Bridges are structures that have both engineering and architectural value. The importance bridges have in society is not only due to their function but their form and posture. Bridges are structures that pass longer spans among all other structures. This passageway includes not only the quantitative values, but the quality also. The perfect harmony between its form and function is reflected in its overall structure. Footbridges are the most intimate type of bridges for people. Usually of smaller dimensions and lighter weight, the design for these types is done with more aesthetic care. In this study, bridges are briefly analyzed from both architectural and engineering points of view. The differences and importance of footbridges in daily life are studied. Some of the existing footbridges in Ankara are observed and models, inspired by them, are made. With necessary adaptations, new cases are obtained and comparisons in their dimensions and structural system are realized.

Mardin&amp / #8217 / s unique stone architecture has evolved within various ethnical and religious communities. Regardless of its hybrid nature, with the effect of topography, the fabric has a uniform character. The interventions made to the city during the last century have repeated fragments of stereotype apartment building instead of sustaining traditional typologies (building types with living unit, aiwan, arcade, terrace and courtyard). Typological difference of these interventions has caused an incongruous hybridization and deterioration in the fabric. Hybridization in architecture, for Felipe Hernandez, is not only diversity of architectural styles and materials. Furthermore, it is a cultural issue related with changes in the society. Mardin confronts hybridization because the traditional buildings are incapable of embracing contemporary functions. This has been exemplified with G&ouml / z&uuml / House and neighboring buildings. Late interventions are distinguished from the historical ones according to typological differences. This study accepts hybrid as a problem but also as a fact / thus aims to regenerate it. The historical types, accepted as original, are interpreted with a contemporary sense in reference to debates on sustaining urban form with new buildings and theories on typology which define it as open to creativity, vague in form and reproducible. This is exemplified by a proposal, an infill in the fabric. Spatial sequence of the proposal refers to traditional plan typologies while these spaces embrace contemporary functions and their architectonic expression refers to contemporary architecture. So, in relation to the facts of the present context the proposal fulfills its spatial expectations while respecting physical context.

Artifacts are moved to museums after the excavations in order to provide an indoor protection, while the immovable findings remain exposed to environmental conditions and human activity. In order to conserve these architectural remains made of vulnerable material, mosaics and wall paintings in situ, covering structures are designed offering temporary or long-term sheltering, preserving and exhibiting facilities. The aim of the study is to evaluate these protective structures. In this study, national and international approaches in the conservation of archaeological sites are studied in order to form the theoretical framework. Following the theoretical research, problems facing excavation sites, in situ conservation, interventions and the presentation of the archaeological sites are studied. New building in an archaeological site is discussed in architectural and conservation perspectives and evaluation criteria are defined. Selected cases are studied according to their material selection, functional and physical efficiency, compatibility with the remaining and its urban context in terms of the determined principles. The study is concluded with the general remarks for a new protective structure for the preservation and presentation of the architectural remains in an archaeological site.

This thesis identifies the causes and the process of the change of the historic city center of Samsun since the beginning of the 20th century by the role of the development and conservation activities. Because of rapid urban growth and the lack of conservation principles in city plans, most of the city centers have been subjected to growth-conservation contradiction. As a result of this, the historic city centers lose their unique characteristics and cultural heritage while they change rapidly. The city of Samsun became an important trade and transport center since the middle of the 19th century and significantly improved in economic, physical and cultural aspects. As the tobacco production has developed, tobacco factory has been founded and the port of Samsun has become the most important port of the Black Sea by the middle of the 19th century, the Non-Muslim traders began to settle in Samsun. Hence, Samsun became an important center of the Black Sea region with its commercial activities and multicultural social structure. However, after the middle of the 20th century, as a result of the rapid urban growth, Samsun started to lose its unique urban tissue and cultural heritage increasingly. Today the urban fabric of the city does not reflect its historical importance. The remaining cultural heritage of the city belonging to early 20th century is not legible within today&acute / s urban tissue. By identifying the change in urban tissue, the thesis aims to present the current situation of the cultural properties within today&acute / s urban fabric and prepare a basis for conservation.

This thesis aims an analysis of early Republican state factory settlements, in terms of their concern for workers&amp / #8217 / health and welfare, within Turkish modernization in the largest extent. State factory settlements are evaluated in terms of their architectural program(s), in terms of concern about the physical and mental health requirements of their future workers at the stage of their foundation. Different types of buildings, like workers&amp / #8217 / houses, cafeterias, health centers and clubs, with respect to their organization and architectural function and also areas spared for sports and recreation are examined in EskiSehir Sugar Factory, as an exemplary case of the state factories. The aim has been to reveal and evaluate the role of the social and architectural construction of state factories on workers&amp / #8217 / (and their families) health, as a part of the modernization project of Turkey.

