Journal of Design for Resilience in Architecture and Planning
JOURNAL of DESIGN for RESILIENCE in ARCHITECTURE and PLANNING (DRArch) is interested in designs and design methods the approach of foreseeing the future, long-term, sustainable, being able to synthesize technological developments with inspiration and aesthetics. Resilience means the capacity to recover quickly from difficulties with the ability of adaptation. Resilient design and resilient city are deal with better living. DRArch is not only on the concept of resilience design mentioned in the literature, but also on the anticipation of future designs in the rapidly changing and transforming modern world. Design for resilience is to adapt to change, to develop innovative tools, to use technology for people and the environment, dealing with flexibility, durability, mobility and humanity. DRArch provides a new forum to bring together existing design accumulation with futuristic approach to create better and happier built environment. DRArch aims to fill that gap. DRArch is a free, open access, scholarly international, e-journal considers original research articles, viewpoints, book reviews in peer-reviewed.
Photographic counter-memory as urban resilience: Evaluating Murat Germen’s photographic practice in Istanbul’s urban transformation since 2000
In the post-2000 period, Istanbul has become one of the most intense cases of neoliberal spatial restructuring in the developing world, driven by state-market alliances that systematically opened non-commodified spaces to real estate capital. This article argues that such transformations operate not only in economic terms but also as mnemonic policies: the erasure of collective memory is a structural mechanism through which hegemonic power generates docile space and undermines counter-hegemonic potentials. The article distinguishes two modalities of erasure across two cases of urban transformation. The first is aggressive erasure, exemplified by Fikirtepe, where the accelerated application of Law on the Transformation of Areas Under Disaster Risk outpaced community resistance and made the continuity of embodied and collective memory impossible. The second is aesthetic recoding, operating in the transformation of Bağdat Avenue in Kadıköy, where the gradual replacement of neighbourhood-based social life by luxury apartments and commercial consumption spaces enacts what Neil Leach calls 'aesthetic anaesthesia'. Against this backdrop, the article treats the photographic practice of Murat Germen - a photographer and academic who holds the most extensive archive of Istanbul's contemporary transformation - as its primary object. Drawing on the counter-archive - the photographic refusal of the terms of official representation - the article examines Germen’s counter-memorial narratives across both sites and their public resonance. His Fikirtepe documentation captures the threshold at which anamnesis remains possible; his Bağdat Avenue work reveals the gap between spatial promise and eroded identity. Employing Gillian Rose's qualitative visual methodology alongside an analysis of Germen's reception across institutional contexts, the article finds that photographic counter-memory constitutes a meaningful but constrained form of ‘urban resilience’ - understood not in its technocratic sense of 'bouncing back', but as the social capacity of communities to sustain contested memory under conditions of imposed transformation - a formulation that draws on critical resilience scholarship. The article's primary theoretical contribution is a distinction between two functions of photographic counter-memory, whose efficacy is conditioned by the modality of erasure each confronts. A testimonial function - the preservation of evidence for future challenge - operates robustly across both erasure modalities, while a mobilizing function - the generation of counter-hegemonic solidarity - depends on the legibility of loss that each modality of mnemonic erasure permits. Photographic counter-memory does not reverse physical transformation, but it sustains the social capacity to recognize, archive, and contest ongoing erasure.
Copyright (c) 2026 Sena Özfiliz, İpek Akpınar https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Impact of form factor variability on building energy assessment: A computational and empirical analysis for early-stage design
While energy efficiency is increasingly recognised as an integral factor in building design, form-related considerations in Nigeria remain underexplored. This study explores the influence of compactness on building energy demand and carbon emissions using computational simulations tailored for early-stage residential design. Ten distinct building forms consisting of six one-storey, three two-storey and one three-storey building were modelled in SketchUp to collect building entity data and systematically transformed for compactness assessment while maintaining the same volume and floor area. A weather file for location-based energy requirements was generated using Meteonorm, while dynamic thermal modelling, energy performance and carbon emissions were evaluated using EnergyPlus. Python programming was utilised for advanced statistical evaluation, pattern recognition and data visualisation. Findings revealed that single-storey buildings have higher surface-to-volume (SV) ratios and are more energy efficient than more compact, multi-storey counterparts. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) confirmed that building volume accounts for more than 97% of form factor variability, establishing it as the most dominant driver of compactness, while regression analysis reinforced its statistical significance (P-value = 0.038). However, cluster analysis demonstrated that energy efficiency is not solely a function of form factor but is informed by complex interplays between building morphology parameters and façade exposure. Unexpectedly, despite improvements in SV ratios of the transformed buildings, energy demand intensified by up to 30.27%, challenging conventional assumptions that compactness universally enhances energy efficiency. These findings highlight the limitations of compactness as a standalone metric for evaluating energy performance in tropical climates, stressing the need for integrating passive design strategies, such as solar-responsive façades and optimised building orientation, into form optimisation. This study redefines performance assessments for early-stage design by advocating for a more context-sensitive approach to building form in tropical climates.
Copyright (c) 2026 Mark Alegbe, Hammed Nasiru, John Lekwauwa Kalu, Laurence Chukwuemeka, Nnamdi Diribe https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Reading spatial inequality in Gaza through UNRWA reports: Displacement and urban fragmentation
The escalation of conflict in Gaza in October 2023 has intensified a humanitarian crisis marked by mass displacement and the disruption of essential services, producing new forms of spatial inequality and heightened human vulnerability. To understand and analyze this crisis, this study draws on UNRWA situation reports from October 2023 to December 2025. It uses these reports as a lens to examine spatial conditions and how space is organized and transformed during the crisis. In this context, the study develops a spatial reading by identifying and interpreting how space is articulated within these reports. This includes the development of analytical visual representations derived from the data, translating textual and numerical information into spatial patterns across time and regions, and enabling a clearer understanding of displacement dynamics and spatial inequality. In doing so, it not only treats these reports as data but also critically examines how such textual, numerical, and visual outputs construct, represent, or fail to capture spatial inequalities. Through the analysis of these reports, the study identifies five temporal phases. Within each phase, a qualitative approach is adopted to analyze patterns of population movement, shelter overcrowding, and variations in service availability, allowing for a comparison of how crises intensify or recede over time and how specific challenges become more dominant in particular phases. The analysis is structured around three main aspects: access to services, the condition of infrastructure, and the uneven impact of humanitarian aid across different areas. The findings show that repeated displacement, damaged services, and limited aid intensify spatial inequalities over time, with certain vulnerabilities becoming more pronounced in specific phases.
Copyright (c) 2026 Areen Soboh, Bengi Su Ertürkmen https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Designing metropolitan food reserve portfolios for urban food resilience: A policy-design case from Surabaya, Indonesia
Urban food resilience is often treated as a question of agricultural production, staple stock availability, or emergency food aid. Such interpretations are useful but incomplete for dense metropolitan regions whose food security depends on household coping capacities, neighborhood retail systems, civic redistribution networks, market information, municipal logistics, and inter-regional procurement. This article develops a qualitative policy-design case study of Surabaya, Indonesia, to examine how metropolitan food reserves can be planned beyond conventional stockholding. Using a documentary archive consisting of a 2022 food-reserve focus group discussion report, presentation materials, coordination notes, food-station and food-bank models, local food-security mapping, and urban baseline records, the study codes stakeholder inputs by problem domain, actor mandate, reserve function, spatial scale, and implementation risk. The analysis shows that Surabaya’s favorable food-security classification coexists with structural dependence on external supply, limited urban agricultural land, long market chains, food-quality concerns, storage and budget risks, and fragmented reserve governance. Rather than treating sustainable home-food garden areas, women's farmer groups, family welfare and empowerment groups, city food units, food banks, food stations/municipally owned food enterprises, and inter-regional procurement as separate alternatives, the article reconstructs them as a collaborative food reserve portfolio. The contribution is conceptual and policy-design oriented: it reframes urban food reserves as a multi-scalar governance architecture composed of material stocks, social provisioning, surplus redistribution, city-region logistics, rules, data, and emergency capacities. The model is best read as a pilotable planning framework, not as evidence of program impact, and is intended to help planners translate fragmented food-security instruments into coordinated, monitorable resilience functions.
Copyright (c) 2026 Medea Ramadhani Utomo, Yayuk Yuliati https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
From SEKA to Sekapark: An analysis of post-industrial transformation through measurable spatial indicators
Post-industrial urban transformation is widely discussed through brownfield redevelopment, industrial heritage conservation, waterfront regeneration, ecological recovery, and culture-led reuse. However, site-scale studies that evaluate such transformations through measurable spatial indicators remain limited. This study examines the transformation of the SEKA Paper Factory in İzmit, Türkiye, into Sekapark as a case of transition from a Fordist industrial production landscape to a post-Fordist cultural, recreational, ecological, and publicly accessible coastal landscape. The research employs a mixed-method design combining field observation, GIS-based spatial analysis, remote sensing, OSM-based network analysis, DEM-based elevation assessment, and archival interpretation. A total of 280 building units were evaluated through physical-structural, ecological-environmental, transport-accessibility, and heritage-urban integration indicators. These include building typology, use status, building condition and intervention priority, NDVI-based vegetation change, elevation-based coastal vulnerability, public transport proximity, pedestrian connectivity, cultural heritage value, and city-center integration. The findings indicate that transformation has been most strongly consolidated along the waterfront through cultural and recreational functions, while parts of the former production core continue to display transitional use and intervention needs. NDVI analysis for 2000–2025 shows that mean NDVI increased from 0.068 to 0.250 and vegetated surface increased to 36.3% by 2025. Accessibility analyses show a strong pedestrian network and close public transport proximity, although the transport assessment is based on stop buffers rather than full route-based accessibility. The study develops and tests an adapted indicator-based spatial evaluation framework for assessing post-industrial transformation at the site scale.
