The Urban Image of Konya in the Memory of Selçuk University Students

Abstract

The urban image is a reflection of how individuals perceive, interpret, and encode urban space in their memories. University students constitute a significant stakeholder group in shaping the urban image due to their intense spatial interactions and dynamic mobility. This study aims to examine the urban image of Konya formed in the mental processes of Selçuk University students through the components of urban perception and spatial memory. Based on Kevin Lynch’s theoretical framework of "The Image of the City," the research methodology relies on face-to-face surveys conducted with 96 volunteer students studying at Selçuk University. The obtained quantitative data were analyzed using SPSS statistical software; within this scope, the relationships between the participants' demographic characteristics and the structural elements forming the urban image (paths, edges, districts, nodes, and landmarks) were examined through statistical analyses. According to the analysis results, it was observed that the urban image of Konya in the students' memory is predominantly shaped around the Mevlana Museum and Alaaddin Hill in the historical city center, the S.U. Alaeddin Keykubat Campus as their daily living space, and the tram line connecting these two focal points. Furthermore, it was determined that demographic variables, such as students' length of residence in Konya and their gender, create a significant difference in their levels of mapping and recalling urban elements. The findings obtained offer suggestions for future urban planning and landscape architecture strategies for the city of Konya.