MEGARON

The concept of studentification, often discussed as a form of gentrification, has been predominantly studied in the United Kingdom, the United States, and Canada, where globally prominent universities and market-driven higher education systems prevail. While recent studies have begun to introduce geographical diversity, the planning dimensions of studentification remain underexplored. This paper examines the dynamics of studentification in the case of & Idot;zmir Katip & Ccedil;elebi University in & Idot;zmir, T & uuml;rkiye, highlighting differences between the Anglophone literature (UK, US, Canada) and the Turkish contexts. In T & uuml;rkiye, rapid university expansion, limited state-provided accommodation, and a planning system that has yet to integrate student housing into its strategic framework have shaped distinct conditions for studentification. The findings indicate that local authorities have not developed proactive, plan-led responses, and strategic and spatial plans lack measures to address the social and spatial consequences of the growing student population. Drawing insights from the United Kingdom, the United States, and Canada, this paper proposes recommendations to enhance regulatory frameworks, strengthen compliance standards, and support municipalities in addressing the challenges of studentification in T & uuml;rkiye.

This study analyzes the impact of digitalization and interdisciplinary design approaches on production processes in architectural offices in the 21st century, exploring the implications of this transformation on institutional structure, actor representation and collaboration models, particularly in relation to theory and practice. Architectural offices are considered dynamic spaces where digital technologies, beyond being mere technical tools are also positioned as structural components that transform production culture, while interdisciplinarity is inherently organized within operational practices. The research is based on the content analysis of 45 articles published between 2005 and 2025 and on the comparative evaluation of BIG, MVRDV and Herzog & de Meuron from Europe and Tabanl & imath;o & gbreve;lu, GAD, and Ergino & gbreve;lu & & Ccedil;al & imath;& scedil;lar from T & uuml;rkiye. In the content analysis, themes were systematically coded through frequency and co-occurrence relationships, resulting in a conceptual structure concentrated around participatory design, interdisciplinary teamwork and the ecology framework. This structure made visible how production tools such as BIM integration, digital twins, AI-based workflows and parametric modeling are positioned across both computational and organizational dimensions. The findings reveal that in European offices, digital tools are integrated into institutionalized computational cycles from the early stages of design, whereas in the T & uuml;rkiye examples, these tools diversify more flexibly in relation to local context, multi-actor negotiation and project-based strategies. The study demonstrates that the digitalizing production culture reshapes design processes from linear sequences into data-driven, multilayered and iterative structures. This framework suggests that, for the future of architectural practice, data-driven participation models and the integration of computational-interdisciplinary processes into the early stages of design are becoming increasingly central design approaches.

This study comprehensively evaluates the contributions of text-to-image artificial intelligence (AI) systems to interior architectural design using multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) methods. Six platforms, DreamStudio, MidJourney, Leonardo AI, Artbreeder, Craiyon and DALL-E, were examined by an expert panel of interior designers and architects and analyzed using MCDM techniques including TOPSIS, AHP, VIKOR, ELECTRE, and PROMETHEE. The analyses revealed DreamStudio's strengths in spatial organization and material harmony, while MidJourney stood out for its ability to generate dynamic, balanced, and visually diverse compositions. Correlation analysis among the MCDM methods enhanced the reliability of the findings, particularly highlighting a strong alignment between TOPSIS and AHP (r=0.997). The study demonstrates the strong aesthetic potential of current AI systems but underscores their limitations in fundamental design elements like spatial logic and cultural relevance. Aesthetic biases and ethical considerations are also addressed. Future research should integrate user experience and designer perspectives to explore a more meaningful and holistic integration of AI into interior design processes.

Energy efficiency in buildings has become an increasingly important design criterion in the context of sustainable architecture. In this context, building envelope components such as window systems must be thoroughly evaluated in terms of energy performance, initial costs, and long-term total cost. This study draws attention to the limitations of the commonly adopted one-dimensional approaches in selecting window glazing systems and offers a comprehensive analysis across three key parameters: Investment cost, energy consumption, and life cycle cost. A total of 64 scenarios are developed for a theoretical residential building located in Istanbul. Comparisons are made across three key performance criteria, taking into account different facade orientations (north/south) and window-to-wall ratios (30%/60%). The results reveal that the optimal window systems differ across the performance criteria, suggesting that selecting a system based solely on energy consumption or investment cost may result in suboptimal or misleading outcomes. Systems with low energy consumption often come with higher investment costs, which may limit the potential to minimize overall life cycle cost. Double-glazed systems with solar low-e coatings tend to yield more favorable life cycle cost outcomes, thanks to their relatively low investment costs and balanced overall performance. The study underscores the importance of adopting a multidimensional approach in window system selection and offers practical guidance to decision-makers aiming for cost-effective design strategies.