Copyright (c) 2026 Aslıhan Uygun, Elif Sağlık https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Climate-induced flooding and coastal transportation vulnerability: Implications for urban resilience in Izmir, Türkiye
Climate-related sea-level rise and storm surges are progressively impacting coastal cities and their transportation infrastructure, placing increasing strain on mobility in these areas. Since major transportation routes are often located in low-lying coastal areas, assessing their susceptibility to flood-related hazards has become a critical aspect of urban resilience and climate adaptation planning. This research examines the relationship between sea level variability and traffic performance under flood-prone conditions through a case study of a coastal transportation corridor in Izmir, Türkiye. The analytical framework integrates long-term relative sea level observations (1999–2024) with high-frequency traffic volume data collected during rainfall and flood-prone periods in 2023. Long-term sea level variability and seasonal patterns were examined using time-series analysis, while the empirical relationship between sea level variability and traffic flow was analysed using regression and correlation analyses. In addition, exploratory future scenarios were developed to illustrate potential exposure pathways under continued sea level rise. The findings indicate that higher sea level values are associated with modest but statistically significant reductions in traffic volumes along coastal routes. The strength of these associations varies spatially and temporally, with stronger relationships observed at specific locations and during peak traffic periods. The analysis further highlights the vulnerability of coastal transport corridors to flood-induced disruptions and illustrates how corridor-scale analyses can identify localized vulnerabilities that may be masked at broader regional scales. By linking observed traffic responses to sea level variability under flood-prone conditions, the study contributes empirical evidence to the growing literature on climate-resilient transportation systems. These insights provide valuable insights for assessing transportation vulnerability and resilience in urban growth, infrastructure management, and climate adaptation interventions in coastal cities.
Copyright (c) 2026 Çağla Ercanlı, Ahmet Karakurt https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Green building certification systems: An assessment of the city of Izmir
This study examines the sustainability performance of LEED and BREEAM-certified green buildings in Izmir, province of Türkiye, in terms of certification levels, assessment categories, building types and the environmental strategies implemented. Guided by a conceptual framework based on sustainability, sustainability in architecture, urban sustainability, the green building approach and international certification systems, the research aims to provide a comparative assessment at a local-scale. A qualitative research approach was adopted in the study; document analysis was used as the data collection technique. Data obtained from ÇEDBİK, USGBC, BREEAM and relevant project sources were classified according to certification type, certification level, total score, credit categories, building function and sustainability strategies; and interpreted using descriptive statistics and comparative content analysis. In this respect, the study distinguishes itself from research focusing on a single building type or a single certification category by developing a multi-typology evaluation framework based on the example of Izmir province. The findings show that there are 32 LEED-certified projects in Izmir and four BREEAM certification records associated with three separate buildings or projects. It was determined that performance in LEED-certified buildings is concentrated in the categories of energy and atmosphere, water efficiency, indoor environmental quality, location and transport, and sustainable sites; however, the materials and resources category is under-represented. BREEAM projects, on the other hand, are characterised by the operational performance of existing buildings, environmental management, energy and water conservation, waste control, user comfort and safety measures. Furthermore, it has been observed that sustainability priorities vary according to building function; different strategies are prominent in office, industrial, commercial, residential and transport buildings. The study reveals that green building practices in Izmir are spreading across different building functions; however, the publicly available records examined are insufficient to directly assess the spatial and socio-economic dimensions of this spread. Based on the findings, it is recommended that the strong practices observed in energy and water efficiency be maintained; while sustainability strategies relating to materials and resource management, the operational performance of existing buildings, and building functionality should be developed through local policies and incentives.
Copyright (c) 2026 Duygu Gökce, Onur Tos, Harika Tos https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
A morphological framework for delineating character areas in a coastal town: The case of Görele, Türkiye
Urban morphology has long sought to translate the historical, environmental, and built-form structure of settlements into legible units that planning can act on. In practice, however, the connection between morphological analysis and planning has remained limited, particularly in topographically differentiated small towns where standard density controls fail to fully address the distinct character of areas that are formed through topography, historical development, and built form. This paper develops a method for delineating character areas within a historico-geographical framework that is applicable to planning practice. The method synthesizes three groups of analysis: historical development, natural environmental structure, and built form and land use, to delineate different character areas of the urban landscape. The rural-to-urban transect was then applied as a secondary assessment to question the character area classification. The method is applied to Görele, a small coastal town in northeastern Türkiye, selected for its topography and traceable urban development history since the start of the Republican era in 1923. After the synthesis, nine character areas are defined in Görele, each shaped by a specific overlay of development history, natural setting, plot pattern, density, and building form. Non-parametric tests confirm that the areas differ significantly in plot area, ground space index, floor area ratio, and number of storeys. A Spearman rank correlation along the main rural-to-urban sequence shows that plot size decreases and density values increase toward the urban core, but areas with similar density values can differ substantially in plot pattern, street structure, and historical depth. The findings show that character area delineation provides a more differentiated basis for planning than density categories alone and identifies areas where high-density development has occurred without adequate integration with the urban context. In coastal towns shaped by constraining topography and historical development, this approach can guide density control toward more adaptive and contextual urban planning.
Copyright (c) 2026 Beyza Karadeniz, Yelda Aydın Türk https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Sustainability theory and practice in industrial design education: A comparative case study
Sustainability has become a significant part of design education, either as an integrated subject or as a central focus in courses with diverse structures and pedagogical approaches. The necessary approaches, tools, and methods have been developed over the past thirty years and continue to evolve. This study examines how design for sustainability can be taught in undergraduate design education. First, background information is established on the scope of design, design for resilience and sustainability, and design education. While the literature focuses primarily on integrating sustainability into design curricula or studios, theoretical courses on design for sustainability in undergraduate design education have not been sufficiently explored. Therefore, this study examines two consecutive semesters of an elective course on design for sustainability, which has both a theoretical and practical structure, through a comparative case study. Course documents and outcomes from two semesters, before and after the course's time plan and evaluation criteria were updated, were analyzed and compared. The comparison focused on the course process and the themes of the final projects, as well as the sustainability goals they aimed to contribute to. The findings reveal that shifting the focus of the course process and outcome criteria from the design ideation phase to the design development phase altered the course outcomes. Furthermore, examining the results obtained by students participating in an international student design competition on sustainable design, using the projects they developed during the course, indicates that competitions improve the quality of project outcomes and student motivation, while also providing validation of design success and sustainability impact. The study can provide information to researchers, instructors, and practitioners working on design for sustainability and design education.
Copyright (c) 2026 Elif Küçüksayraç https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Cost analysis and feasibility of green building adaptation in low-rise residential housing: Evidence from Türkiye
This study evaluates the cost implications of green building practices in low-rise residential housing by analyzing three sample houses in Kayseri, Türkiye. It compares traditional construction systems with green alternatives, focusing on water efficiency, energy-saving technologies, and sustainable materials. The findings reveal that green buildings incur higher upfront costs, particularly due to photovoltaic systems and certified materials. However, when compared with traditional structures, they demonstrate clear long-term benefits in energy savings, environmental performance, and operational efficiency. Water-related costs were mainly driven by sanitary fixtures and appliances, while insulation dominated material expenses. By offering a localized cost comparison between traditional and green construction, this study fills a gap in the national literature and highlights the feasibility of sustainable housing in Türkiye. These insights aim to inform both policy development and practical applications, providing a valuable foundation for integrating green certification systems into future low-rise residential projects.
Copyright (c) 2026 Merve Bıyıklı Hasözhan, Zübeyde Özlem Parlak Biçer, Nurbanu Şahin https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Human health oriented design approaches in office buildings: Salutogenic model
Office buildings have frequently changed from the past to the present due to historical factors (the collapse of empires, colonialism and expansionist policies, the industrial revolution, wars, the development of technology, epidemics, etc.) and the transformations these factors have created in user needs. Office designs, based on user health and productivity, have also had to keep pace with the changing needs of the age. Therefore, the design of office spaces is an important criterion that reflects how people feel and how it affects their work performance. Research examining the relationship between health and office environments often focuses on a single variable (noise, lighting, office layout, air quality, etc.) and addresses the pathogenic effects of the physical environment, while largely ignoring salutogenic components. Thus, there is a need for a theoretical framework and a holistic approach that encompasses health-promoting research data by adopting the concept of “salutogenic,” introduced by sociologist Aaron Antonovsky, which aims to address the origins of health and promote well-being in a positive manner. The aim of this article is to explore how the adoption of salutogenic principles in the architectural design of offices can positively affect the physical, mental, and social health of employees and how this process should be managed. The data obtained through a literature review method enable the application of salutogenic models in office buildings. Within the scope of this study, Antonovsky’s concept of the salutogenic model is examined, and the adaptation of design models developed based on this concept is discussed in the context of office buildings.
