From Sümerbank to Sümerpark: Public Spaces Turning into Shopping Malls

<p>Public spaces are places allowing to integrate society and culture flow. Recently, public spaces in Turkey have been undergoing a transformation in favour of shopping centers. The purpose of this research is to investigate public spaces turned into shopping centers generally in Turkey and peculiarly in Denizli Sümerpark. The main hypothesis of the study is that public spaces come to the fore with the case of rent rather than public interest, undergo a transformation and governing powers doesn’t establish extensive form in the decision making process. It has been retained that the Sümerpark project specific to Denizli is a decent example to public spaces which undergo a transformation in the effect of neoliberal policies and urban transformation. Public spaces shouldn’t be handled with high exchange values which come up with rent concerns. It should be evaluated depending on usage value. Public spaces should be used for the public benefit.