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 Atatürk 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-Atatürk 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 Atatürk Street Çamlıbel 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 Atatürk Street section, within the broader contextual framework of the Uray-Atatürk 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.

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.

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

The 21st century is a period marked by challenges such as land degradation, resource scarcity, wars, crises, earthquakes, migrations and social and spatial inequalities, all of which disproportionately affect disadvantaged groups, including women. These challenges underscore the critical role of local governments in addressing gender equality within the framework of urban sustainability. This study examines the position of women in urban sustainability through the lens of Sustainable Development Goal 5 (SDG 5), which focuses on gender equality, by analyzing the approaches and actions of Antalya Metropolitan Municipality over a 10-year period (2014–2023). Using systematic review and comparative analysis methods with MAXQDA, the study evaluates the municipality's activity reports to assess how women are addressed in the social, physical/environmental, and economic dimensions of urban sustainability. The findings reveal that while significant progress has been made in addressing women's social needs, there is a lack of consistency and integration across the physical and economic dimensions. This imbalance highlights the need for a more holistic and interconnected approach to urban sustainability that empowers women as active participants in shaping the city. The study emphasizes the importance of bridging gaps between policy and practice, ensuring consistent implementation of gender-sensitive initiatives, and expanding efforts to address systemic inequalities in urban planning and governance. By adopting a more inclusive and integrated strategy, local governments can create equitable and sustainable urban environments where women play a central role in driving change. This research contributes to the growing body of literature on gender equality in urban sustainability and provides a framework for local governments to critically assess and improve their efforts in achieving SDG 5.

In the case of Çınarcık District, land suitability for settlement, agriculture, forest, and conservation was assessed based on potential, risk, and constraints. An ‘Ecological Landscape Master Plan’ was developed using GIS-supported Landscape Suitability Analysis (LANDEP) method. Character areas formed by landscape elements influence sustainable and conservation-oriented planning decisions. Natural structure components included 8 parameters, 57 criteria, and numerous sub-criteria. Analyses, synthesis, classification, and zoning were conducted to determine landscape structure. Landscape characterisation identified 7 regions and 92 sub-regions based on topography (19), soil (14), geology and geomorphology (21), hydrology (12), forest cover (9), protection areas (10), and risk factors (8). Approximately 83% of the area is prone to risks such as earthquakes, floods, landslides, and tsunamis. Of the earthquake risk zones, 5% of the area is currently inhabited, 1.8% is suitable with precautions, while 37.1% is unsuitable for settlement. About 4% of settlement areas lie on quaternary sedimentary ground, 2.3% on active fault lines, and 76% are located in coastal plains. The entire 8 km coastline is at tsunami risk. The central settlement sits on problematic young alluvial ground. Notably, 76% of buildings are over four storeys, and 320 are within the active fault line and 500 m protection zone, comprising 12% of all buildings. These risky zones must be classified as ‘Exposure Areas,’ with evacuation or demolition of vulnerable structures. Reconstruction should be based on microzonation and geological investigations. Notably, 70% of the area includes olive groves and agricultural and forest lands, which should be preserved to ensure sustainability.

Ensuring thermally comfortable indoor environments is essential for occupant well-being, learning performance, and energy efficiency. This study proposes a field-based methodology for the assessment of thermal comfort, aligned with international standards and designed to be reproducible and applicable across diverse building types and climatic conditions. The objective methodology integrates both objective (measurements) and subjective (surveys) methods, combined with behavioral observations, to provide a detailed assessment of indoor thermal comfort conditions. The methodology integrates long-term and short-term measurements of air temperature, mean radiant temperature, relative humidity, air velocity, and along with the calculation of PMV/PPD. The data reliability is verified through calibration, inter-device agreement, and statistical evaluation using Mean Bias Error (MBE) and coefficient of determination (R²). Furthermore, occupant surveys and camera-based observations capture subjective perceptions and adaptive behaviors, linking measured values with real-world occupancy conditions. The proposed methodology was applied to three amphitheater-style university classrooms characterized by high window-to-wall ratios on the south-facing façade. Findings showed that thermal gradients near south windows, confirmed by surveys reporting higher dissatisfaction and reduced concentration in south façade-adjacent zones. Observations revealed limited adaptation, with windows seldom opened and curtains generally closed, and underscoring results indicated the need for passive or automated strategies. The results confirm the methodology’s ability to capture spatial and temporal variations, link predictive indices to occupant perception. Overall, the study offers a standards-based methodology suitable for assessing thermal comfort in different building type and climate.

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.

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 Türkiye. 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℃ during the cooling season with the help of natural ventilation.

This study explores older adults’ acceptance of IoT-based smart home systems using an extended Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) that incorporates trust alongside perceived ease of use (PEOU), perceived usefulness (PU), attitude toward use (ATU), and behavioral intention (BI). Data were collected from 166 older adults via visually enriched, scenario-based surveys tailored to enhance engagement and contextual comprehension. Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) and Multi-group SEM (MG-SEM) techniques were applied to examine both the general model structure and demographic moderating effects. Results reveal that trust is the most influential predictor of both PU and ATU, underscoring its central role in gerontechnological smart home acceptance decisions among older adults. PU significantly predicts ATU, which in turn strongly influences BI. While PEOU has no direct effect on ATU, it exerts a meaningful indirect effect on BI through PU and ATU. These patterns support the relevance of indirect usability pathways in technology acceptance. MG-SEM analyses highlight significant differences across demographic groups. Rural users show heightened sensitivity to ease of PEOU, whereas urban users display stronger trust-based pathways toward PU and BI. Younger elderly individuals are more influenced by ATU in forming BI, while older users associate PU and trust indicators with emotional and cognitive reassurance. Education and living environment also moderate several paths, confirming the need to consider contextual diversity in technology acceptance. This study contributes by extending TAM with trust, using scenario-based survey design, and integrating MG-SEM analyses to capture demographic and contextual variations. Findings emphasize the importance of personalized digital aging strategies and trust-based mechanisms for shaping older adults’ technology acceptance.

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—Kanlıkavak Pigeonary, Alakır Sack House, and İzmit 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 (Kanlıkavak), ecological autonomy and resistance (Alakır), and livelihood-based urban adaptation (İzmit). 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.

Despite their historical, cultural, and social significance, many historic urban districts struggle to meet residents’ needs, thereby undermining residential satisfaction and quality of life. The historic district of Sabzevar, Iran, exemplifies this challenge, as aging residents increasingly leave due to declining satisfaction. This study investigates how deficiencies in environmental affordances — the environment’s capacity to support human needs — contribute to this trend. Using a mixed-methods approach and path analysis, we identify four key dimensions of affordance: Physical-spatial (comfort, security), functional (accessibility, flexibility), perceptual-psychological (legibility, safety, place attachment), and socio-cultural (social interaction, aesthetics). Findings reveal low overall residential satisfaction, with the perceptual-psychological dimension emerging as the strongest predictor (β=0.55, p<0.05), likely due to its role in fostering emotional attachment and perceived safety — critical factors for aging populations in historic settings. While socio-cultural affordances remain relatively strong (preserving community identity), physical-spatial and functional dimensions are critically deficient. Based on these findings, we propose context-specific urban design interventions — including shaded rest areas, traffic calming, Lynchian legibility enhancements, and CPTED-based safety measures — to improve livability and support resident retention. This study advances the application of Maslow’s hierarchy within affordance theory and offers actionable insights for human-centered revitalization of historic districts.

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 Türkiye 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.

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.