of the area to be 70%, which is categorized as "high recreational potential" in the scoring scales of the method. As a result, it was concluded that the Van Fortress and its immediate vicinity achieved this high recreational score due to its numerous vistas formed of natural elements, availability of stable and sustainable transportation methods, and capability of presenting a high variety of touristic opportunities. The final sections of the study also present suggestions regarding the improvement of various elements in the area and comments for the future recreational potential of the site.
The Role of Urban Landscapes in the Formation of Urban Identity and Urban Memory Relations: the Case of Van/Turkey
(Routledge Journals, Taylor & Francis Ltd, 2022) Asur, Feran; Kulekci, Elif Akpinar; Perihan, Muhsine
Located on the eastern coast of Lake Van in eastern Turkey, the city of Van is home to numerous urban landscapes - both ancient and modern - that occupy important places in the city's collective cultural memory. This study examined how information on Van's spatial landscape was represented cognitively; by evaluating these perceptions, this study investigated the relationship between urban landscapes that could give the city and collective urban memory a particular identity. Whilst doing this, we also attempted to determine relevant emergent themes pertaining to the city. Accordingly, the information making up the personal memories of Van's residents was holistically analysed through oral history interviews conducted with several individuals. Interviewees' references to urban landscapes revealed that both urban memory and urban identity could be regarded as fundamental spatial elements. Emergent themes pertained primarily to recreational areas, activities performed in these areas and panoramas of water. Despite marked differences in their professions, interviewees' memories showed numerous similarities. Although many scholars have extensively analysed urban identity and cultural landscapes, the case of Van has yet to be discussed.
Sense of Place and Satisfaction With Landscaping in Post-Earthquakehousing Areas: the Case of Edremit Toki-Van (Turkey)
(Univ Politecnica Catalunya, 2018) Baylan, Emel; Asur, Feran; Sehribanoglu, Sanem
Objectives This research aimed to provide a greater insight into the relationship between feelings of satisfaction with the landscaping and the sense of place, particularly emphasizing on the planning and landscape design of post-disaster housing environments for the enhancement of the victims' and other residents' well-being on the case of Edremit TOKI ( Van) post-earthquake housing area which was built after the devastating earthquakes in 2011. Methodology The residents' satisfaction with various parts of landscaping in the housing area; their place identity, place attachment and place dependence characteristics as part of their sense of place; and the interrelations between these were examined through a questionnaire survey. The data collected from 235 locals were subjected to two types of factor analysis including both explanatory and structural equation modelling (SEM) in order to create a model. Conclusions According to the SEM results, the proposed model based on the hypothesis, which states that "there are positive relationship between the sense of place and satisfaction with landscaping," was not supported. In contrast, a negative relationship was found between the satisfaction with landscaping and sense of place. This suggests that when the respondents' sense of place has increased, it is likely that there might be lower satisfaction with the landscaping they have. Originality This study is original in two aspects; first being focused on the diverse dimensions of landscaping different from the studies mostly dealing with vegetation and visual quality; second being investigated the relationship amongst the satisfaction with landscaping, sense of place and the sub-components of these concepts in a post-earthquake residential area.