THE CORRELATION BETWEEN URBAN OPEN SPACE OCCUPATION DIFFERENCES AMONG GENERATIONS X, Y, AND Z AND OCCUPANT WELL-BEING

As spatial occupants, humans expect the space to be designed to meet their needs and satisfy their goals. Thus, designers should identify the changing spatial uses and preferences of several different groups. The present study aimed to determine intergenerational differences among generations x, y, z in their preferences in open space occupation and activities and their well-being levels based on occupation types. The study was conducted in Trabzon province in Turkey. It aimed to determine the occupation types for different generational groups in urban open spaces. For this purpose, a survey was conducted with 70 individuals from each generation (x, y, z), a total of 210 individuals in urban open spaces and their well-being levels were determined based on their occupational objectives and usage. The analyzes and tests conducted on the collected data demonstrated that the generations x, y, and z had different objectives and conducted different activities in open urban spaces. It was determined that generation x used the urban open spaces for sitting, resting, chatting, reading newspapers, etc. activities, generation y used the urban open spaces for meeting their peers, socialization, shopping, eating-drinking, etc. activities, while generation z occupied the urban open spaces for activities such as entertainment, sports, spending time with friends, meeting, etc. It was found that when they spent time in spaces that offer adequate activities, the level of well-being improved. It was concluded that different generations occupied outdoor spaces for different purposes, performed different activities in these spaces and their well-being improved when they spend time in adequate spaces.