Setting a Sustainable “Ground” for Post-Disaster Housing in Turkey: On a Common(ing) Spatial Lexicon

Date

2024-08-30

Author

Bican, N. Burak
Güneri Söğüt, Gizem Deniz

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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

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In the aftermath of disasters, the imperative to rebuild quickly often clashes with the goals of sustainable urban development. This tension is particularly pronounced in Turkey, a nation prone to earthquakes and rapid urbanization, where the demand for safe, affordable housing frequently outpaces supply. This study argues that a collaborative "common(ing)" approach to post-disaster housing can reconcile the need for rapid reconstruction with sustainable housing principles, ensuring environments that are both immediately habitable and viable in the long term. The research integrates a review of existing literature and legislation with thematic analysis to extract and refine key spatial concepts relevant to post-disaster housing. Semi-structured interviews with stakeholders from diverse disciplines—including architecture, urban planning, sociology, and public administration—are employed to identify converging and diverging priorities. These interactions are crucial in developing a "common(ing)" lexicon that supports sustainable rebuilding efforts. Creative mapping techniques are used to visualize and analyze the findings, highlighting areas of agreement and conflict among the various actors. The study reveals that effective post-disaster housing strategies require a shared framework that addresses both the urgency of reconstruction and the principles of sustainable development. It hypothesizes that a common lexicon facilitates clearer communication among stakeholders and fosters alignment on key sustainability objectives, such as reducing resource consumption, minimizing environmental impact, and ensuring economic viability.Contrary to initial assumptions, the findings suggest that stakeholders largely share a common lexicon, which, when recognized and utilized as a strategic tool, aids in navigating the complexities of rebuilding, thereby supporting the creation of affordable, environmentally friendly, and socially inclusive housing. While a common spatial lexicon provides a substantial foundation for addressing the dual imperatives of rapid reconstruction and sustainable development in post-disaster scenarios, this study underscores the critical necessity of re-evaluating the role of architects within the planning process. Such a re-evaluation may catalyze the development of new models of architectural practice, more closely aligned with the multifaceted challenges of contemporary urbanism. In this reconceptualized framework, architects would extend their traditional roles as designers to encompass functions as mediators and facilitators in a broader discourse concerning the future of urban environments. This expanded role involves not only the physical creation of structures but also the strategic shaping of the processes through which urban spaces are conceived, developed, and sustained. By embracing a "commoning" approach, architects, alongside other key stakeholders, can contribute to the development of housing environments that not only address the immediate needs of disaster-affected populations but also advance the long-term sustainability and resilience of urban areas.

URI

https://hdl.handle.net/11511/111231

Collections

Department of Architecture, Conference / Seminar