The effect of urban landmarks on urban safety perception: The case of Balat, Istanbul

Cities that have strong landmarks offer users effective orientation, comfortable experiences, and a heightened sense of safety. This study examines the impact of urban landmarks on pedestrian movements and orientations, and explores their relationship with perceptions of urban safety. The study area of Balat, Istanbul, was selected due to its abundance of urban landmarks as well as the presence of structures and spaces that create a negative perception of safety. Based on a review of literature on urban landmarks and spatial safety theories, complemented by field observations, a study involving 110 participants was conducted to analyse their route selections based on landmarks and their sense of safety along these routes. The findings revealed that streets with a high number of urban landmarks and those with higher attraction values play a significant role in shaping users’ orientation preferences. In addition, a positive correlation was observed between the presence of urban landmarks and the perception of spatial safety, indicating that areas with more prominent landmarks are perceived as safer by users.