ICONARP - International Journal Of Architecture And Planning
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Climatic Benefits of Urban Parks: Case Study in a Mediterranean Context
Full text linkGreen spaces make a significant contribution to the climatic comfort of urban dwellers. These contributions can be in the form of cooling in hot summers and heating in cold winters compared to the surrounding built-up areas. These contributions are related to the landscape design of parks to a certain extent. The presence and extension of hard grounds and waters in parks as well as the type, texture and density of plants used determine the level of climatic comfort provided. The present research was conducted in Aydın Kanza Park in the Mediterranean City of Antalya, Türkiye, to determine the cooling and heating benefits of the park, located in a warm climate area. Temperature, humidity, and wind speed were measured once a week all year round at four different locations inside the park (tree-covered, lawn-covered, hard ground, pond-side) as well as at three locations at a distance of 50, 100 and 300 meters away from the park. The findings indicate that Aydın Kanza Park provides 2.4 o C warmer environment in the first four months of the year and 2 o C cooler environment in the following seven months in terms of mean values at midday compared to the built-up area surrounding the park. The findings also indicate that the heating and cooling effect provided by the park continues at a certain distance from the park. However, there is no significant difference between the temperature, humidity, and wind speed values of various locations with different land cover inside the park, which is most probably related to the size of the park
Étienne-Louis Boullée and Pierre Chareau: Two Approaches to an Emerging Utopian Idea in Interior Design
Full text linkThe idea and concept of Utopia have been widely discussed in the contemporary world, and there is a wide post-utopic discussion regarding it. Furthermore, throughout history, the idea of utopia and its relation to architecture has also been discussed in many studies and can be observed in many resources. In other words, the idea and concept of Utopia and its relation to architecture and design thus have been widely discussed. A point of view to consider, however, is that there has been little discussion about how Utopia has changed the way of handling the design of interior spaces and perceived the emergence of new ideas about modern interior spaces. This paper aims to observe and gain insight into the idea of Utopia in interior design through the lens of two different designers and see the change of approach to how the Utopian Idea in interior spaces has evolved throughout the centuries. To achieve this, the architect Étienne-Louis Boullée (1728-1799) and the designer Pierre Chareau (1883-1950) have been analysed and their works observed through the lens of searching for an emerging utopian idea in interior architecture/ design. This study thus spanned throughout centuries, focusing especially on the 17th and 19th Centuries to analyse specific works done by the designers mentioned above, either in drawings or finished projects, and focusing especially on their interiors. It has been observed that the idea of Utopia offered a new way of considering spaces from a humanistic perspective, and that it has changed throughout centuries, manifesting possibly new different views of Utopia in interior spaces
The Impact of UXd in Lean Product Development and Design Processes; The Case of Automotive Industry
Full text linkIn the last two decades, lean product development and design processes, which have rapidly penetrated the automotive industry companies with all their functions and spread globally, have come to life with measurements, benchmarks and flow maps on value creation or value addition in new product project stages. In the literature review, two customer-oriented approaches, namely lean product development and user experience design, have been widely adopted within the discipline of new product design. However, the lack of comparative efficiency measurements or studies addressing their integration in scientific publications constitutes the primary motivation of this research. Furthermore, the selection of the research scope and boundaries is based on convenience sampling, enabled by direct qualitative research with companies managerial or design positions in the Turkish automotive supplier industry. The main objective of this study is to conduct a comparative analysis aimed at integrating user experience activities with lean product development process flows, and to reveal metric values that enhance efficiency through overall system optimization. On the other hand, the most important recommendation of the study is that the basic process will benefit positively by including user experience activities, which are the most important application of customer-oriented design approaches, into the highly efficient lean product development flow. Therefore, the study conducted with the mixed research method was completed under the preference of quantitative face-to-face interview method in the in-depth questioning of the qualitative numerical data obtained by the questionnaire method. User experience activities, which are newer and less widespread than lean product development processes, have also revealed the frequency of project-based, customer-oriented design activities, along with the demographic organizational structure of the participating companies in the automotive industry, such as the age of establishment, number of employees, number of designers, etc
Evaluating the Impact of Spatial Design on Users in Adaptive Reuse Projects: The Case of the Karapınar Grain Warehouse
