DIY architecture in Türkiye: Ecological, sociopolitical and vernacular dimensions through three case studies

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.

Keywords: DIY architecture, vernacular practices, user-led design, participatory architecture, informal urbanism, sustainable building.