Urban Furniture in Sustainable Historical Urban Texture Landscapes: Historical Squares in the Walled City of Nicosia

Abstract

Historical city textures are living history that embody public spaces of former civilizations, their landscapes, and their traditional life culture, carrying them to the present and giving them life. Squares as public spaces have been important gathering hubs for social life. Urban furniture is an important element of public spaces, and it reflects city identity and improves quality of life. Additionally, it improves the reflection of culture in historical city textures and their usability. The walled city center of Nicosia has a very rich historical texture, incorporating the cultural heritage of various civilizations in the history of Cyprus. Within the framework of texture, public spaces, which have acquired the features of squares with their functions throughout the social history of Nicosia, are still important social spaces for its community. This study analyzed Asmaaltı and Selimiye Squares, two important spaces of the walled city, through examining the urban furniture in terms of its material, shape, functionality, and conformity with the historical texture. Its deficiencies and nonconformities with the historical texture were identified accordingly. In consideration of such examples, urban furniture in historical city textures was also analyzed from the perspective of architectural styles and social, cultural, and economical characteristics, and relevant recommendations are proposed. Pursuant to the study findings, urban furniture used in both squares is not compatible with the whole traditional texture, as it is not designed in a manner that blends modern and traditional aspects. Moreover, most of it is not in good condition and will soon lose its functionality due to the lack of maintenance. Our recommendations are addressed to the relevant literature domain and historical texture in general.