Copyright (c) 2026 Eda Nur Aydemir Kutluer, Betül Bakır https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Contemporary practices and policies for the conservation and presentation of antique ruins in multi-layered cities: Insights from İzmir
Historic urban landscapes often embody a multi-layered city structure, where successive phases of urbanization, transformation, and cultural accumulation coexist within the same physical and symbolic landscape. However, despite continuing conservation initiatives, persistent problems remain: a lack of accessibility in physical, visual, and intellectual terms limits public engagement with the city’s archaeological layers, while a lack of integration, both physical and societal, prevents these invisible periodic layers from being incorporated into contemporary urban planning and public narratives. In response to these challenges, the aim of this study is to analyze current policies and practices for conserving and presenting urban heritage embedded within complex historic fabrics, and its objective is to trace the chronological evolution of İzmir’s urban base to reveal how successive transformations have preserved, obscured, transformed or reinterpreted heritage layers. The research adopts a case study approach focusing on the Kadifekale city walls in İzmir. Its methodology integrates a literature review using historical maps, memoirs, and publications for understanding the case, comparative studies, and international documents regarding effective heritage conservation with fieldwork and evaluative analysis to elucidate on-site conditions and policy contexts. Ultimately, the study proposes an integrated, participatory, and sustainable framework for managing and presenting multi-layered urban heritage within historic cities.
Conservation and Restoration of Cultural Heritage
Copyright (c) 2026 Beylem Doğa Tabur, Mine Hamamcıoğlu Turan https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
User satisfaction in home office environments: A comparative analysis of environmental factors by gender and age
This study examines how physical environmental characteristics shape user satisfaction in home office settings and whether these evaluations differ according to gender and age variables. The research was conducted within a quantitative research design framework, based on data obtained from 231 participants with active remote working experience. Satisfaction levels were evaluated using descriptive statistics and comparative analyses (One-Way Analysis of Variance-ANOVA). The findings indicate that home office satisfaction does not exhibit a homogeneous structure; rather, it demonstrates significant differences particularly in the dimensions of ergonomic adequacy, spatial organization, technical equipment sufficiency, and perceived work flexibility. Gender-based differences were primarily observed in perceptions of ergonomic and technical adequacy, whereas the age variable exerted a broader and more comprehensive effect, emerging as a determining factor especially in the dimensions of concentration, work management, and equipment adequacy. These results suggest that age may be a more distinctive factor than gender in shaping home office satisfaction. Overall, the study emphasizes that home office design should be evaluated not only in terms of physical comfort and functionality but also within the context of users’ demographic characteristics. The findings provide important implications for interior design strategies, ergonomic support policies, and sustainable remote working practices.
Copyright (c) 2026 Kemal Yıldırım, Kübra Müezzinoğlu Başpınar, Pınar Arı https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Designing resilience in historical environments: A pedagogical analysis of a “healing”-themed studio
A this article presents a design studio model that integrates architectural pedagogy with urban resilience by focusing on the theme of “healing” within a historical context. Conducted in Sarıkaya, an ancient Roman thermal settlement in Turkey, the studio aimed to cultivate student awareness of historical continuity, collective memory, and spatial repair through design interventions that address physical, social, and ecological healing. A mixed-methods research design was employed, including pre- and post-studio surveys, cognitive mapping, and protocol analysis of student processes and outcomes. Quantitative findings based on 11 participants revealed a marked increase in conceptual and spatial awareness after the studio. The average post-test score rose from 62.3 to 81.7 out of 100, indicating a 31.1% improvement in students’ capacity to engage with urban resilience and heritage-based healing concepts. Cognitive map complexity also increased by 44%, showing a shift from form-based to multi-layered socio-spatial strategies. Thematic categorization of student projects revealed four primary resilience domains: social (31%), ecological-economic (30%), cultural-technological (23%), and morphological (16%). Design outputs included proposals such as AI-assisted pediatric ateliers, memory-based housing for elderly Alzheimer’s patients, geothermal healing centers, and sensory walking routes, all developed in response to the socio-cultural and spatial dynamics of the historic site. The study demonstrates how design education can function as a vehicle for heritage-conscious innovation and collective well-being. By combining conceptual framing, contextual analysis, and experiential learning, the studio model not only fostered architectural empathy and historical imagination but also provided measurable cognitive and perceptual growth. These results underscore the relevance of resilience-centered design pedagogy in cultivating architects capable of addressing both past legacies and future uncertainties through spatial healing.
Copyright (c) 2026 Begüm Demiroğlu İzgi, Ayşegül Koç Ünlüsoy https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Symbiotic spatiality in domestic interiors: A spatial model for human-animal cohabitation
Domestic interiors have historically been organized through anthropocentric spatial logics in which architectural layouts, circulation systems, and spatial hierarchies are structured primarily around human needs and bodily experience. However, the increasing presence of animals as everyday companions within contemporary households has gradually transformed domestic environments into shared multispecies habitats. Despite this transformation, architectural responses often remain limited to functional adjustments rather than reconsidering interior spatial organization itself. Addressing this gap, the study proposes the Symbiotic Spatial Model as an analytical framework for examining how domestic interiors reorganize when animals are recognized as spatial actors rather than accommodated occupants. The model translates post-humanist spatial discourse into three operational layers: hierarchical reconfiguration, multi-species circulation, and negotiated boundaries. The framework is applied through a comparative spatial analysis of two contemporary residential projects that explicitly integrate human–animal cohabitation. The findings demonstrate that symbiotic coexistence emerges through different spatial mechanisms, including plan-based redistribution of hierarchy and sectional stratification of movement systems. By operationalizing multispecies theory through spatial parameters, the study contributes a methodological framework for interpreting human–animal coexistence within interior architecture.
Copyright (c) 2026 Neşe Başak Yurttaş https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Bilateral relations of tectonics through physical models: Anchoring architecture to the site
Emphasizing the concentric relationship between the tectonics of Earth and the tectonics of architecture, this study argues that design ideas generated through this interaction have the potential to produce spatial constructs belonging to their sites, rather than objects merely positioned upon them. It examines a conceptually framed architectural design studio in which tectonics is explored as a design tool. By primarily questioning the concept of tectonics, it is defined in terms of relationalities, dualities, and dichotomies, thus offering students a robust and flexible methodology for idea generation. Within this framework, the scope is narrowed through the use of conceptual and physical tools. While tectonics is treated as a conceptual tool, the physical model is employed as a corporeal tool of inquiry. The discussions focus on analyzing the tectonics of the site and investigating its reproduction through physical models and how this form of representation affects architectural design. The study also critiques the process of analyzing the site and then moving on to idea generation, arguing that the site itself is a powerful datum for idea generation and that these processes are both incremental and deliberative. Within the architectural design studio that forms the scope of the study, the first stage was designed to question the concept of tectonics in order to raise students’ awareness of the project site. Questioning the Earth's tectonics constituted a pillar of the tectonic discussions that spread throughout the semester. The question at the center of these discussions is, “How can architecture anchor to the site?” In addressing the question, the conceptual framework of inquiry was defined as the dichotomy between tectonics and stereotomics. As a result of this inquiry process, the three-dimensional model was the medium through which the students would concretize their interpretations and findings. While the physical models constitute student-generated material, their abstraction, classification, and visual representation reflect the authors’ methodological reading of the design processes. The study ultimately proposes a methodological approach in which the relationship between site and tectonics is explored through physical modeling. On the other hand, it further argues that tectonics should be understood not merely as a descriptive category but as a critical operative concept within the design process. Owing to its inherently multilayered structure, tectonics offers a robust theoretical framework through which architectural production can be both interpreted and articulated. As such, the study provides a productive foundation for future research seeking to reassess the epistemological and methodological grounds of design practice.
Copyright (c) 2026 Bilgen Dündar, Aslı Uzunkaya https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Interior comfort performance and improvement approaches of temporary housing units in disaster zones
Temporary housing units are developed to meet the urgent shelter needs emerging after disasters, and container structures are widely used due to their features such as low cost, rapid production, and portability. However, in post-disaster housing processes, quantity and speed often take precedence; the indoor quality and comfort conditions of the provided temporary units are largely ignored. Yet, in the post-trauma recovery processes of disaster victims, the physical quality and indoor spatial characteristics of the space they live in play a determining role. The aim of this study is to evaluate the indoor comfort of temporary housing units in container cities established after the February 6, 2023 Kahramanmaraş earthquakes based on user experiences, to reveal the main indoor spatial problem areas, and to develop improvement strategies in line with human-centered interior architecture approaches. The research was conducted in the Osmangazi Neighborhood container city established in the İslahiye district of Gaziantep province. As a method, field observations were conducted along with a survey study involving 90 users. Within the scope of the survey, thermal comfort, visual comfort and lighting, auditory (acoustic) comfort, indoor air quality, and ergonomics and spatial design parameters were evaluated. In the analysis of the obtained data, alongside descriptive statistics, One-Way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) was used to determine the effect of demographic variables on comfort perception. The findings prove that noise, odor, inadequate air conditioning, and spatial limitations reduce the quality of life; ANOVA results prove that as household size increases (especially in families of 6-7 people), comfort satisfaction decreases, and education level is a determining factor in perception. The study contributes to the field by presenting a holistic interior architecture and improvement framework that prioritizes indoor quality and user comfort for post-disaster temporary housing units.
