Rethinking urban density, vitality and healthy environment in the post-pandemic city: The case of Istanbul

Paköz M. Z., Işık M.

Cities, vol.124, 2022 (SSCI) identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 124
  • Publication Date: 2022
  • Doi Number: 10.1016/j.cities.2022.103598
  • Journal Name: Cities
  • Journal Indexes: Social Sciences Citation Index (SSCI), Scopus, Academic Search Premier, International Bibliography of Social Sciences, Periodicals Index Online, Avery, Business Source Elite, Business Source Premier, Environment Index, Index Islamicus, PAIS International, Political Science Complete, Public Affairs Index, Social services abstracts, Sociological abstracts, Worldwide Political Science Abstracts
  • Keywords: Healthy environment, Istanbul, Post-pandemic city, The Covid-19 outbreak, Urban density, Urban vitality
  • Istanbul Technical University Affiliated: No

Abstract

The present study aims to examine the relationship between urban vitality, healthy environment and density through the city of Istanbul, which is going through the Covid-19 outbreak. In this context, an online survey was conducted to measure the assessments of the residents living in districts with different density categories regarding the neighborhoods and the city they live in. The evaluations made by the citizens in the dimensions of vitality, mobility, safety, healthiness, cleanliness, orderliness were reduced to two main factors as “urban vitality” and “healthy environment” using Principal Components Analysis. Then, the evaluations regarding these six variables and two factors were subjected to cross-inquiries with the personal, residential and district characteristics. Urban residents were also asked to evaluate the city life before and after the Covid-19 outbreak. The main findings of the study reveal that there is a statistically significant difference between the density levels of the districts in terms of the perception of urban vitality and some sub-variables of healthy environment. Also, there is an observed change in the thoughts about urban life in Istanbul due to the outbreak.