An alternative approach towards the interaction of architecture and the idea of sustainability: The impact of "place" on environmental awareness

AN ALTERNATIVE APPROACH TOWARDS THE INTERACTION OFARCHITECTURE AND THE IDEA OF SUSTAINABILITY: THE IMPACT OFPLACE ON ENVIRONMENTAL AWARENESSAy en C RAVO LUArchitecture, Ph.D. ThesisInstead of looking through impositions of the mainstream towards the discipline ofarchitecture, today, it is essential to approach environmental problems in an alternative wayincluding critical evaluations. In the second chapter of the study where development andtransformation of environmental concepts in architecture and design is outlined, it is observedthat the transition in concepts disguises social and political shifts. Therefore it is notsurprising that sustainability, the frequently used terminology today in environmentaldiscussions, covering environmental, social and economic aspects, is defined in reference todevelopment. However, here, a critical evaluation is seen to be necessary. According to thethird chapter of the thesis, the thought that the concept of sustainability shall reverse all of thecurrent practices suggesting a brand new paradigm is out of basis. On the contrary, Westernconstruction sustainable development represents a compromise for groups and sectors havingtotally opposing interests, therefore it carries more hypocrisy than environmental devotion.Moreover, today, the concept which is expected to carry a criticism of the spending societyfaces one of the most important merits: rapid consumption.Looking through this framework it is found to be essential to develop alternative approacheson architecture?s place in the studies for nature, ecology, environment and sustainability.Because it is obvious that equipping architecture with environmental technology does notcontribute too much to the saving of the world. On the other hand naturalistic solutions inbuildings to protect environment does not radically differ from the practices of the earliercenturies. Besides today architecture can not be fully understood without the forces ofcapitalism, spending society and globalization and therefore environmental problems seem torequire a more generalist approach. It is observed that the ?real? differences in environmentalmatters, mostly depends on transitions in societies? unsustainable habits. This idea, discussedin detail in the fourth chapter of the research, requires a broad perspective covering humans(the user of the building, city and its structure) and social conditions. It is obvious thatenvironmental features of the buildings and cities mostly depend on people?s choices and theiradoption. In this context on environmental awareness of residents, the effects of place, themilieu that the buildings create, constitutes an important research area.The main hypothesis of this study is that, besides other influences, place with its urban/spatialpattern has a role in environmental awareness. This approach which can be followed in thefifth chapter of the thesis, results with the testing of the model founded related toenvironmental consciousness. In this context three Bosphorus settlements in Istanbul, Turkeyare examined and compared, and the relationship between spatial pattern and environmentalawareness is searched. The effective NGO activity in two of the selected settlements causedby a potential environmental devastation concerning the neighborhood, formed the reason ofthe selection of this particular case study. The third settlement, although it was exposed to thesame environmental damage, and no opposing activities were determined, formed the controlsample. In the investigation made, using Space Syntax as a method to evaluate social logic ofspace, findings of the case study reveals the similarities of the spatial pattern in two of thesettlements that form a neighborhood character and therefore carry the medium to establish aNGO activity which might be called as an environmental protective behavior. The differencesin the third analyzed settlement which carry the same socio demographic and natural factorsbut in which environmental act was not seen, reveals the importance of the urban pattern. As aconclusion, place with its pattern together with social identification methods is found to holdthe potential to raise environmental awareness.Keywords: Sustainability, architecture, criticism, environmental awareness, place, urbanpattern, Space Syntax.JURY:1. Prof. Dr. Harun BATIRBAYG L (Danı man) Date: 9.2.20062. Prof. Dr. Zekiye ABALI Page: 1763. Prof. Dr. Nur ES N4. Doç. Dr. Deniz ER NSEL ÖNDER5. Doç. Dr. Deniz NCEDAYI