This study investigates pedestrian preferences regarding outdoor public lighting, specifically examining their impact on the perception of visual comfort, safety in different urban settings. Despite extensive research on lighting parameters and pedestrian safety perception in recent years, gaps remain in understanding how users perceive different lighting scenes in real nighttime environments.
The laboratory study comprised 130 participants under 30 years old. Using real location data, we simulated four distinct urban lighting conditions using Dialux software and examined them in a dark laboratory setting. Participants viewed generated images of urban nighttime scenes of a well-known Ljubljana district and answered the questionnaire.
Our study employed various analytical approaches to examine the effects of height (low vs. high) of lamp-post and lighting uniformity (higher-uniform vs. less-uniform) on participants' perceptions of visual comfort, confidence, sense of distance and sense of direction in public spaces at night. The results demonstrate a preference for lighting with good uniformity, particularly in areas with higher lamp-post, suggesting its vital role in enhancing visual comfort. These findings emphasize the significance of continuous lighting design in promoting pedestrian visual comfort and safety in urban environments.

In late 2019, Covid-19 emerged as a global crisis threatening the entire world. The first case in our country was announced on March 11, 2020. Governments carefully monitored the epidemic process from the first months and took the necessary measures in all areas of public life. Significant increases have been recorded, especially in the use of urban open spaces. Whether this process leads to permanent changes in recreation models and areas, residence and residential environment, remains among the debated issues. For this purpose following the questions “Have people's housing preferences in urban areas changed compared to the pre-pandemic period?” and “How effective are the social, physical, cultural, perceptual and economic opportunities of the residential environment in residence choice?” constitute the starting point of the research. Taking Istanbul as a case study, this article presents the results of an online survey administered to 263 people in December 2020. The results showed that resident and residential environment preferences changed during the pandemic period, and the perceptual, physical, functional and social features of the resident and its environment were most decisive in this change. Research results suggest parameters that may be effective for planning cities that are more resilient to future pandemics.

Building acoustics is known as one of the main indoor environmental conditions which holds utmost importance while considering the design, construction, and operation of buildings. Furthermore, it has gained greater importance together with the growing awareness of the adverse effects of noise on human health and psychology. As a result of these pertinent findings, the "Regulation on Protection of Buildings Against Noise (RPBAN)" was published in the Official Gazette on May 31, 2018, and was officially enforced. Under this regulation, the criteria related to architectural acoustics, such as sound insulation, background noise levels, and reverberation time, are evaluated using an acoustic performance classification system divided into six categories. Newly designed buildings are expected to achieve at least Class C acoustic performance, while existing buildings undergoing renovation are required to meet a minimum of Class D.
Achieving the sound insulation values specified for different acoustic performance classes in buildings is dependent upon various factors such as the inclusion of material properties of different densities and thicknesses, variations in the joint details of building components, and application conditions. Consequently, significant differences often arise between airborne sound insulation values obtained under laboratory conditions and those recorded in the field. Within the scope of this study, 10 different wall variations that were formed into dry wall systems were applied and measured for airborne sound insulation values at the Turkish Standards Institution's Tuzla Building Materials Fire and Acoustic Laboratory. These applications were conducted at various times, using different inner materials, wall types, and gypsum board densities.
To make calculations with the simulation program, the Rw values obtained from laboratory measurements were assigned as the sound transmission loss values of the partition wall sections defined between the rooms. The laboratory-measured results were then simulated within a controlled digital environment under three different scenarios, and the resulting DnT,w +C (DnT,A) values were compared with the standards outlined under formal regulations. The results obtained from the three different evaluated hypothetical scenarios showed that as the volume of the receiver room increases, i.e., as the V/S ratio increases, the calculated DnT,w+C value rises.