Understanding the dynamics of the real estate market has emerged as a pivotal concern in urban economics for ensuring sustainable land management and effective investment strategies. The spatial heterogeneity of housing market determinants gives rise to variations in market activity and significant spatial differences in property values. However, global regression models are constrained in their ability to capture this heterogeneity and the spatial autocorrelation of housing prices. The aim of this study is to identify the spatial variability of housing prices and the potential factors influencing them. To this end, the study employs the Geographically Weighted Regression (GWR) model, which enables the analysis of spatial heterogeneity. In addition to conventional structural variables (floor area, age, heating type, number of floors, and floor level), measurable indicators, including network-based accessibility metrics (connectivity, betweenness, and closeness), distance to the central business district, and the remotely sensed Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), are integrated into the model. The findings reveal the complexity of the housing market in Erzurum, showing that newly developing peripheral areas form high-priced clusters that reshape the center-periphery dynamics. While structural variables, including floor area and building age, emerge as dominant factors across the city, environmental determinants vary considerably by location. It is noteworthy that network-based accessibility metrics are critical infrastructural variables that shape market heterogeneity. NDVI highlights the decisive role of vegetation density and accessible and functional urban green spaces in determining housing values. In conclusion, this study offers novel insights into the role of environmental and infrastructural metrics in real estate research and provides guidance for policymakers in regulating housing values and designing more sustainable urban planning strategies.

Urban squares are crucial for urban life, enhancing city attractiveness and livability; nevertheless, many in Istanbul lack pedestrian-oriented design and sufficient infrastructure. Relatedly, several projects have been implemented in urban squares to overcome these issues. However, designing urban squares leads to both improvements and controversies, reshaping not only the physical environment but also how individuals engage with public space, and understanding pre/post dynamics of interventions provides comprehensive feedback and helps municipalities to resolve further needs. This study explores the impact of spatial changes on pedestrian behavior in Besiktas Barbaros Square (Istanbul/Turkey) and its surroundings. With a three-stage methodology, this research first identifies physical transformations by analyzing satellite imagery, street views, and field studies. Second, pedestrian flows and stationary activities are observed via manual video recordings (10 minutes, weekday/ weekend, 2022-2024), capturing the site both before (once the steel overpass was removed and before the site was redeveloped) and after interventions. These observations are mapped and analyzed using QGIS. Third, perspectives from professionals (n=31) in spatial fields -urban planners, architects, and landscape architects- are gathered through surveys and openended responses. The findings focused on the eastern part of the square due to observational constraints, which reveal that adding urban furniture impacts dynamic/stationary activities and enhanced social interactions. The new eagle sculpture also emerged as a focal point. According to professionals' evaluations, interventions contributed to partial improvements in several aspects between pedestrians and the space. However, considering location-based potentials, green space use and the spatial connection with the urban coastline still need to be improved.

The aesthetic evaluation of architectural computer renderings has traditionally remained subjective and dependent on personal, situational, and cultural factors. Within this research, we investigate if deep learning (DL) can be utilized to provide a scientific data-driven solution for approximating the perceived aesthetics in architecture. Our focus is on standalone house designs and uses a dataset of 1,438 computer-rendered competition entries off the Arcbazar website, assigned a rating by professional architects for visual quality. In this research, "aesthetic evaluation" refers to the numerical scores given to the attractiveness to architectural renderings. Our dataset of renderings was standardized through image preprocessing and paired with averaged expert scores. A supervised convolutional neural network (CNN) regression model was then trained and validated using three-fold cross-validation. Model accuracy was established using standard measures of regression (MAE, MSE, RMSE, and R2). Results indicate that the model was able to predict aesthetic scores with high validity. While the findings demonstrate the validity of DL models to evaluate architectural renderings, the following limitations should be pointed out: The dependence on rendered views, assessment of just one building type, and expertise based on raters from one platform. Future research will have to expand on the aspects of differing building types, cultural contexts, and multimodal inputs. The incorporation of explainable AI methods will further assist in identifying which visual features contribute most to aesthetic prediction. This work establishes a proof-of-concept framework for integrating deep learning into architectural evaluation, supporting an extensible system that allows for design competition and decision-making. Apart from predictive scoring, such models are well-suited to be integrated with generative design frameworks that will enable the generation of novel architectural proposals optimized in aesthetic quality.