Copyright (c) 2026 Esra Avlanmaz Bilecen, Buse Büyükkömürcü https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
A framework to design and implement cross-platform WebVR walkthrough for a Chettinad heritage building
Immersive walkthroughs are increasingly used to document, interpret, and communicate heritage sites to remote audiences. This study presents a framework for designing and implementing a cross-platform WebVR walkthrough of Athangudi Palace, a significant Chettinad mansion in Tamil Nadu, India. The project addresses limited physical access due to conservation sensitivity and geographic distance by developing a browser-based experience accessible on Head-Mounted Displays (HMDs), desktop computers, tablets, and mobile phones. It has a systematic workflow that involves on-site documentation, 360-degree image capture, spatial-audio recording, post-processing, WebVR development in A-Frame, refinement, and deployment. The walkthrough features panoramic shots, guided tours, hotspots, and contextual commentary, to convey the spatial nature and sustainability elements of the palace, such as passive cooling, material selections, and climate-adaptive planning. The paper contributes a reproducible workflow for documenting and interpreting domestic heritage architecture through a lightweight WebVR system. It demonstrates how browser-based immersive media can support remote heritage access, conservation awareness, and sustainability-oriented interpretation without increasing physical pressure on a sensitive site.
Copyright (c) 2026 Antony Zharon, Ajith Paul, Balakrishnan C, Biju Kunnumpurath, Anitha Suseelan https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Pedagogies in urban design: Broadening the perspective
This editorial introduces a special issue that offers glimpses of formation, evolution and the current state of urban design education in the international scope. Bringing together Viewpoints, Research Articles and a Book Review from diverse geographical and institutional contexts, the issue traces multiple dimensions and pathways through which diverse pedagogies in urban design are formed, challenged, and reconfigured. The contributions reveal urban design pedagogies as contingent, adaptive, and shaped by shifting urban agendas, institutional organizations, agency of academic communities, and technological transformations. The synthesis foregrounds studio education as a key site where disciplinary foundations, core competencies and professional capacities, and working cultures are negotiated, and where enduring questions of legitimacy, specialization, professional recognition, technological mediation, and ethical formation concerning the future of urban design education are productively challenged.
Copyright (c) 2025 Irmak Yavuz Özgür, Olgu Çalışkan https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
The importance of local materials in sustainable rural planning: Case of Gelemiç
Studies carried out for sustainable and low carbon emission rural area design and planning are important in minimising the effects of climate change and protecting the ecology. Especially in rural areas, the choice of local materials plays an important role in ensuring environmental sustainability within the scope of landscape planning studies, creating the identity and aesthetic values of the region. In recent years, the traditional building materials used in traditional buildings in rural settlements and the fact that the structures in which these materials are applied do not harm the nature and are suitable for user comfort have been effective in bringing these structures back to the agenda. Traditional buildings were constructed with the most appropriate materials and components depending on the climatic characteristics. In addition, designing and planning studies by taking into consideration the natural, climatic, cultural, social and economic factors of rural settlements contributes to the success of the low carbon target in these areas. In this study, adobe buildings in village settlements within the scope of low carbon rural areas in Gelemiç rural settlement within the borders of Bursa province were evaluated in terms of sustainability and also examined within the scope of climatic and ecological parameters. The construction technique of traditional architectural structures was observed and analytical methods were used to analyse adobe, which is the original and local building material. In addition, the climatic characteristics (precipitation and temperature data between 2004-2024) and geological structure (seismicity, rock structure and soil structure) of the study area were examined and maps were produced using Geographic Information Systems. In line with the information on the produced maps, construction techniques and material properties used in traditional buildings were analysed. As a result of the study, the adobe building material used in traditional houses in Gelemiç rural settlements adapts to the climatic and ecological structure of the region and contributes to the sustainability of the cultural landscape. According to the laboratory tests, the strengths of adobe, which is the main building material used in the timber frame system in the study area, are similar to the values specified in the literature. In addition, the intensive use of adobe material in the study area, the fact that the raw material used in adobe production is supplied from the location close to the settlement, the CO2 emission that may occur in the logistics process is low and the adobe material used is suitable in terms of sustainability.
Adobe, geographic information systems, rural architectural heritage, rural landscape planning, sustainable planning.
Copyright (c) 2026 Figen Altıner, Ayşegül Ağan https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Book Review: Urban Design Education: Designing Pedagogy for an Evolving Field
Copyright (c) 2025 Saadet Kök Ayaz, Nicel Saygın, İpek Akpınar, Elif Simge Fettahoğlu Özgen https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Morphogenesis in urban design: The path to sustainability is through a fundamental change to the way we build our world
Urban design is called upon to contribute to making the world more sustainable, resilient, and just. This aim is shared across urban design's many approaches and schools of thought. However, the response to the pressing contemporary problems of sustainability, resilience, and social justice routinely emphasizes the need to develop innovative tools and extend the reach of advanced technological solutions into increasingly larger domains of our lives and of the environments around us. This paper maintains that the future of urban design, particularly in the current historical transition beyond the Post-War world order, should be explored through a critical reconsideration of the root causes of the current unsustainable reality. We briefly present the disciplinary background of such an operation by recalling the concept of deep sustainability, and its various expressions in the urban design traditions, and highlighting the legacy of “radical” approaches to urban design. A particularly relevant critique of a reductionist, “mechanistic” approach to sustainability was presented by Christopher Alexander twenty years ago, in a memorable talk delivered at the Schumacher Lecture series in Bristol, UK. In his lecture, Alexander proposes the necessary departure from current building and development practices towards an “authentically sustainable” morphogenetic building process. We propose to re-examine Alexander’s talk at the Schumacher Lecture as a fundamental contribution to framing a responsible pedagogy in urban design. We do so by critically summarizing its main conceptual achievements. We then highlight how Alexander’s legacy, not limited to the Schumacher talk, frames the cosmological framework within which the evolutionary nature of the built environment can be recognized and elaborated. We then propose a way to elaborate on the concept of evolution in the domain of urban morphology analysis by introducing recent research in Urban MorphoMetrics and Urban Evo Devo. This forefront research explores the operationalization of Alexander’s Wholeness seeking System A within an environment dominated by a mechanistic System B. We highlight its impact on urban design practice by the generation of evidence-based urban design coding. Thus, we show how the integration of urban morphology and design is a key move towards a new, evolutionary urban design pedagogy.
Copyright (c) 2025 Sergio Porta, Yodan Y. Rofé https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Growth and spatial distribution of art galleries in Istanbul between 2000 and 2022
In this paper, we illustrate the growth and spatial distribution of art galleries in Istanbul at the beginning of the 21st century. Previous studies have attributed the decentralization of urban activities from the old CBD to sub-centers as a result of population growth, economic and transportation development, and globalization in Istanbul. The present study begins by explaining the spatial distribution of Istanbul’s cultural infrastructure within the urban macroform, followed by an investigation into the emergence and development of art galleries within the cultural ecosystem, providing a spatial focus as well as a historical context. We then analyze the growth and spatial distribution of art galleries from 2000 to 2022, with reference to the spatial characteristics of the cultural infrastructure and CBD in Istanbul’s macroform. The results indicate that over two decades, the number of art galleries increased, with a tendency toward centralization in the historical CBD of the city, while decentralization also occurred at the borders of the historical CBD. Additionally, new clusters of art galleries emerged following the extension of the CBD and singular redevelopment projects specializing in cultural and artistic functions. This study contributes to the literature on Istanbul’s urban growth and cultural studies by presenting a spatial assessment of the art galleries, which is a relatively underexplored component of cultural infrastructure. Additionally, by analyzing the relationships between the galleries and the urban macroform, specific revitalization and redevelopment projects, and cultural policies, the study highlights the role of art galleries within urban growth processes and the cultural infrastructure.
Copyright (c) 2025 Elif Kısar Koramaz, Vedia Dokmeci, Numan Kilinc https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
An introduction to urban design at the undergraduate level
This paper presents an undergraduate approach to introducing urban design within an architecture curriculum, responding to the National Architecture Accrediting Board (NAAB) requirement that all accredited programs incorporate foundational urban design knowledge. At Kent State University’s College of Architecture & Environment Design, the third-year spring design studio was designated as the primary vehicle for meeting this requirement, with the author coordinating the semester based on his expertise in urban design. Drawing on the pedagogical principles of Colin Rowe, the studio framework integrates five core components: (1) analysis and diagramming, (2) collage and precedents, (3) urban and architectural typologies and morphologies, (4) the design of exterior urban space, and (5) structured readings. The paper outlines the exercises developed to operationalize these principles, each supported by lectures introducing key concepts and methods. Examples of student work accompany the exercises to demonstrate how these foundations collectively shape students’ understanding of urban design at the undergraduate level.
Copyright (c) 2025 Charles P. Graves https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Urban design pedagogy, an interdisciplinary approach
Among the many possible solutions to city form, urban designers are expected to create environments with some human purpose of a social, economic, aesthetic and technical merit. Education at a university graduate school should provide the necessary expertise. Questions like who to educate for a career in urban design and for what type of employment addresses the complex relationships designers navigate to build bridges between economic development, environmental quality and socio-political dynamics. Records show that applicants selecting a professional career in urban design are motivated to improve the prevailing physical, social equity and environmental conditions in cities. This article reports on the institutional prerequisites and pedagogy of an interdisciplinary urban design education sponsored jointly by the departments of City and Regional Planning, Architecture, Landscape Architecture and Environmental Planning in the College of Environmental Design at the University of California at Berkeley.
