Reconsideration of genius loci: re-generative design approach in environmentally sensitive architecture

Download

index.pdf

Date

2015

Author

Emerce, Melike

Metadata

Show full item record

Item Usage Stats

319
views

238
downloads

Green building rating systems, such as LEED and BREEAM, were initially developed for assessing the performance of the building designs as end-products. With the passage of time, they have gained such significance that they started to lead the green design practice. However, the inappropriate adaptation of these international rating tools as design guides has resulted in insensitivity towards context, disregard of regional and cultural variations since they have certain limitations preventing them to guide the overall design process. In these terms, there is a substantial need for a shift in green design practice. The purpose of this study is to propose a strategic shift in mindset towards an environmentally sensitive approach by interpreting genius loci, ‘spirit of the place’, as a context-depended understanding of architecture with re-generative design in order to obtain a better established basis for the design process. Re-generation, in this context, is a process based approach and aims revitalizing the environment with co-evolution of humans with natural systems. The study adopts a critical position and includes analytical evaluations which start with literature research and examined further through case studies in order to promote the necessity of mindset shift. After the discussion of key concepts, a conceptual framework is created to provide guidance for future practice. It is claimed in this thesis that a reconsideration of genius loci in accordance with the ideals of re-generative design has the potential to provide solutions based on place-specific understanding for environmentally sensitive architectural practice.

Subject Keywords

Sustainable buildings., Sustainable design., Sustainable development., Sustainable architecture.

URI

http://etd.lib.metu.edu.tr/upload/12619452/index.pdf
https://hdl.handle.net/11511/25159

Collections

Graduate School of Natural and Applied Sciences, Thesis

Suggestions

OpenMETU
Core

Motivators and barriers for green building construction market in Turkey Gündoğan, Handan; Aydın, İsmail; Altan Sakarya, Ayşe Burcu; Department of Civil Engineering (2012) ‘Green Buildings’ play an important role to increase the implementation of sustainable strategies in the construction industry. Although there is a process of change within Turkish building environment towards implementation of green strategies nowadays, limited research has been conducted to search the reasons that drive the market and the important barriers that block the green building movement. This thesis is intended to fill this gap in the literature and contribute to the field of knowledge regarding ...
Integration of Generative Research and Sustainability into the Product Design and Development Process Turhan, Senem; Doğan, Çağla (null; 2012-07-05) To explore the relationships between the generative research and design for sustainability at the idea generation phase of the design process, a design research method that emerges from generative research approach “Experience Reflection Modeling” (ERM) has been developed and integrated into a design for sustainability project within the context of design education in the Department of Industrial Design at the Middle East Technical University (METU). The ERM method brings together 3D modelling, interview an...
Application of Artificial Neural Networks onBuilding Energy Estimation Altun, Murat; Ersöz, Ahmet Bahaddin; Akçamete Güngör, Aslı; Pekcan, Onur (null; 2017-12-11) Abstract -The decision makers in the building design stage need to give more importance for energy efficient solutions to improve the performance the building in its operational phase. In practice, they are expected to generate alternative designs in the early design stage and use complicated building simulation tools to estimate building energy use of these alternatives more accurately; however, this is a time-consuming procedure and it is difficult to evaluate different alternatives in the limited time of...
The development of a building energy performance evaluation program (EnAd) for architectural design process Çakıcı, Fatma Zehra; Sorguç, Arzu; Department of Building Science in Architecture (2013) Energy performance in buildings has become one of the most broadly debated subjects in contemporary architecture; and current legislation has emphasized its importance by requiring buildings to possess an energy performance certificate. Due to the technological advances in computational tools, it is possible to analyze the energy performance of buildings before construction starts; however most energy performance evaluation tools, requiring complex solid models and high technical knowledge in the field, can...
Analytical study on seismic retrofitting of reinforced concrete buildings using steel braces with shear link Durucan, Cengizhan; Dicleli, Murat (2010-10-01) This paper is focused on a proposed seismic retrofitting system (PRS) configured to upgrade the performance of seismically vulnerable reinforced concrete (RC) buildings. The PRS is composed of a rectangular steel housing frame with chevron braces and a yielding shear link connected between the braces and the frame. The retrofitting system is installed within the bays of an RC building frame to enhance the stiffness, strength and ductility of the structure. The PRS and a conventional retrofitting system usin...

Citation Formats

M. Emerce, “Reconsideration of genius loci: re-generative design approach in environmentally sensitive architecture,” M.Arch. - Master of Architecture, Middle East Technical University, 2015.