This study explores the potential of text-to-3D model AIs in designing urban furniture, with a focus on bus stops, street lamps, and benches, and provides a comparative evaluation of four prominent AI tools: Luma Genie, Meshy, Tripo, and Deepai. A diverse poll of architects, urban planners, industrial designers, and students assessed the outputs based on key criteria: Aesthetic appeal, texture detail, form detail, and technical consistency and feasibility. The comparative analysis revealed that Meshy consistently outperformed the other platforms across all criteria, achieving the highest overall score of 4.09. Meshy's success is attributed to its high performance in visual creativity, structural sophistication, and spatial awareness. Conversely, Deepai lagged significantly, notably lacking in functional logic, spatial awareness, and technical consistency, resulting in the lowest overall score of 1.69. While Luma Genie and Tripo showed balanced performance, they did not match Meshy's degree of structural and aesthetic intricacy. This study highlights the current limitations of text-to-3D AI, emphasizing that platform-specific features like customization and technical control play a critical role in generating feasible architectural outputs for the future of urban design.

Using the cognitive mapping method, this research examines the spatial and cognitive factors shaping children's perceptions of the journey from home to school and interprets the results from the perspective of the architectural discipline. Conducted with 52 first-grade students (22 girls, 30 boys) from a primary school in Istanbul, it analyzes children's drawings through mapping typologies and Kevin Lynch's five elements-paths, edges, districts, nodes and landmarks (1960). Drawing on Piaget's theory of cognitive development (1954) and Hart & Moore's concept of spatial thresholds (1973), the method integrates qualitative interpretation of drawings with quantitative Pearson's chi-square testing, situating the study within broader research on mobility, gender, and environmental perception. Three mapping typologies were identified: scattered, linked, and patterned. Most children produced scattered maps, suggesting fragmented spatial understanding, whereas those living closer to school included more paths in their drawings, highlighting the role of proximity in spatial perception. Some gender-related patterns were observed within this sample (n=52) for example, relatively more structured maps among some girls and more scattered layouts among some boys. Given the small sample and the limited power of Pearson's chi-square tests with sparse categories, these should be treated as exploratory, sample-specific tendencies rather than generalizable effects. Beyond these statistical tendencies, the analysis of developmental thresholds revealed that, most children demonstrated emergent heterocentric spatial perception features at 6-7 years (within the domicentric stage, early signs only), corresponding to meso-environments, with fewer displaying egocentric (micro-environment) or Euclidean (macro-environment) perspectives. Given that the sample is 6-7 years old, heterocentric indicators are interpreted as early/emergent features rather than full stage attainment. These results highlight the transition from domicentric to heterocentric spatial understanding. Ultimately, the study provides insights into the interplay of spatial cognition, gender, and proximity in shaping children's maps, offering practical implications for designing child-oriented urban and architectural environments that foster spatial understanding and cognitive development.

This article examines the "cohousing" model as an alternative response to the commodification of housing and the accompanying environmental, social, and economic challenges. Focusing on cohousing as a holistic framework for social development, it traces the historical evolution of collaborative housing models to highlight their conceptual distinctions. A scoping review was conducted to conceptually clarify the impacts of cohousing, as it calls for a transformation of the home and all related factors as a form of daily life reform. For this purpose, studies on the cohousing model published between 2000 and 2024 were examined using the Web of Science and Scopus databases. From these, 87 articles that met the criteria were selected, and the approaches they used to address this housing model were analyzed. By identifying one or more contexts in which cohousing was studied in each article, a map of academic and practical impact areas was created. The analysis revealed that cohousing is addressed within five main themes: Political economy, social capital, resident profiles, design, and gender. These themes and their sub-themes are presented in a table reflecting the research trends of the given period (Table 2). The findings and evaluations aim to offer a comprehensive, interdisciplinary perspective for policymakers, local governments, and intentional communities interested in cohousing.