Copyright (c) 2025 Peter C. Bosselmann https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Beyond the hype: Reflections on the implications of AI for urban design education
The emergence of Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) is reshaping Higher Education and professional practice, demanding critical reflection on its implications for Urban Design education. This viewpoint explores how AI challenges educational models and transforms design practice. In higher education, GenAI offers opportunities for personalized learning and innovative teaching, but raises enormous challenges regarding assessment validity, learners’ intellectual development, and ethics. Within Urban Design, AI is already being used for tasks such as data analysis, image generation, design generation, and optimization. But AI development and adoption have the potential to further transform design, expanding automation and questioning the role of the designer. Drawing on literature, interviews with UK practitioners, and critical reflection, this viewpoint puts forward some reflections about ways in which urban design education may engage with and respond to the emergence of AI. First, institutions must adopt a critically engaged approach, balancing innovation with caution and ethical responsibility. Second, assessment practices require structural redesign to safeguard learning validity while embracing AI’s potential productively. Third, curricula must be updated to integrate critical AI literacy while protecting fundamental design and spatial reasoning skills. Fourth, AI offers potential to enhance teaching and learning. As AI becomes integral to design practice, educators must reimagine pedagogies to ensure graduates are equipped to navigate and shape an AI-augmented urban future. Ultimately, urban design education stands at a crossroads - where the choices made today will determine whether AI enhances or undermines the intellectual and ethical foundations of the discipline.
Copyright (c) 2025 Juliana Martins https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Analytical comparison of physical and virtual LEGO modules in architectural design education
The educational potential of games has increasingly attracted attention within architectural pedagogy, fostering investigations into game-based learning approaches. Among these, LEGO has gained prominence in both physical and digital formats, offering unique yet complementary contributions to design education. Physical LEGO sets strengthen students’ manual dexterity, three-dimensional reasoning, and confidence by engaging them in tangible construction processes. Virtual LEGO platforms, in contrast, advance technological literacy, spatial visualization, and digital exploration, thereby preparing students for the demands of contemporary design environments. This study examines the role of both physical and virtual LEGO modules in architectural and interior design education through a comparative analysis. Student groups from different levels were tasked with reconstructing a pre-designed architectural plan using both formats. Upon completion, participants completed a structured questionnaire designed to evaluate their learning experiences, perceived challenges, and skill development. Data were analyzed using SPSS to identify statistical relationships between the two approaches. Findings revealed significant correlations between the modules, indicating their complementary nature in fostering spatial literacy and design skills. Physical LEGO modules were particularly effective in promoting hands-on engagement, efficiency, and confidence, while virtual modules enhanced creativity in digital environments and cultivated a sense of achievement. The comparison demonstrates that rather than competing, physical and digital formats enrich architectural pedagogy by addressing different dimensions of the design process. By situating LEGO within the broader discourse of game-based learning in architecture, this study underscores the importance of integrating traditional tactile methods with emerging digital tools. Such integration not only bridges the gap between physical and virtual realms but also provides a rational perspective on contemporary educational challenges in an increasingly digitized world. Ultimately, the results highlight the potential of LEGO to serve as a versatile pedagogical medium that cultivates both foundational design skills and adaptability to future technological contexts.
Copyright (c) 2025 Erdem Köymen, Mhd Feda Bouidani https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Rock-cut vernacular architecture in northeastern Kayseri: Architectural characteristics and conservation challenges
The rock-cut heritage of the Kayseri Valleys represents a distinctive vernacular tradition shaped by technological skill, social practices, and environmental adaptation. These systems, evolving from carved spaces to masonry and then reinforced concrete, represent both tangible and intangible heritage, connecting past construction knowledge with community identity and collective memory while adding to the valleys’ unique cultural landscapes. This study examines the relationship between rock-cut construction techniques and the topographic context of the Koramaz and Gesi Valleys. Using archival research, field surveys, and systematic documentation, it records settlement forms, underground cities, hillside shelters, dovecotes, and related production areas, along with their connections to daily life and agricultural activities. Through on-site observations, spatial measurements, and photographs, the research shows how these features are spread across mound, slope, and basin settlements, illustrating the link between geological conditions and architectural practices. The analysis emphasizes how these spaces were organized, adapted, and combined over time, demonstrating the deep relationship between geology, settlement, and material culture. The findings highlight major conservation challenges, including abandonment due to demographic changes, functional shifts driven by modern needs, material decay from neglect, the loss of craftsmanship, and unregulated interventions that threaten structural integrity. Additionally, the near extinction of rock-cut building as a living practice endangers the continuity of related knowledge systems. Focusing on both their tangible and intangible aspects, the study advocates for conservation strategies based on socio-cultural continuity, community involvement, and sensitive adaptive reuse. This comprehensive approach is crucial to preserving the Kayseri Valleys as dynamic cultural landscapes while maintaining their relevance for future generations.
Copyright (c) 2026 Bahar Elagöz Timur, Özlem Kevseroğlu Kurban https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Bridging academia and practice: Evolving pedagogies in urban design education
Urban design education is confronting growing pressures to respond to increasingly complex urban, environmental, and socio-political challenges while remaining relevant to professional practice. This paper presents findings from a qualitative, interview-based study conducted by the Urban Design Academic Council (UDAC) between 2023 and 2025, drawing on semi-structured conversations with fourteen urban design practices operating across diverse institutional and geographic contexts in the United States. Rather than offering a comprehensive literature review of urban design pedagogy, the paper foregrounds practitioner perspectives as an empirical and practice-informed contribution to ongoing disciplinary discussions. The interviews examine professional expectations of urban design education, including desired skills, perceived gaps in graduate preparedness, emerging trends in practice, and opportunities for deeper collaboration between academia and the profession. Findings reveal consistent emphasis on strategic and systemic thinking, narrative and communicative competence, interdisciplinary fluency, and preparedness to engage climate resilience, equity, and infrastructural complexity at multiple scales. Practitioners also highlight the value of pedagogical models that integrate experiential learning, joint research initiatives, and sustained professional engagement within academic settings. By documenting and synthesizing practitioner insights, this study contributes a field-level snapshot of current professional priorities and challenges in urban design. The paper positions interview-based inquiry as both a research method and a pedagogical tool, offering an empirical foundation for future curriculum development, mixed-methods research, and cross-institutional collaboration aimed at strengthening the alignment between urban design education and contemporary practice.
Copyright (c) 2025 Mona El Khafif, Nico Larco https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Constitutive conditions of transforming pedagogies in urban design: A critical reflection on METU MUD Studio (1996-2025)
This article investigates the constitutive conditions of urban design pedagogies through the case of the Middle East Technical University (METU) Master of Urban Design studios. Drawing on the distinction among pragmatic, normative, and exploratory pedagogies, the study moves beyond a typological classification to examine the contextual factors that shape these approaches in practice. Utilizing archival materials, course documents, interviews, and analyses of studio outputs, it constructs a periodization of pedagogical approaches and identifies the intrinsic and extrinsic factors that have informed their development. The findings highlight how urban design pedagogies are historically constituted through the dynamic interplay of these conditions, reflecting evolving contexts rather than fixed or static identities.
Coding the urban curriculum: Technology as thematic infrastructure in urban design education
As debates continue over how to articulate the disciplinary scope of urban design education, several researchers examined how pedagogical models are shaped by specific thematic priorities, particularly ecological, socio-political, or technological. As graduate programs navigate the tension between disciplinarity and interdisciplinarity, themes like resilience, climate adaptation, spatial equity, and digital urbanism have begun to function not merely as curricular content, but as structuring frameworks that govern how urban design is taught and practiced. This paper addresses the question of how certain themes infiltrate or govern urban design education by examining the Master of Urban Design and Digital Environments (MUDDE) program. In MUDDE, foreground technological tools, in particular virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), and artificial intelligence (AI), are employed not as discrete subjects, but as a pedagogical infrastructure through which students interrogate, simulate, and communicate complex urban conditions. Using a qualitative case study, the research analyzes curricular documents, classroom observations, student projects, and survey responses to understand how these tools influence inquiry, design workflows, and representation. Through analysis of two courses in particular, findings indicate that the MUDDE curriculum moves beyond skill acquisition toward thematic mediation, where technology becomes a method for exploring and constructing urban narratives. These tools support design process at multiple stages. They inform data-rich site analysis, allow producing multiple design outcomes through generative and parametric workflows, and expand the communicative potential of student projects by offering immersive and interactive visualizations for engaging with diverse stakeholders. In this way, themes in MUDDE operate not as isolated topics, but as conceptual operating systems, organizing inquiry, shaping design workflows, and guiding modes of representation. This pedagogical approach aligns with an international shift toward reflexive, exploratory, and projective models of urban design education, where the governance of themes is enacted through the integration of method, technology, and class culture. The study contributes to debates on the future of urban design pedagogy by demonstrating how technology can reorganize learning environments and extend the epistemic foundations of the field.
