An Analytic Evaluation of the Transformation of Konya's Mevlana Square, Considering the Context of Urban Morphology

This study aims to evaluate the transformation and expansion processes of Mevlana Square, one of the most significant public spaces in Konya, through the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) within the context of urban identity, authenticity, and morphological continuity. Although the interventions carried out around the Mevlana Complex have strengthened the area's role as a major urban focal point, certain planning approaches adopted during its development have not fully achieved morphological coherence with the historical urban fabric. This situation highlights the need to reconsider the square's relationship with traditional spatial patterns, pedestrian mobility, and the surrounding historical axes. Accordingly, four main criteria—urban authenticity, historical-cultural value, spatial integrity, functionality, and accessibility—were defined, and an AHP model was constructed based on expert assessments. The analysis results indicate that historical-cultural value and urban authenticity hold the highest levels of importance in future design and planning decisions for Mevlana Square. The findings demonstrate that the square occupies a strategic position in terms of Konya’s cultural memory and the morphological continuity of its historic core, and that multi-criteria decision support systems offer a valuable framework for promoting more holistic, balanced, and sustainable planning approaches in culturally significant urban areas.