RETHINKING THE PUBLIC SPACES OF ISTANBUL

by Merve Karatas

The focus of this thesis is to examine shopping malls as a contemporary consumption and public spaces, as they have a primary influence on urban life and society. This study suggests that shopping malls offer pseudopublic spaces where people are always encouraged to consume more. Moreover, " engaging with the community " aspect of public spaces has turned into coincidental encounters without real interactions in these areas. In the spatial context, the isolated and independent structure of the shopping malls has caused integration problems in urban texture and the emergence of the fragmented city. The purpose of this project is to design a new type of shopping mall, which is integrated with the urban fabric by using shopping as a tool and also has public spaces that enable people to experience the city.