Course Day and Hour : Mondays-Thursdays 13.30-17.30
Course Room : 3403
Course Instructor: Prof. Dr. Mine Özkar
Course Assistant: Res. Assis. Dr. Begüm Hamzaoğlu
“Less is Must" was the theme of EAAE 2024, the annual conference of the European Association for Architectural Education that took place in Muenster, Germany in late August. In line with this most imminent agenda of architecture, our project studio will address the issue of excessive, mindless, and redundant practices in the built environment. Students are invited to investigate the possibilities of mindful design thinking oriented towards "reduction" and "sufficiency," emphasizing climate consciousness, resource sensitivity, and material circularity. At the same time, creating sensible spaces for all inhabitants and the environs will be of utmost priority.
The studio will comprise a series of introductory and preparatory exercises to be followed by a design project. The first set of exercises will aim to explore the potentials of productivity with regards to the topics of the studio. The core task to follow will be to design, in an urban setting, a co-housing and co-working typology that amplifies a sense of community and where residents share living spaces along with common interests and values. This involves integrated thinking related to spatial hierarchies and inclusive utilities. Building materials and systems, energy performance, inter-connectedness and privacy, as well as contextual considerations will Students will be expected to delve into the tactile and technological aspects of architecture, with a strong emphasis on experience as well as sustainability and resource awareness. They will also be encouraged to explore technological advancements in construction techniques and to employ digital methods for prototyping building elements and details in representative models.
The core architectural design task is to design, in an urban setting, a democratic co-housing (and co-working) compound for 20-25 units to be home for an inter-generational community of families, singles and couples. Residents are assumed to be sharing living spaces along with common interests and values. The program will be detailed by each student. The proposed living quarters should amplify a sense of community. This involves integrated thinking related to spatial hierarchies and inclusive utilities. Please refer to recommended readings and resources to start a critical understanding of ow the concept of co-housing has been and can be interpreted globally. Building materials and systems, energy performance, inter-connectedness and privacy, as well as contextual considerations will be instrumental. The project site is in Kuzguncuk, Üsküdar, which is an old, cherished and characteristic neighborhood home to active communities, bostans, artists, and artizans, etc. Students are expected to understand the larger neighborhood dynamics, pecularities, and physical settings as well as key transportation routes, etc. They will be able to choose from either site A or site B as marked on the map. This will give us the opportunity to discuss the immediate context in old and new aspired forms.
Students will be expected to delve into the tactile and technological aspects of architecture, with a strong emphasis on experience as well as sustainability and resource awareness. In line with the most imminent agenda of architecture (re: "less is must"), our project will address the issue of excessive, mindless, and redundant practices in the built environment. Students are invited to investigate the possibilities of mindful design thinking oriented towards "reduction" and "sufficiency," emphasizing climate consciousness, resource sensitivity, and material circularity. At the same time, creating sensible spaces for all inhabitants and the environs will be of utmost priority.