In this thesis, analysis of the creative act in architecture and art is tried to be dwelled upon. The capacities of the &#039 / creative mind&#039 / personality and ethics are the fields that are focused on to elaborate the subjective qualities of the architect. Three aspects are designated in this framework through the literal works of architect M. Ziya Tanali. Tanali is a man of profession for the several years. He is not only contributed Turkish architecture with buildings, but also wrote extensively on art and architecture. Then to evaluate these aspects in the practice of architecture his projects are scrutinized. Thesis can be interpreted as a kind of autobiographical study that is supplemented with the theoretical framework on the &#039 / creative act&#039 / . This kind of a study gives an opportunity of tracing the phenomena of an architect deals with in her/his architectural practice.

This thesis re-evaluates the exhibition space as a site of &ldquo / indeterminacy&rdquo / defined by the dialectical interaction of architectural space and art object. The ways in which different forms of space-object interactions are constructed, and the architectural tools used to accommodate the exhibition event will be the departure points of this investigation. In this respect, the cases of Dia Beacon, Tate Modern and Stazione Leopolda will be analyzed and the means of &ldquo / indeterminacy&rdquo / will be elucidated by using the conceptual tools of &ldquo / isolation&rdquo / , &ldquo / unification&rdquo / and &ldquo / transformation&rdquo / . With the aid of these three cases, the aim of this study is to comprehend the architectural potentials in exhibition practice, which functions in extreme conditions of constantly altering states, environments and relations.

Considering revitalization as a way of improving three interrelated aspects of quality of life including physical quality, social and economic welfare, this study sets out an evaluation framework to measure the success of implementations aiming to revitalize historic commercial places. This framework emerges from the qualities of built environments which are defined with reference to the normative urban design theory developed by Kevin Lynch. Urban qualities are defined with a comprehensive approach which takes into account spatial, social, and economic aspects of creating urban places. The Main Street Program, subject of this study, is a historic commercial district revitalization program developed by the National Trust for Historic Preservation in the United States. This program introduces a preservation-based revitalization model. Based on a comprehensive approach, the program suggests working simultaneously on organization, design, economic restructuring, and promotion. This study analyzes the revitalization model of the Main Street Program by looking at its various aspects including organization models, funding tools, involvement of local communities, contributions of the federal and local governments, implementation, and self-evaluation. Besides, it introduces a citywide coordinating program, Boston Main Streets. Finally, it analyzes the revitalization of Washington Street in South End, Boston, one of the places where Main Street Program has been implemented. The street has been transformed from a vacant and deteriorated commercial street into a more vital, pedestrian oriented, mixed use place in a decade. This study aims to analyze the case from three different points. First, the success of the program is evaluated within the above framework. Second, the effectiveness of the program is examined through an outcome analysis. Finally, the organizational performance of the Main Street organization is analyzed.

The study attempts to trace the development of mosque architecture in Islamic history, in modern architecture in the world, specifically focusing on the history of the mosque in Libya. It investigates whether the conformity of mosque components and finishing is due to historic, current and local Islamic prescriptions / due to functional purposes and necessities, or merely as an imitation of the stereotype styles for loyalty to mental and habitual traditions regardless of functions. The main objective of this thesis is to study &lsquo / the lack of innovation&rsquo / in mosque architecture, especially in the Libyan case. The thesis investigates the factors which may have caused this phenomenon and attempts to explore whether there is possibility to innovate mosque design. For this end, the thesis analyzes and evaluates urban, spatial, architectural and performance properties of the existing mosques in city of Ajdabiya in Libya, the results of which are expected to help architects in developing the innovations in mosque design. Finally, the study asserts that acceptance of innovation is possible under the given circumstances: there are differences from one mosque to another, there are variations of mosque elements in terms of type and form, already varying from region to region. The main reasons for the absence of innovations are found to be due to unqualified designers who lack creativity, fear for the vulnerability of the heritage and some misconceptions and misinterpretations in terms of religious prescriptions.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of environmental design parameters on thermal comfort conditions in the METU Faculty of Architecture Building located in Ankara. The building had some problems in terms of indoor climatic conditions, both in winter and in summer. It was evident that some design parameters caused this undesirable situation. The study therefore focused on understanding and evaluating the effects of design-dependent elements such as thermal mass, the size and orientation of windows, shading and vegetation on thermal comfort conditions in the case study building. While conducting this study, data loggers were used to record temperature and humidity data in predetermined rooms. Data was collected during certain periods in July, August, and September 2006. The data collected was analyzed statistically and hypotheses were tested using ANOVA. This study showed that the effect of thermal mass was almost the same for the rooms investigated owing to the fact that the entire building had been constructed with concrete curtain walls. In terms of thermal performance the number and orientation of the exterior walls, orientation and size of windows, room heights and also sun shading with surrounding vegetation were most effective design parameters for the rooms investigated