Full text linkThe preservation and use of historic buildings as immovable cultural heritage are important for the continuity of a building’s life. When assigning a new function to buildings beyond their original use, meeting the needs of the city and the public, as well as ensuring socio-cultural and economic sustainability, are important considerations for selecting an appropriate function. When the integration of the new function with the existing building is successful, user satisfaction and the sustainability of the function yield positive outcomes. Based on this, in this study, which investigates the impact of spatial design on users through the adaptive reuse of an immovable cultural asset, the historic grain warehouse located in the center of Konya, Karapınar District, currently serving with a ‘book-café’ function, was selected as the field study. The aim of the study is to analyze the new function of the warehouse building functionally and physically through spatial analysis criteria and user opinions. In this context, users’ experiences were evaluated holistically within the framework of spatial analysis criteria using semi-structured interviews, one of the qualitative research methods. The findings of the study reveal that the adaptively reused building largely meets user expectations in architectural, technical, and environmental terms. It was determined that the building increases its symbolic value in the region, compensates for the lack of social spaces, that interior identity and the feeling the space leaves on individuals are important for users, and that thermal comfort has a direct effect on the duration of users’ stay in the space. However, the insufficient perception of the historical identity in the user experience indicates that the historical context should be more effectively integrated into the design in such adaptive reuse projects
Beyond Campus Walls: Studentification in Ankara’s İşçi Blokları Neighborhood – Housing, Affordability, and Community Dynamics
Full text linkThis article examines the dynamics of studentification in İşçi Blokları, Ankara—a 1970s cooperative-housing district adjacent to Middle East Technical University (METU). Originally constructed in 1973 as a workers’ cooperative housing estate, İşçi Blokları today functions as a major student-housing cluster, with many dwellings rented to students. Using a mixed-methods design (survey and in-depth interviews, 2022–2023), the study analyses how student demand reshapes housing affordability, dwelling quality, and neighborhood cohesion. Studentification emerges as a multifaceted urban issue. Residents depict students as a “guaranteed market,” linking their presence to higher property values but also to reduced maintenance and social frictions; yet many support a more balanced citywide distribution and acknowledge students’ economic and cultural contributions. Empirically, we find rent inflation and physical decline in older cooperative stock alongside growth in cafés, study-friendly venues, and youth-oriented services that enhance cultural vibrancy. In response, the paper proposes a new housing model that brings together the municipality, housing cooperatives, and universities. The model sets affordable rent limits (30–35% of household income), creates a revolving renovation fund to repair old buildings, and includes university agreements to guarantee stable student occupancy. Together, these measures aim to keep rents stable, improve living standards, and prevent resident displacement. Overall, studentification in İşçi Blokları is a transformative socio-spatial process requiring inclusive housing policy, multi-scalar governance, and the revitalization of cooperative institutions to balance affordability, diversity, and urban sustainability
Creative Design in Action: Exploring Basic Design Principles and Self-Assessment through Workshop Practice
Full text linkThe Basic Design course is a fundamental foundation in design education that introduces students to basic visual principles and creative problem-solving approaches. However, it creates challenges for students transitioning from traditional, rote-based learning environments to more abstract and conceptual thinking. The current study investigated how students comprehend and apply basic design principles through a workshop in the Basic Design I course at the European University of Lefke. The workshop, involving 81 first-year students from four design departments (Architecture, Interior Architecture and Environmental Design – Landscape Architecture – Visual Communication Design) and employed wire art as an applied vehicle for visualising and comprehending theoretical knowledge. The students underwent practical and reflective segments, allowing them to attain in-depth knowledge of design principles like balance, contrast, rhythm, symmetry, proximity, and unity. A guided survey was conducted after the workshop to identify student perceptions of these principles based on demographic factors like age, gender, and academic department. The results showed statistically significant perceptual differences depending on department, with the Visual Communication students especially having a more nuanced consciousness of visual principles. Age also showed significance, especially for the principle of proximity, as a sign of developmental or experiential processes in perception. Moreover, gender differences were found, and male and female students varied in sensitivity to the principles of contrast and symmetry. These findings support the need for integrating physical, three-dimensional workshops within foundation design education. They also highlight the diverse ways students of different backgrounds and disciplines learn about design. Future research must more comprehensively explore how spatial and material experience influences cognitive and creative growth within design learning spaces
Preserving and Rehabilitating the Historic Urban Landscape of Istanbul: A Case Study of the Büyükdere District
Full text linkBüyükdere has been a settlement since the Byzantine period and was a popular summer destination for ambassadors and foreigners due to its natural beauty in the 18th and 19th centuries. Nevertheless, while the urban sprawl of Büyükdere continued during the Republican period, the settlement began to lose its cosmopolitan structure. The problematic legal processes of Bosporus caused deterioration in the historical fabric of Büyükdere, even though it was declared a “historical urban site” in 1983.
As a unique part of Bosporus’ urban morphology, Büyükdere has not received enough attention, which can support the preservation of its urban fabric, from scholars and local authorities so far. Therefore, this study aims to fill the knowledge gap on Büyükdere by highlighting its preservation problems and thus, developing rehabilitation proposals for its historical urban fabric.
