POST OCCUPANCY EVALUATION AND USER SATISFACTION IN URBAN OPEN SPACE

Today, the number of urban open spaces decreases as a result of growing number of settlements. However, the opportunities provided by urban open spaces to people clearly demonstrate the need for and the importance of urban open spaces. The aim of this study is to investigate why activity spaces and space organization that will meet user needs are not used at the desired level. Research method was built on spatial analysis method, which is based on identification of physical condition, and on surveys, which are based on user ratings. In this study, which focuses on post-occupancy evaluation method, the users rated space performance values of the spaces which differ in terms of space organization and properties and were determined by spatial analysis method. With four different spaces and 70 participants from each, a total of 280 participants (118 females-162 males) evaluated technical, functional and aesthetic performance of the spaces they occupy by Likert attitude scale. The results showed that space performance affects user satisfaction and space usage level. User satisfaction was achieved in spaces with high performance value which meet user needs, whereas user satisfaction could not be achieved in spaces with low performance value.