Mersin has been a prominent settlement in the Cilicia Region since antiquity, with its urbanization shaped by its port, trade and maritime identities, originating from a fishing harbor. The city's development was primarily driven by trade and port activities, initially concentrated around Uray Street, the commercial hub, before expanding towards Atat & uuml;rk Street, forming the urban spine. Over time, this historical fabric gave rise to distinctive urban spaces, with Uray Street emerging as a central element of urban identity. However, uncoordinated planning decisions and implementations have led to the erosion of original urban spaces, weakening the historical continuity between the city center and the Uray-Atat & uuml;rk Street axis. The construction of a new port has diminished the significance of key focal points such as Customs Square, while the proliferation of shopping malls has undermined the area's commercial fabric. Moreover, the deterioration of previously integrated transportation networks has fragmented vital public spaces, including Customs Square, Yoghurt Bazaar and Lovers' Park, disrupting spatial continuity. Incompatible land use and inadequate planning have created undefined, disconnected spaces, obstructing pedestrian movement. Physical and spatial barriers such as driveways, parked vehicles, elevation differences, and insufficient shading exacerbate disconnection, while impermeable surfaces such as concrete and asphalt intensify the heat island effect, diminishing the area's functionality and livability. In response to these problems, urban transformation efforts accelerated with the Cumhuriyet Square and Atat & uuml;rk Street & Ccedil;aml & imath;bel Urban Design Contest organized by Mersin Municipality in 2021. While the winning project, currently being implemented, prioritizes the restoration, sustainability and reinforcement of the urban spine, this study situates the scope and boundaries of the competition project, which primarily focuses on the Atat & uuml;rk Street section, within the broader contextual framework of the Uray-Atat & uuml;rk axis. By doing so, it provides a comprehensive analysis of the formation, spatial and functional characteristics of this axis, while also offering a holistic evaluation of the changes, interruptions and ruptures that have occurred over time. The methodology includes literature and archive research to identify extensive potential as well as defects and deficiencies. It also involves an analysis of urban mobility, public space reorganization, pedestrianization and transportation regulations, followed by an evaluation aimed at proposing a comprehensive solution package consisting of planning strategies and decision-making approaches related to spatial design. Offering strategies for the preservation and transformation of the urban spine, this study not only provides design insights, but also serves as a model for other cities in urban planning and design. Rather than being confined to a theoretical literature review on the spine concept, it integrates theory with practice, analyzing how each spatial element constituting the spine is supported by physical, functional and social planning strategies. Through this approach, the study offers a perspective by elucidating the tangible manifestations of the spine concept within an applied framework. Additionally, it provides insight into the urban spine's fundamental role in ensuring urban order, aesthetics and identity through both theoretical and practical approaches. Findings from the analysis of pedestrian movement dynamics revealed a gradual decline in foot traffic along the historically significant Atat & uuml;rk-Uray Axis, disrupting this corridor's continuity. Deficiencies in pedestrian connectivity were identified not only along the primary east-west axis but also on secondary north-south routes. To address these gaps, a comprehensive pedestrianization strategy, incorporating dedicated bicycle lanes, has been implemented along Atat & uuml;rk-Uray Street. Additionally, infrastructure enhancements, including overpasses, bridges and pedestrian crossings, have been proposed to strengthen connectivity between Historic Uray Street, the newly developed People's Garden and Atat & uuml;rk Park. Extending from Uray Street, Atat & uuml;rk Street serves as a crucial link within the contemporary urban structure, encompassing key historical landmarks central to the city's core. Its integration, reinforced through enhanced horizontal and vertical connections, fosters a cohesive interplay of commercial, cultural and recreational functions, ensuring both spatial continuity and the preservation of historical identity. The area's strong commercial character, inherited from Uray Street, has been harmonized with local dynamics by fostering interactions with prominent public spaces, particularly Cumhuriyet Square and Lovers' Park. This strategy has resulted in high-quality, multifunctional urban spaces that enhance community engagement and urban vibrancy. In summary, the urban spine is crucial in shaping urban identity and ensuring city continuity. Its functions of providing structural support, connectivity, balance, reinforcement, and hierarchical organization should be comprehensively analyzed from a design perspective to address both micro and macro-scale urban contexts. The spine is not merely a facilitator of movement but also a system integrating physical, socio-cultural, and economic networks. This study demonstrates that strengthening the urban spine is not merely a theoretical framework but also a feasible and implementable strategy.