The settlement was documented via various analyses, and through them: legal, physical, and socio-economic preservation problems were determined at the building and urban scales. In 2023, 10,2% of the buildings were determined unoccupied, whilst 10% of the buildings were observed as structurally in bad condition. While 50,9% of the existing building stock was determined as new buildings, 6,4% of the buildings on the site were newly constructed on listed parcels. When the numbers of listed buildings were compared in 1978, 1983, 2004, and 2022, it was determined that 167 heritage buildings were lost during the last decades. The primary cause of this heritage loss has been identified as legal procedures, which significantly impact the site\u27s preservation status. In parallel with these, due to the decrease in the local population, abandonment and neglect were observed to impact the deterioration level of remaining heritage buildings.
Consequently, new urban designs and interventions were proposed to revitalize the fabric and create a sustainable preservation environment
Analysing the Transformation of Space Design through Globalization and Its Effects on the User: A Case Study of \u27Yer Ev\u27 in Aydın
No full textWith globalization, the speed at which people can access information has increased, the boundaries in the world have blurred, and societies, cultures, and economies have moved away from each other to the extent that they have come closer. Changes in social communication styles have, on the one hand, made it possible for a locality in any part of the world to become visible, and on the other hand, made it necessary to filter the information obtained against an identity problem that may arise. Within the scope of the study, the inevitable effects of globalization have been analyzed in the general concept of design and specifically in interior design. In this context, the research aims to examine the changing built environment with the effects of globalization and to emphasize the transformations that occur in the cultural and social lives of individuals. In line with this purpose, “Yer Ev” and newly built apartments located in the Incirliova district of Aydın Province were examined within the scope of the research. The study was carried out by selecting the phenomenology design from qualitative research methods. Images were collected through on-site observations in the region, and the collected images were presented by categorizing them in terms of spatial evaluations. Semi-structured interviews conducted with eight participants were analyzed and tabulated using the Nvivo program. Within the scope of the research, it was observed that design data specific to the culture of the geography in which the interior design is lived was not included as a value and that standardizations were brought to the design action, which should be shaped by user-specific data by nature, and that uniformity was experienced. The importance of presenting studies based on research that are far from generalizations in determining the needs and demands of individuals\u27 lives was emphasized
Scenario-Based Futures Research on Tourism Destination Competitiveness: An Interdisciplinary Framework Using Delphi and MICMAC
Full text linkIn recent years, tourism competitiveness has become a key factor in urban development, significantly affecting economic, social, and environmental sustainability. This study aims to identify and analyze the main drivers of tourism destination competitiveness using a futures research methodology. To address this gap, the study adopts a scenario-based futures research framework that integrates the Delphi method (for expert-driven identification of key drivers), MICMAC structural analysis (to evaluate systemic interdependencies), and Scenario Wizard (to generate internally consistent future scenarios). This methodological combination is rarely applied in tourism research and represents an interdisciplinary innovation that allows for dynamic modeling of tourism competitiveness under uncertainty. Through a systematic process, 25 initial factors were categorized into five dimensions, and 14 key drivers were extracted based on their influence. These drivers were then modeled using Scenario Wizard software, resulting in 14 plausible future scenarios. The study found that 80% of these scenarios indicate optimistic conditions for tourism development. The optimal scenario suggests strategic priorities such as fostering tourism culture, promoting inter-organizational coordination, enhancing investment and marketing, and strengthening infrastructure. These insights not only provide a practical framework for policymakers and urban planners but also contribute to the methodological advancement of interdisciplinary scenario-based tourism research
A Comparative Assessment Towards the Use of Informal Education Buildings as a Tool in Sustainability Education: A Case Study of Türkiye
Full text linkAim: This study explores how sustainably designed informal education buildings can serve as tools for sustainability education, focusing on both architectural features and their integration into educational practices. It addresses a research gap in Türkiye by examining the hidden educational potential of such buildings through theoretical analysis and comparative evaluation with international best practices. Method: Selected buildings in Türkiye were assessed based on sustainable architectural design principles and their capacity to contribute to public education. These were compared with internationally recognized examples using five core sustainability criteria: site and transportation, water, energy, materials, and indoor environmental quality. Data collection included literature review, field visits, and semi-structured interviews. Findings: Four out of five main sustainability themes—site and transportation, water, energy, and materials—are relatively well integrated into educational uses in international examples. However, indoor environmental quality remains underutilized in both international and national contexts. In Türkiye, educational use is primarily limited to features related to energy and site planning. National examples also fall short in terms of training duration and instructional quality compared to their international counterparts. Conclusion: For informal educational buildings to function effectively as tools for sustainability education in Türkiye, early-stage design processes must intentionally incorporate educational strategies tied to environmental features. Emphasizing interdisciplinary collaboration and integrating educational theories into design can significantly enhance the impact and accessibility of sustainability education