Copyright (c) 2025 Maryam Shafiei, Nabyl Chenaf https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
The urban design studio: Staff intentions, student experiences, and lessons learned from Manchester Urban Design Lab, University of Manchester, UK
The design studio is the cornerstone of technical applied urban design education – both as a physical space for students to learn within, and pedagogical philosophy for developing and delivering curriculum in higher education settings. A studio-based approach to urban design teaching must reflect the multi-faceted nature of the discipline - a challenge when the current field lacks a consolidated mandate – simulating real-world challenges and contexts and preparing students for the demands of practice. This article explores the pivotal role of the design studio at the University of Manchester (UoM) in shaping future urban designers - emphasizing its contribution to pedagogy, skill development, and nurturing a collaborative and supportive design culture that can extend beyond higher education into professional practice. The studio acts as an interactive and practical laboratory where theoretical knowledge is translated into practical application, where students can experiment, refine ideas, collaborate with peers and tutors, and learn to effectively communicate design visually and orally. The studio-based approach aims to develop technical competencies, cultivate critical thinking, and promote processes that deliver more contextually responsive, people-centered, high quality urban design solutions. The article considers how students (both UK based and international) within the Manchester Urban Design LAB at UoM perceive, and respond to, the studio-based approach during their 1-year dedicated MSc Urban Design program – highlighting their perspective that it instils a positive culture – shaped through the promotion of open dialogue, peer-critique, collective learning, and formative and summative design crits. It is however imperative that these spaces avoid several negative issues that have plagued studio approaches in fields such as architecture in recent years. This brings into focus the role of the academic/tutor in delivering studio that seeks to encourage creativity - where failure is framed as a learning opportunity with a culture of constructive feedback and mentorship at the heart of developing resilience and adaptability in students – as well as developing an appropriate curriculum that maximizes the studio environment. At MUD-Lab/UoM the design studio approach directly shaped, and currently supports, our bespoke framework for practicing urban design (Black et al., 2024) and sits at the very heart of our approach to education.
Copyright (c) 2025 Philip Black, Rachel Kerr https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
The MUDD program, UNSW: The centrality of transdisciplinary curricula in urban design studio (UDS): A phenomenographic exploration of factors impacting urban design studio curricula
This paper explores the evolution of teaching methods in urban design education within the context of Australia's postgraduate programs. Utilizing phenomenography—a qualitative research methodology grounded in educational science—it is organized into three main sections. The first section delves into the multifaceted drivers of curricular transformation in urban design, encompassing the effects of managerialism, the prevalence of neoliberal ideologies, and the persistent identity crisis facing the field. The second section presents a detailed case study of a particular graduate program, emphasizing its contribution to the discussion of theories of learning and teaching in urban design pedagogy. By analyzing the former Master of Urban Development and Design (MUDD) curriculum at the University of New South Wales (UNSW) Sydney, the final section synthesizes the insights garnered from the structure of the MUDD program, proposing that these can inform refining and enhancing the quality of future Urban Design program models. The MUDD program exemplifies the adoption of transdisciplinary methods and teaching, learning and curricula theories in urban design education, while underscoring the urgent need for improved pedagogical training for faculty. This article not only documents these shifts but also serves as a time capsule, preserving the structure of a distinguished Urban Design curriculum during a tumultuous period in higher education worldwide. Our research identifies three key findings: first, Urban Design Studios (UDS) often operate in disciplinary silos that inhibit the integration of urban systems. Second, although there is some support for transdisciplinary methods, practitioners' understanding of UDS pedagogy remains limited. Third, there is a critical need for educational science training for higher education instructors within the Australian Higher Education Institutional context. These insights underscore the urgency of adopting transdisciplinary approaches in urban design education, with implications for policy development and enhanced educational outcomes within the Built Environment field.
the master of urban development and design
Copyright (c) 2025 Jodi Lawton, Bruce Judd https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
The grounded projection: A reflective examination of urban design pedagogy at Melbourne School of Design
Urban design education faces unprecedented challenges as ecological emergencies, socio-political risks and technological transitions converge to reshape cities worldwide. These planetary-scale disruptions necessitate pedagogical approaches that prepare future urban designers for fundamentally different professional realities. This paper presents the Master of Urban Design program at the University of Melbourne as a response to these challenges: a grounded projective approach that systematically integrates analytical rigour with speculative imagination across three sequential design studios and a culminating thesis. The paper documents a carefully orchestrated pedagogical journey: students master rule-based design thinking through intensive engagement with urban morphology, design codes, rules and regulations, then collaborate with industry partners to address pressing questions of social equity and public health, before ultimately expanding their temporal vision to envision climate-adapted and technologically augmented urban futures spanning multiple generations. Following this three-design studio sequence, the thesis studio enables students to pursue individual research expertise. Throughout this progression, Melbourne transcends its role as a mere case study to become a genuine living laboratory and a place where students develop profound contextual knowledge. This comprehensive framework demonstrates how systematic spatial-analytical foundations enable rather than constrain imaginative speculation, how individual design expertise can flourish within collaborative frameworks, and how extended temporal thinking can be meaningfully integrated into studio-based education. The program's critical contribution lies in creating space for speculation and projective work by drawing intelligently and creatively from a grounded understanding of urban design practice and enabling students to envision transformative urban futures while maintaining disciplinary rigour.
Copyright (c) 2025 Onur Tümtürk, Justyna Karakiewicz, Leire Asensio Villoria, David Mah https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
The intersection of history and nature: The transformation of Cebeci Asri Cemetery as urban open space
Today, cemeteries are gaining importance as potential open spaces due to the growth of cities and the increase in construction densities. Especially old cemeteries that have completed their function can be integrated into urban life as open-green spaces. Cebeci Asri Cemetery is an old cemetery that has completed its function as a burial space. As the first modern cemetery in the history of the Republic and an architectural competition project, it is an important area with cultural, social and historical value. Important bureaucrats of the Republican era, many poets, writers, journalists and artists who shaped society rest in this cemetery. It is also one of the limited number of green areas in the city. The purpose of this article is to develop a landscape-focused integration model that addresses spatial re-functionalization and digitally supported cultural route design at Cebeci Asri Cemetery. The cemetery area was evaluated as an open-air museum and a cultural route covering important figures of the history of the Republic was created. A mobile application was also developed for the culture route. Original structures such as ossuaries and namazgahs, which are inactive and vacant in the area, were also evaluated in this context and included in the usage scenario. As a result, this study presents an alternative approach for the urbanization of an old cemetery isolated from the city. Although they are early structures, solutions have been developed to preserve the namazgah and ossuary structures and transfer them to the future. It is envisaged that this study will create an idea/guide for urban administrations.
Copyright (c) 2025 Aslı Taş, Mazlum Kalak https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Tectonic character in Tadao Ando’s Church of the Light: Structure, space, and form
Tadao Ando is one of the most important figures in modern architecture, combining minimalist design with traditional Japanese aesthetics, and is known for the use of light in spatial and spiritual contexts. The Church of the Light is one of his well-known projects, reflecting his architectural philosophy and design approach. This paper primarily examines the relationship between the structural form, architectural space, tectonic character, materiality, and detailing in the Church of the Light. Particularly, the paper analyzes the use of materials and the interplay between structure and architectural space in Ando's design. This analysis is based on the taxonomy proposed by Chad Schwartz in his book “Introducing Architectural Tectonics: Exploring the Intersection of Design and Construction”, which includes Place, Precedent, Space, Anatomy, Stereotomic, Tectonic, Representation, and Detail as the primary principles constituting the concept of tectonics. The analysis sections and the findings discuss how Ando’s tectonic sensibility transforms raw materials and the use of light into an experiential and spiritual architectural space. Additionally, the study offers a deeper understanding of Ando’s architectural approach by examining the Church of the Light.
Copyright (c) 2025 Helin Bağcıvan, Yenal Akgün https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
The transformation of industrial policies in Turkey within the framework of industrial ecology and circular economy
Since the 1980s, sustainability has become a central theme in industrial and environmental policies, with growing criticism of linear production systems and increasing emphasis on circular production. Unlike linear systems, which rely on one-way resource flows and generate waste, circular models promote reuse, repair, and recycling, aiming to preserve materials and reduce ecological impact. Within this framework, industrial ecology proposes a closed-loop approach that combines economic growth with environmental sustainability and has laid the conceptual foundation for the circular economy. Highlighted in EU industrial policies, this paradigm seeks to minimize waste and extend the life cycle of raw materials. This study examines the transformation of industrial policies in Turkey within the framework of “industrial ecology” and the “circular economy”. Since 2010, initiatives centered on industrial symbiosis have been introduced in Turkey, strengthening awareness of a production model based on by-product exchange among producers. During this period, practices were implemented in two main categories: the development of regional industrial symbiosis schemes and the transformation of existing Organized Industrial Zones into Eco-Industrial Parks. After 2020, under the influence of the EU Green Deal, the circular economy discourse has become the dominant narrative in policy documents. By analyzing policy documents over the past 15 years, the study demonstrates both the growing institutionalization of circularity and its structural weaknesses. Notably, insufficient attention to spatial dimensions and the risk of reducing circularity to bureaucratic waste trading emerge as critical challenges. Achieving genuine environmental sustainability requires reframing the circular economy beyond technical or economic efficiency, integrating ecological principles, and embedding it holistically within spatial, social, and governance contexts.
Copyright (c) 2025 Ayşenur Albayrak https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Designing for experience: Exploring user-centered strategies in Selgascano’s architecture
The production of space is a multidimensional and complex process that encompasses emotion, knowledge, intuition, foresight, and experience. When designing, architects consider interpersonal interactions and human-space relationships to create scenes suitable for the anticipated actions and experiences within a space. People, in turn, are the ones who experience spaces. Many researchers and architects focus on human-space interaction in architecture. Among these architects, the SelgasCano architecture office, founded in 1998 by Jose Selgas and Lucia Cano, places user experience at the center of its designs, aiming to create spaces that are not only functional but also places that users embrace and enjoy. Within this scope, the literature on human–space interaction was reviewed, and four key themes related to user experience in SelgasCano’s architectural approach were identified. Four projects in which SelgasCano was considered to reflect these themes most clearly (Silicon House, SelgasCano Architecture Office, Second Home London Office, and Second Home Hollywood Office) were examined. The study reveals that SelgasCano systematically integrates context, biophilia, material, and color as core design components that frame and enrich user experience across their architectural projects. The findings reveal that SelgasCano’s architecture positions user experience at the core of the design process, integrating sensory, emotional, and cognitive dimensions to create dynamic and engaging environments. The study concludes that user-centered and biophilic design strategies significantly contribute to enhancing spatial quality and human–space interaction. In this regard, examining and further developing design approaches that prioritize user experience is of critical importance for generating innovative and human-centered solutions in architectural practice.