This study explores cognitive processes in parametric design environments (PDEs), synthesizing current research to identify key methodologies, theoretical models, and factors that influence design cognition. The review addresses challenges like cognitive overload, algorithmic dependence, and the learning gap between novice and expert designers. A systematic literature review (SLR), following PRISMA guidelines for transparency and reproducibility, was conducted to analyze studies on design cognition in PDEs, with a focus on empirical research examining cognitive processes, design behavior, and educational strategies. The review reveals that PDEs encourage creativity, iterative problem-solving, and dynamic design exploration but also pose cognitive challenges, particularly for inexperienced designers. Expert designers exhibit greater algorithmic fluency and adaptability, while novices often experience cognitive strain and reliance on black-box thinking, which limits their creative engagement. Educational gaps persist, highlighting the need for scaffolded learning models, hands-on workshops, and non-digital exercises to build algorithmic skills progressively. Additionally, the lack of standardized frameworks for evaluating algorithm quality and cognitive performance underscores the need for further research. This review provides insights for educators and researchers to bridge the gap between technical proficiency and creative innovation in parametric design.

This study examines the interaction between class and space, focusing on the mechanisms of "harmony and continuity" in the Kozyatağı neighborhood, where traditional and new middle classes coexist. The research aims to explore how class fractions and spatial practices contribute to the reproduction and transformation of urban space. Instead of focusing on large-scale, rapidly developing transformation areas, the study investigates the process of gradual, parcel-based urban transformation in a middle-class neighborhood, with a particular emphasis on socio-spatial continuity and change mechanisms, and the impact of urban transformation activities on these mechanisms. A qualitative research approach is adopted, utilizing semi-structured in-depth interviews with 45 participants, ethnographic observations, and data analysis with the MAXQDA software. The software supports a reflexive approach in discovering mechanisms and analyzing data, taking the researcher’s position into account. The study is structured around three key scales: macro (broader socio-economic developments and urban transformation processes), district (common socio-cultural characteristics in Kadıköy), and local (neighborhood dynamics specific to Kozyatağı). Findings indicate that spatial continuity is sustained through common values, perception-taste-thought patterns, and social relations formed between class fractions at the district and local levels. The perceived class habitus of space significantly shapes residential location choices and mobility patterns. However, external conditions such as the economic crisis, the pandemic, and the earthquake have disrupted local dynamics, undermining class reproduction mechanisms and triggering intra-class conflicts. The study combines critical realism and Bourdieu’s theoretical framework to contribute to the field of urban planning by addressing the coexistence practices of different class fractions and the external interventions affecting these practices.

Safe building design is a significant architectural design criterion in ensuring the health and safety of users. In Türkiye, recent buildings produced through constraints concentrated on resilience against disasters such as earthquakes, fires, floods, as well as those built with experiential traditional design approaches have proven inadequate for ensuring user safety and health. To prevent potential accidents involving users, a comprehensive approach is needed that, in addition to disaster-oriented design criteria, factors related to the building and its immediate surroundings, users, functions, and risks are considered. Consequently, an “Integrated Risk-Oriented Building Design” method is developed based on the traditional design approach in which risk factors and safety criteria are determined, necessary action steps sequences are organized precisely, user safety is ensured, and it is supported by decision-making and calculation methods whereby validating its applicability scientifically. Study stages include; literature review, developing a new method proposal by integrating existing decision-making and calculation systems with the traditional design method, and a case study testing the developed method. The proposed method aims to minimize built environment’s risks within the structure and its surroundings per the identified criteria. It is believed that when the Integrated Risk-Oriented Building Design method is properly implemented by designers and experts, potential risks that users might encounter will be eliminated or mitigated, leading to the production of safe and healthy designs. Moreover, the proposed method is expected to serve as a guide for future studies that can be further developed through scientific research and respond accurately to evolving needs.

A significant portion of global energy demand is directly attributable to artificial lighting systems in buildings. Consequently, improving their energy efficiency is crucial for achieving current climate and environmental policy goals. However, the prevailing discrepancies between predicted and actual energy demand present a major challenge as a comprehensive understanding of the factors influencing energy consumption of artificial lighting systems is still lacking. Based on minute-by-minute long-term monitoring of an open-plan office in Austria several dedicated studies have been conducted in recent years to systematically and comprehensively quantify the impact of individual and organizational factors on energy consumption. In addition to quantifying workplace usage behaviour, the analyses also considered various control concepts and the influence of user combinations, both on an individual and probability-based level. The results emphasize the need for a greater integration of behavioural aspects into the strategic planning and operation of artificial lighting systems to optimize energy efficiency.

