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

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

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

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

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

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

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\u27s 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\u27s 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\u27s 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

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

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\u27s 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

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