Copyright (c) 2025 Sena Işıklar Bengi https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Artificial intelligence in construction project management: Trends, challenges and future directions
Contemporary construction projects are characterized by escalating complexity, voluminous data flows, and stringent sustainability requirements, rendering conventional project management methods increasingly inadequate. In response, artificial intelligence (AI) has emerged as a transformative enabler in construction project management, offering advanced capabilities in predictive analytics, process automation, and intelligent decision support. This paper explores the role of AI in the identified principal functions of construction project management, including time management, cost estimation, quality assurance, occupational health and safety, risk mitigation, resource optimization, and design management through a narrative literature review. Analysis demonstrates that AI-driven approaches significantly enhance operational efficiency and system resilience by enabling proactive identification of schedule delays, cost overruns, and safety hazards. For example, image-recognition systems integrated with Internet-of-Things sensors facilitate real-time monitoring of site conditions and adaptive response to disruptions, while neural-network models trained on historical project data yield more accurate cost forecasts than traditional estimation techniques. In the design management domain, generative design algorithms and AI-enhanced BIM integration have the potential to automate clash detection, optimize form and function, and generate innovative design alternatives that align with cost, energy, and sustainability objectives. Beyond efficiency gains, AI fosters a paradigm shift toward predictive, data-driven, and adaptive management practices that strengthen project resilience, enabling teams to anticipate, absorb, and recover from unforeseen challenges while improving project performance and sustainability. Critical barriers to widespread AI adoption are also identified in this study. Fragmented and non-standardized data ecosystems impede model training and interoperability with legacy systems, while organizational resistance and a shortage of professionals skilled in both AI and construction hinder implementation. Ethical and legal concerns—stemming from the “black-box” nature of many AI algorithms—further complicate accountability in safety-critical decisions. By synthesizing these challenges, the strategic role of AI is highlighted not only as a technological innovation but also as a catalyst for cultural and organizational transformation toward more resilient project delivery. Targeted future research directions include empirical validation of AI tools in live project environments, development of sector-specific AI frameworks tailored to the peculiarities of the construction industry, interdisciplinary collaboration among engineers, data scientists, and managers, and educational initiatives to upskill the workforce. Collectively, these steps will help bridge the gap between theoretical potential and real-world impact, positioning AI as a cornerstone of intelligent, resilient, sustainable, and high-performing construction project management.
Copyright (c) 2025 Sezer Savaş https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
The city branding potential of Sakarya: A tourism-oriented evaluation
With the rise of global competition, developing city branding strategies has become vital for urban centres. The unique features and values of cities, especially their geographical, cultural, and historical traits, play a crucial role in shaping city identity and image during the branding process. This study aims to assess Sakarya's geographical, historical, and cultural tourism assets and their contribution to its potential as a city brand. Additionally, the research examines the impact of tourism-related projects on established city branding criteria. A mixed-methods approach was used, combining both qualitative and quantitative data collected through semi-structured interviews. Experts from various stakeholder institutions within the city participated in the study. Fifteen experts responded to six open-ended questions about Sakarya's tourism potential and branding process. Moreover, participants evaluated the effects of current or upcoming tourism projects on city branding criteria using a matrix-based scoring form. Experts identified natural assets such as Acarlar Floodplain Forest and the Sapanca River, historical and touristic sites including the Çark Watermill, the Justinianus Bridge, and traditional houses in Taraklı, and local gastronomic values as key tools for branding. Matrix analysis results show that projects centred on the city's natural areas, such as coastal recreation initiatives and the restoration of natural and historical sites, make the greatest contribution to city branding. Participants also noted that bicycle-related projects and events have given the city a distinctive identity and improved its international competitiveness.
Copyright (c) 2026 Esra Parıldı, Güliz Öztürk https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Assessing the vulnerability of cities to climate change: A new index proposal for Türkiye cities
On a global scale, as cities continue to grow and climate change brings increasing hazards, the vulnerability and risk levels for cities are also rising. Assessing the risk and vulnerability of urban areas has become more vital now than in previous decades. In this context, the climate–adaptive city approach is gaining importance alongside sustainable development. Türkiye’s geographical location is considered one of the most vulnerable regions in terms of climate change, due to decreasing precipitation and rising temperatures. In the literature, some studies primarily evaluate the full range of risks associated with climate change, while others develop a climate–adaptive city approach that focuses on a single risk. However, the consequences of climate change vary across regions and countries. In this study, the vulnerability of cities to climate change is discussed separately for each risk. Vulnerability criteria are considered separately for drought, sea-level rise, heavy rainfall, and extreme heat. For each risk, indicators of the impact, pressure, vulnerability, resistance, and adaptive capacity that contribute to the risk are identified. Methodologically, relevant studies in the literature were compiled, previous studies were utilized in determining the indicator, and new indicators were developed. As a result, a holistic approach has been developed to assess the vulnerability of cities to climate change across all risks. This makes it possible to identify both how cities remain unprepared for the consequences and risks of climate change and, on the other hand, the climate–adaptive aspects of cities. This study is intended to contribute to researchers working on urban resilience as well as to urban municipalities. In conclusion, a guiding index has been put forward to inform planning and decision-making processes for the creation of a climate–adaptive city.
Copyright (c) 2025 Hale Öncel https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Physical vs virtual: A multi-layered perception experience on memory through historic buildings
This study investigates the layered relationship between memory and perception through the experience of historic buildings in both physical and virtual environments. Drawing upon theoretical foundations in memory studies and architectural history, the paper aims to explore how architectural elements, spatial perception, and sensory engagement contribute to individual and collective memory formation. The selected case study, Bostancı Primary School building in Istanbul, designed by Mimar (Architect) Kemalettin in the early 20th century, provides a historical context with its architectural and socio-cultural significance. The building has maintained its structural integrity and unique architectural characteristics for years and continues to be used as an educational building today, albeit with a different function. Therefore, it has a strong place in urban memory and provides a strong foundation for exploring the relationship between memory and space through in-situ observations and experiences as a part of daily urban life. The methodology involves a three-phase experiential framework incorporating physical experience (PE), virtual reality experience (VRE), and memory representation through photographs, screenshots, and sketches. Twenty senior architecture students participated in structured experiences within the real and virtual building environments. Data were collected through their drawing of route mapping, image capture, written expressions, and memory sketches. Then they were analysed using a dual thematic framework of Architectural References (AR) and Sensory References (SR), interpreted through episodic and semantic memory models. Findings show that while architectural references were more frequently recalled in both physical and virtual reality environments, VRE yielded higher rates of episodic memory activation due to its ability to eliminate physical barriers and enhance spatial comprehension. Conversely, PE experiences more strongly activated semantic memory, as the embodied tactile nature of physical space provided deeper sensory engagement. Additionally, sketch analyses revealed that participants predominantly recalled historical architectural features, with minimal reference to recent alterations, underscoring the dominance of collective memory imagery over present-day functions. This research contributes to the interdisciplinary discourse on memory and perception by proposing a comprehensive model that evaluates how historic buildings are perceived and remembered differently depending on the mode of experience. It also highlights the potential of virtual technologies in architecture by facilitating complex, layered memory engagements beyond physical constraints.
Copyright (c) 2025 Yekta Özgüven, Asena Kumsal Şen Bayram, Nadide Ebru Özkan https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Degradation and biodiversity of rain gardens in the tropics
Rain gardens are commonly applied as a nature-based stormwater management method in urban areas, yet the long-term impacts, possible degradation, and effects on biodiversity as a type of green infrastructure remain underexplored. By comparing two rain gardens in Singapore– one of the earlier prototypes in a neighbourhood managed by a local town council in Central Singapore at Potong Pasir, and a more recent one managed by the National Parks in the West at Jurong Lake Gardens, the ecological and aesthetic functions are investigated. Thus, the rain gardens are explored through the lenses of both functional and aesthetic degradation. Quantitative methods, including the Shannon Biodiversity Index, Green View Index, Colourfulness Index, and surface heat mapping, are applied. Observational methods, including spatial configurations of the rain gardens, plant health, and soil conditions, were also explored to understand the extent of degradation. Common challenges encountered in rain gardens included poor or improper maintenance, poor aesthetic and visual engagement, as well as improper design. Through the findings, comprehensive design and maintenance suggestions are provided for designers and planners to improve existing rain gardens and extend the lifespan and function of future gardens. Rain garden lifespans can be lengthened to reap long-term benefits like effective stormwater management and habitat creation for local biodiversity. Maintenance suggestions build upon existing grey infrastructure and nature-based solutions routine maintenance protocols, tackling the four key functions of a rain garden: sedimentation, filtration, infiltration, and bioretention. Design suggestions are drawn from the data analysed, including potential tree planting configurations and the use of groundcover to reduce surface temperature.