This study examines DIY (Do-It-Yourself) architecture as a community-driven mode of spatial production that challenges expert-led, centralized systems of building and planning through ecological and social engagement. While the term 'DIY' gained prominence in the mid-twentieth century, its practices are deeply traceable to vernacular traditions, collective building cultures, and the fundamental human imperative to create shelter. In contemporary contexts marked by ecological crises, affordability pressures, and the erosion of local building cultures, DIY architecture has re-emerged as a significant alternative grounded in autonomy, adaptation, and user agency. Methodologically, the research employs qualitative fieldwork-including spatial documentation, 16 semi-structured interviews, archival review, and a four-dimensional analytical framework (socio-spatial motivations, material strategies, ecological adaptation, and knowledge production). Three Turkish cases-Kanl & imath;kavak Pigeonary, Alak & imath;r Sack House, and & Idot;zmit Fishermen's Shelters-were selected for their distinct DIY typologies and traceable user-led construction histories. Findings reveal that DIY architecture cultivates ecological literacy, strengthens social bonds, and generates resilient spatial solutions through circular material use, adaptive design, and collective knowledge. Each case represents a unique mode of production: Cultural-communal making (Kanl & imath;kavak), ecological autonomy and resistance (Alak & imath;r), and livelihood-based urban adaptation (& Idot;zmit). Together, they demonstrate forms of spatial intelligence that often lie beyond the reach of institutional delivery systems. The study reframes DIY architecture as a legitimate, future-oriented paradigm. It argues that user-driven building processes are essential for broadening participation, rethinking conservation, and advancing socially grounded and ecologically responsive architectural futures.

As urban densification increases, thermal stress in cities becomes a problem. The integration of climate-sensitive strategies into housing design has become a necessity. As a strategy, design of terraces, as thermally configured outdoor spaces can reduce solar radiation gain. Parametric modeling, one of the computational approaches, provides significant contributions to optimizing the integration of environmental analysis into the terrace design. Although some related studies have focused on optimizing urban mass organizations for thermal comfort and solar performance, none of them have addressed spatial organization of terraces in residential buildings. This study presents a computational housing model to investigate terrace allocation with respect to solar gain, including circulation and residential units. The interstitial spaces are considered "cool terraces", and the objective is to minimize the solar radiation on terraces by optimizing the location and size of the residential units using a genetic algorithm via the Galapagos plug-in, radial basis function optimization (RBFOpt), and covariance matrix adaptation with evolution strategy (CMA-ES) using Opossum plug-in. To provide feasible spatial organization, constraints are determined using the near feasibility threshold with the Optimus plug-in. Results showed that only CMA-ES discovered feasible spatial organization while improving the solar performance of cool terraces. When compared to the benchmark design scenarios, the optimized alternative performed 11-26% improvement in solar radiation minimization. The study discusses the challenges in identifying well-performing cool terrace solutions, the complexity of the problem, and the applicability of optimization algorithms.

Grounded theory, originally developed in the social sciences as a systematic method for generating theory from data, has evolved into a flexible and philosophically diverse approach applied across multiple disciplines. Although its potential for theory-building aligns well with the needs of architectural research, its use within the field remains limited and often methodologically inconsistent. This study critically examines how grounded theory has been applied and adapted in architectural research by analyzing eleven doctoral dissertations completed in T & uuml;rkiye between 2015 and 2024. Using content analysis, the dissertations were systematically evaluated across eight categories, including method, aim, data set, data collection techniques, data coding, data display, engaging with grounded theory literature and coding process transparency. The findings reveal three overarching themes that characterize the current use of grounded theory in Turkish architectural research: methodological adaptation and philosophical pluralism, knowledge construction through multi-layered data practices, and the need for analytical transparency. While the dissertations demonstrate the method's adaptability, they also highlight recurring issues such as terminological ambiguity, fragmented coding strategies, and insufficient engagement with core grounded theory processes including theoretical sampling, constant comparison, and theoretical saturation. By identifying methodological gaps and emerging tendencies, this study contributes to defining a clearer and more coherent framework for the future use of grounded theory in architecture.