Determination of room mode frequencies and shapes in rectangular rooms can be done using calculation methods. Simple calculations cannot be made for non-rectangular rooms and the room must be simulated. In this study, the effects of 4 different acoustic designs on room modes and room responses were investigated using a fan-shaped room with a volume of 85 m³. The absorption coefficients of the acoustic materials used were calculated based on the reverberation time values obtained as a result of field measurements. T30, EDT, C80 and room response measurements made in the field in accordance with ISO 3382 and ISO 18233 standards and ANSYS modal Data was obtained as a result of comparing the room modes and shapes found with the Finite Element Method (FEM) using the acoustic module. It has been found that if the absorption coefficients of the acoustic devices to be used in the room are greater than 0.5, the room mode shapes and frequencies in the relevant frequency band change, and as a result, the room response becomes smoother. It has been observed that the peaks in the room response in a certain frequency band can only be smoothed out with sound-absorbing materials with an absorption coefficient greater than 0.5 in that frequency band. It has been evaluated that the absorbers, which will be effective in the frequency bands left by the room modes in the room response, will pull these bottom regions lower.

Sedad Hakkı Eldem, a prominent figure in modern Turkish architecture, was deeply influenced by his elite Ottoman family background and his early exposure to European culture. His education at Istanbul's Sanâyi-i Nefîse Mektebi and his interest in Anatolian heritage shaped his architectural philosophy. Eldem's 1924–1925 sketchbooks, containing 120 sketches and newspaper clippings, reveal his fascination with Turkish architectural styles, from Anatolian Seljuk to Ottoman designs, as well as European modernist influences.
The sketches cover a variety of subjects, including building designs, urban settings, and architectural details, reflecting his academic training and personal interests. The clippings focus primarily on Anatolian cities and Turkish architectural heritage, and were collected before Eldem's firsthand exposure to these places. Eldem's 1942 proposal for the Anıtkabir competition embodies this synthesis, drawing on the inspirations of his student years, particularly Seljuk and Ottoman architectural forms.
Although he did not win the competition, Eldem's design was recognized for its incorporation of traditional Turkish elements, exemplifying his vision of "Turkifying" the architectural heritage. His broader contribution to architecture is characterized by an integration of modernity with historical continuity, as seen in his teaching and professional work. Eldem's dedication to documenting and abstracting Turkish architectural traditions, evident in his early sketches, defined his lifelong architectural ethos.

This study examines the active aging potential of the elderly population in Sinop, the Turkish province with the highest proportion of elderly residents (TURKSTAT, 2024a), under the pandemic conditions of 2020. Given the intrinsic relationship between activity and environment, the research explores how the daily activities of the elderly vary by rural-urban settlement type and gender within the framework of the Person-Environment-Activity Model. By analyzing these factors, the study provides planning recommendations for active aging at both local and national levels.
Aging and activity remain underexplored topics in Türkiye. This study aims to contribute to aging research in the country while engaging with global discussions on activity theory. The research involved structured interviews with 209 rural and 323 urban elderly individuals, with data analyzed using SPSS. Elderly individuals in urban areas engage more in shopping (46.6%) and exercise (38.3%), while those in rural areas participate more in work (22%), gardening/farming (10.1%), and religious activities (3.9%). Gender-based analysis revealed that men participate more frequently in public sports and recreational activities (41.9%), while women are more engaged in garden/farm maintenance (14.5%) and artistic/cultural activities (4.5%).
Enhancing societal awareness of active aging and improving the quality and accessibility of physical environments could foster greater participation in diverse activities among the elderly. This would promote well-being and social integration.