In an illuminating study that bridges urban design with user experience, researchers delve into the intricate dynamics of user satisfaction within the historical urban environment of Bursa, Turkey. This investigation employs rigorous quantitative methods to assess how diverse demographic groups perceive and interact with open public spaces, ultimately aiming to inform more nuanced and user-centered landscape planning strategies. The study’s focal point is rooted in a comprehensive satisfaction questionnaire, which was validated for reliability using Cronbach’s Alpha analysis, achieving a high coefficient of 0.818. This statistical robustness underscores the credibility of the data reflecting user sentiments.
Exploring user satisfaction from a multidimensional lens, the research categorizes survey questions into key thematic areas vital for urban open spaces. These parameters encompass Comfort and Image, Sociability and Safety, Urban Equipment and Maintenance, Recreation and Tourism Opportunities, Accessibility, and Green Space and Living Material Presence. Each category represents a distinct aspect of the urban experience, collectively encapsulating the physical, social, and ecological qualities that define the space’s appeal and functionality.
The subcategory of Comfort and Image addresses users’ perceptions about the physical environment’s aesthetic and psychological resonance. This section probes into feelings of belonging, visual appeal, and identity connection—factors that profoundly influence how people emotionally engage with urban spaces. In tandem, Sociability and Safety examine the potential for meaningful social interactions and the extent to which users feel secure in sharing and inhabiting public areas, which is paramount for fostering sustainable community use.
Critical functional attributes of the space are analyzed under Urban Equipment and Maintenance, highlighting the importance of well-maintained infrastructure such as seating, informational signage, and the congruence of these elements with the historical context. The study underscores how these physical components directly impact usability and satisfaction. Similarly, the Recreation and Tourism Opportunities parameter broadens the scope to consider spatial diversity and the quality of activity areas, crucial for enriching both resident and tourist experiences.
Accessibility, another cornerstone of user satisfaction, is scrutinized through criteria including ease of movement, public transportation links, and provisions for disabled access. This parameter holds significant sway over user density and inclusivity. Finally, Green Space and Living Material Presence analyze the role of vegetation and natural elements in enhancing environmental quality and providing restorative spaces for users, a vital consideration in urban ecological and social well-being.
The study reveals a nuanced landscape of user opinions through detailed frequency analysis of the satisfaction parameters, measured using a five-point Likert scale. Intriguingly, the data highlight a pronounced ambivalence, with a substantial portion of users—often exceeding 40%—reporting neutral positions across several categories. This indecision, particularly noted in Green Spaces, Recreation and Tourism, and Social Safety, suggests a pervasive uncertainty or lack of strong, positive engagement with these aspects of the space. Such findings imply either insufficient experiential depth or possibly indicate physical deficiencies undermining user satisfaction.
Participants’ nuanced responses also surfaced in the domain of Urban Equipment and Maintenance, where over a third expressed agreement with satisfaction statements, indicating some level of contentment with the current physical amenities. However, the broader trend points to ambivalence and potential dissatisfaction in key urban experience facets, signaling opportunities and critical needs for targeted improvements. This ambivalence offers a candid window into areas where urban planners and policy makers must concentrate their efforts to enhance user experience and functional effectiveness.
Further dissecting the interplay between user demographics and satisfaction, the study employs Chi-square analysis to investigate gender-based differences, finding no statistically significant disparities. This outcome suggests that perceptions of the urban environment’s quality and usability transcend gender divides, pointing towards universally shared concerns and appreciations among visitors. Such insights help refocus efforts on more impactful demographic factors that shape user experience.
The research’s most compelling revelations emerge when examining age and duration of space use through the Kruskal–Wallis H test. This analysis demonstrates significant variations in satisfaction linked to these variables, elucidating how different user groups possess distinct needs and expectations. Age, in particular, correlates strongly with perceptions of accessibility. Older participants tend to express higher satisfaction with access conditions compared to younger cohorts, who manifest more critical attitudes. This disparity may reflect generational differences in mobility needs and transportation expectations, or it may underscore shortcomings in urban transit connectivity that disproportionately affect younger users.
Regarding the time users spend in the area, the study reveals that longer durations correlate with higher satisfaction levels concerning Recreation and Tourism Opportunities as well as Green Space and Living Material Presence. Users spending over four hours in the space report notably positive evaluations, whereas those with shorter visits often remain undecided. This pattern indicates that deeper immersion in the space may be requisite for appreciating its recreational and ecological offerings, emphasizing the importance of creating engaging, easily accessible environments that encourage prolonged stays.
The research also paints a complex picture of middle-aged groups (25–44 years), who tend to adopt a neutral stance on several parameters, including accessibility. This collective ambivalence suggests that urban environments do not currently meet all the nuanced expectations of this demographic, motivating a need for adaptive planning that can cater to evolving urban lifestyles and mobility patterns.
Collectively, these insights confirm that user satisfaction is a multifaceted construct influenced by a matrix of physical, social, and demographic factors. The diversity in user perceptions underscores the necessity of adopting agile and inclusive urban design approaches that resonate with different community segments. Tailoring landscape interventions to address the differential needs identified by ages and usage patterns could substantially elevate the experiential quality of historical urban centers.
Furthermore, the research’s methodological rigor sets a standard for future inquiries into user satisfaction in urban contexts. The combination of reliability assessments, frequency analyses, and non-parametric statistical tests ensures both the robustness and relevance of findings. This comprehensive approach could be effectively deployed in other cities grappling with similar challenges around aligning heritage conservation with contemporary urban usability demands.
Overall, the study contributes to the emergent discourse on sustainable urban planning by foregrounding empirical evidence of user experiences and expectations. It offers a persuasive argument for landscape planners and urban policymakers to move beyond monolithic design paradigms and instead embrace more personalized and dynamic frameworks. By prioritizing user satisfaction in planning processes, cities like Bursa can enhance both the preservation of their rich historical fabric and the creation of vibrant, livable public spaces.
In sum, this research exemplifies how sophisticated empirical analysis of user feedback can yield actionable insights that drive better urban environments. The nuanced understanding of how demographics interact with satisfaction parameters provides a strategic compass for enhancing the quality and inclusiveness of urban open spaces. The findings compel urban stakeholders to rethink traditional notions of public space success, integrating multidimensional user satisfaction as a core metric in landscape planning.
This blend of technical rigor and practical relevance positions the study as a vital contribution to contemporary urban scholarship. Its implications extend beyond Bursa, offering a replicable model for evaluating and improving urban landscape experiences in historical city centers worldwide. As cities strive to balance heritage conservation with user engagement, integrating user satisfaction into landscape planning emerges as an invaluable tool for fostering enduring urban vitality.
Subject of Research: User satisfaction in urban open spaces and its implications for landscape planning in historical city centers.
Article Title: User satisfaction-based landscape planning in historical city centers: Bursa-Turkey.
Article References:
Tüzel, F., Pirselimoğlu Batman, Z. User satisfaction-based landscape planning in historical city centers: Bursa-Turkey.
Humanities and Social Sciences Communications, 12, 1589 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1057/s41599-025-05967-6