Between the 12th and 15th centuries, the belt of Turkish triangles, which was developed as an original solution in the transition from cubic space to the dome in Anatolia, found widespread application as a common transition element from the Seljuk Period to the Principalities and the Early Ottoman Periods. In addition to its structural features, the aesthetic values arising from the rich geometric combinations of the belt of Turkish triangles have played a significant role in its use as a transitional element. In historical buildings, where roofs or walls have been damaged for various reasons, the transitional zones between them often represent the most vulnerable areas, requiring careful intervention. Therefore, a detailed understanding and analysis of the original architectural and structural characteristics of cultural heritage buildings are of primary importance. Although the Turkish triangle belt has been examined primarily from a formal perspective in architectural history, studies that focus on material and construction techniques remain quite limited. In this context, the present study aims to provide a comprehensive analysis of the geometric/formal, material, and constructional characteristics of the transitional zones employing the belt of Turkish triangles in between the 12th and 15th centuries. Accordingly, the construction techniques of different geometric configurations have been modelled in three dimensions. The study is structured in three main stages. First, the geometric/formal features of the belt of Turkish triangles-particularly at surfaces and corners-are examined using the data obtained from literature and field studies. The geometric scheme of the transitional zone is also analysed from various perspectives, including the relationship between the substructure and superstructure as well as facade characteristics. Second, the material and construction technique employed in the belt of Turkish triangles are investigated. Finally, the construction process of different types of the belt of Turkish triangles is modelled step by step and presented in detail. Transition zone with the belt of Turkish triangles, which is composed of variations of plane and triangular prisms, exhibits geometric differences particularly in the corner units. Although the use of stone material in the construction of plane triangles is rarely encountered, the belt of Turkish triangles is predominantly built using brick, often with thick mortar joints between the units. Before the construction of the transitional zone, a single or a few rows of bricks are laid slightly projecting from the wall surface where the wall ends, in order to level the base and define the starting line of the transition zone. Once the height of the transition zone is determined according to the dome span, a wooden centering is prepared to define the base line of the dome. Then, depending on the design of the plane or prismatic units, guiding strings are stretched between the brick courses on the wall and the wooden framework of the dome. As the transitional zone is formed by the repetition of a quarter segment, the parts from the corners to the midpoint of each wall are constructed incrementally and simultaneously. First, the units with their base on the wall are laid in a cantilevered manner up to a certain height. Then, the intermediate units whose apex lies on the wall are added, continuing together with the rest of the structure up to the dome's springing line. As a result, the belt of Turkish triangles forms the cubic base into a polygonal form. As the number of triangular units increases, the number of polygonal sides also grows, making the transition to a circular dome base more efficient. The transition from the polygonal base to the circular dome is achieved by means of a few additional rows of bricks forming a border course. One of the key findings regarding the belt of Turkish triangles with prismatic units is that the dimensions or base width of each unit are directly related to the dimensions of the brick material used. Therefore, in belts composed of prismatic units, the number of units increases not merely for aesthetic reasons, but as a structural necessity, since the base of each prism is limited in size.

This research examines the perforated geometric screens (jaali, also called mashrabiya) extensively used in Islamic and Indo-Islamic architecture. Historically, these elements have been used not only for aesthetic purposes but also as passive design strategies to regulate indoor temperature through natural ventilation and shading. This study hypothesizes that the principles of traditional jaali can be reinterpreted and integrated into contemporary facade design to improve thermal comfort, particularly in hot and dry climates. To test this hypothesis, the research used a conceptual case study of the Kilis Resource and Community Center (KRCC) in T & uuml;rkiye. The study assessed internal airflow patterns and thermal conditions using energy modeling and Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulations via the IESVE software. The analysis was done during the cooling period, with two representative summer days: May 3rd and July 15th. Results showed that all investigated ventilation scenarios with jaali-integrated facades had lower indoor temperatures throughout the day. However, the presence of open windows was crucial to maintain indoor temperatures below outdoor levels, allowing air movement. The findings suggest that using jaalis in hot climates should be encouraged, as it lowered temperatures by up to 2 degrees C during the cooling season with the help of natural ventilation.