Copyright (c) 2025 Lina Altoaimi, Shruthakeerthi Karthikeyan, Akshitha Vadlakunta, Yuting Wang, Abdul Thaqif Abdul Terawis https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Urban heat island and fringe belt interaction: The role of the urban fringe in heat island mitigation
Fringe Belt (FB) areas are transition zones located between successive areas of urban development. They are typically characterized by open spaces, industrial and institutional areas, and low-density residential areas. An Urban Heat Island (UHI) is a microclimate phenomenon caused by urbanization, characterized by higher surface temperatures in city centers compared to the surrounding area. The primary factors exacerbating the UHI effect are dense development, reduced green spaces and the heat-retaining properties of surface materials. FB areas can mitigate the UHI effect by limiting heat accumulation due to their relatively natural and permeable surfaces. This study aims to analyze temporal changes in FB areas and evaluate their impact on the UHI effect. For this purpose, Landsat satellite images from 1985, 2000 and 2025 were processed using the Google Earth Engine (GEE) platform to obtain land surface temperature (LST) values and map UHI distribution alongside delineation of fringe-belt plots. The results indicate that the UHI effect is relatively low in areas where fringe belts are preserved or minimally developed. Additionally, it was observed that the UHI effect increases as these areas become more developed over time. The study reveals that fringe-belt areas can play an important role in reducing the UHI effect, suggesting that these areas should be integrated into urban planning as cooling buffers. The study emphasizes the necessity of climate-focused approaches in urban planning and suggests evaluating fringe belts as potential microclimatic mitigation areas.
Copyright (c) 2025 Gülnihal Kurt Kayalı, Büşra Gülbahar İşlek, Tuğba Akın, Tolga Ünlü, Tülin Selvi Ünlü https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Spatial and economic effects of TOKI practices in the context of public housing investments: The Erzincan example
Housing Development Administration of the Republic of Türkiye (TOKI), which was established as a public legal entity in 1984 to provide solutions to urbanization and housing problems, became the most important actor in steering urbanization and housing policies with the powers granted to it after 2002. This study analyzes public housing production in Türkiye through TOKI’s housing policies, with a particular focus on the transformation of housing policy that has occurred since 2002. The aim of the study is to examine the economic and spatial impact of public housing investments at the local level, focusing on the Erzincan city center as an exploratory case study, where TOKI has invested the most, and as an example of non-metropolitan provinces. The study attempts to measure the impact of TOKI investments at the local level, both economically and spatially, through a total of seven variables using the descriptive analysis method and the spatial analysis method. The analysis revealed that TOKI manifested exclusively as an earthquake, disaster, or social housing practice, devoid of any discernible direct economic impact. It has been observed that the practices of TOKI exerted a multifaceted influence on the urban spatial development, exhibiting both positive and negative spatial implications.
Copyright (c) 2026 Banu Tantan, Sevkiye Sence Turk https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
A comparison of elements establishing the relationship between social memory and place in the cinema of the Turkish-Greek population exchange
In the age of mass migration, displacement, and the increasing number of refugees and migrants, more people are forced to leave their homelands every day. Refugees who are compelled to abandon their countries become disconnected from their homeland, history, and identity, losing their sense of belonging and often having no place to return to. One significant historical example of "displacement and place-making" is the population exchange between Anatolian Greeks and Turks in Greece, formalized by the "Convention and Protocol on the Exchange of Greek and Turkish Populations" signed on January 30, 1923. Those who were forced to leave their homelands struggled to establish a sense of belonging in their newly settled regions. The population exchange and the consequent forced displacement, as well as the efforts of individuals to construct a new sense of place and belonging, have been reflected in cinema. This study examines the Greek film Rembetiko, the Turkish film My Grandfather’s People (Dedemin İnsanları), and the Turkish-Greek co-production Roza of Smyrna (İsmail ve Roza), all of which address the population exchange. The analysis focuses on the spatial representation of displacement in cinema, spatial memory, and the sense of belonging, particularly in relation to the places abandoned by those who experienced the exchange and their initial impressions of the new settlements. The study also examines the spatial factors influencing place-making and the post-memory transmission of the exchange experience to subsequent generations. This study aims to reveal how forced displacement—a critical, contemporary, social, and political crisis—is echoed in cinema, shedding light on the places that were abandoned and reconstructed by displaced individuals.
Copyright (c) 2025 Elif Vurucular Kesimci https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
From rural landscapes to urbanized shores: Rurbanization and second-home dynamics in the Lake Van region
In recent years, in rural areas, rurban processes where rural and urban characteristics are intertwined and have attracted attention. In these areas, especially second homes, new second infrastructure investments and population movements cause socio-spatial transformations. These transformations result in rural areas gaining a new identity. This study investigates how second housing shapes the rurban process in Van/Mollakasım and its surroundings by focusing on the transformation of land use and changing settlement morphology. Within the scope of the study, changes in land use were analyzed using satellite images for the years 2000-2012-2024. In addition, a series of spatial analysis techniques such as Kernel density maps and Average Nearest Neighbor test were used. According to the analysis findings, it is seen that second housing in Mollakasım and its surroundings has increased over time and spatial clusters have formed especially in areas close to the coast. In addition, it is observed that second homes spread over agricultural areas and natural areas and this pressure exhibits a growth pattern that spreads to the inland areas. Within the framework of the research outputs, it is necessary to spatially define coastal and agricultural areas that are open to second home development, to determine the regions under construction pressure as priority monitoring areas and to develop planning strategies that will direct construction in these regions. In addition, it is important to implement spatial policy tools at the local level that limit the use of agricultural areas for non-production purposes and protect coastal areas in terms of public access.
Copyright (c) 2026 Berfin Karabakan Gokhan, Yelda Mert https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Optimizing design thinking process for group housing through interaction design methods
This research paper investigates the optimization of the Design Thinking (DT) process for group housing projects by using Interaction Design (IxD) methods. Group housing design is increasingly complicated as it attempts to balance individual requirements, community behavior, and sustainability. Through the integration of Design Thinking principles—empathy, ideation, prototyping, and iteration. This article proposes a hybrid approach that combines Interaction Design (IxD) methods, including empathy mapping, interactive prototyping, and real-time feedback systems, to optimize DT's phases (empathize, ideate, prototype, test) in group housing. Through a series of case studies, the research shows how IxD's focus on dynamic user interactions and iterative co-design increases participatory outcomes. Key outcomes are a 30% increase in resident satisfaction with communal spaces, a 25% decrease in design iteration cycles, and enhanced conflict resolution in shared spaces through means such as behavioral analytics and VR-based spatial simulations. The framework not only closes gaps in DT's usage but also encourages interdisciplinary collaboration, allowing architects and interaction designers to co-create flexible, user-oriented living spaces. Practical considerations for large-scale housing solutions are debated, including limitations to cultural responsiveness and resources needed. Recommendations are provided to bring digital-physical feedback tools into policy and practice at the end of the study, which is a path for future work across different socio-spatial environments.
Copyright (c) 2025 Samantha Kumar Tadiboina, Ramesh Srikonda https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Adapting historic sites: Konya-Sille's approach to climate resilience
Climate change represents an increasingly significant threat worldwide, particularly affecting cities, with historic urban areas encountering this issue on a more profound and complex scale. Although contemporary cities are susceptible to natural calamities due to rapid urban growth and rising population density, historic urban structures, marked by their historical legacy, show a unique vulnerability to the effects of climate change. This is especially pertinent considering their distinctive construction materials and settlement layouts. In this regard, the Sille Neighborhood in Konya, boasting a 5000-year-old history and abundant cultural heritage, emerges as an essential example. It demands detailed scrutiny in the face of environmental challenges like the urban heat island phenomenon, sudden flooding, and drought conditions. The traditional construction materials in Sille, such as wood and adobe, exacerbate this vulnerability, emphasizing the vital need to balance the preservation of historic heritage with climate adaptation strategies.
Copyright (c) 2025 Murat Kitir https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Living through dual crises: Rethinking urban resilience from lived experiences
In recent years, cities have faced increasing pressure from overlapping disasters, exposing critical weaknesses in existing spatial, institutional, and social systems. Numerous decisions made throughout the history of cities are considered in the context of reinforcing the cohesion and adaptability of institutions and communities. Resilient cities adapt to environmental, economic, and social dynamics, demonstrating their ability to withstand pressures and evolve to fulfill various roles over time. Although many crises offer valuable lessons for enhancing urban resilience, this study focuses on how the concurrence of multiple crises alters spatial configurations and usage dynamics within urban environments. The study explores how cities respond and adapt to dual crises, focusing on the intersection of seismic events and pandemic conditions. Using a qualitative, phenomenological research design, the study analyzes official disaster regulations, emergency response plans, media documentation, and in-depth interviews with individuals who experienced both an earthquake and a pandemic simultaneously. The research centers on spatial transformations and shifting urban needs in the aftermath of the October 2020 earthquake, while also reflecting on the broader implications of the February 2023 disaster. Findings highlight the complex, layered nature of urban vulnerability under concurrent crises, emphasizing the need for integrated planning approaches, adaptable public spaces, and cross-sectoral coordination. This paper contributes to the ongoing rethinking of urban resilience strategies by offering grounded insights into the lived realities of navigating dual crises.
Copyright (c) 2025 Mehmet Ali Altın, Özlem Gök Tokgöz https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0