Comprehensive Evaluation of Child-Friendly Public Spaces: The Zümrütevler Case as Istanbul’s First Permanent Two-Stage Street Transformation

Abstract

In rapidly urbanizing cities, creating child-friendly public spaces is essential for supporting children’s independent mobility, safety, and well-being. Child-centred street transformations, often implemented through phased tactical urbanism approaches, aim to reconfigure vehicle-dominated areas into inclusive, pedestrian-friendly environments. This research critically evaluates the Zümrütevler Square transformation in Istanbul using a multi-scale framework covering process, neighbourhood context, and design details. The study broadens its scope by incorporating user behaviour analysis alongside design criteria, offering deeper insights into the lived experience of the space. Findings highlight successful participatory design and iterative adaptation but reveal limitations in sustaining child-friendly identity post-implementation, constrained child visibility, and institutional fragmentation. The study underscores the importance of integrating flexible, context-sensitive criteria and behavioural observations to enhance long-term child-friendly urban interventions in dense metropolitans.