National Gardens and Landscape Design Criteria: An Application Assessment of the Kırıkkale National Garden

This study evaluates the design quality of the Kırıkkale National Garden using criteria from the National Gardens Guide. These projects have expanded rapidly in recent years and shaped the open-space agendas of many cities. Guiding principles are examined under six headings: spatial–functional performance; access, movement, and universal use; ecological and environmental sustainability; social life, health, and public use; innovation and technological integration; and identity, sense of belonging, and spatial meaning. An evaluation matrix was developed, and each criterion was qualitatively assessed as “meets,” “partially meets,” or “does not meet.” Findings show strong performance in social life and public use, but deficiencies in accessibility, ecological sustainability, innovation, and identity. Although the site meets basic recreational needs as a large-scale urban park, it lacks distinctive National Garden design qualities and sustainable infrastructure. The study argues that National Gardens should be judged not only by size but also by spatial quality, inclusivity, and local identity integration.