The aim of this study is to integrate the basic concepts of landscape urbanism and the principles of universal design approach in order to achieve an inclusive urban surface on the seafront of the Bosphorus. This study may be described as a reinterpretation of the European shore of the Bosphorus, reintroducing the sea to the daily life of stanbul&amp / #8217 / s inhabitants. Landscape urbanism refers to the architecture of an urban surface, a continuous landscape accommodating all kinds of structures and activities to enhance human experience. Universal design is an approach that celebrates human diversity and is often defined as the design of products and environments to be usable by all people, to the greatest extent possible, without the need for adaptation or specialized design. To achieve its goal, this study focuses on the concept of urban surface and the related design strategies described by Alex Wall, which might help to create inclusive environments. In this way, it attempts to put forward a framework for the implementation of universal design principles to urban scale. It not only evaluates the strategies of landscape urbanism from the perspective offered by the universal design approach, but also attempts to make a contribution to the common brainstorming about shaping the seafront of the Bosphorus.

This thesis interrogates the interrelation between architecture and science fiction cinema to understand the fictional and representative power of architecture. Since cinema embraces both physical and representative aspects of architecture it is convenient to carry out the research through the mediation of cinema. To accomplish this goal science fiction genre is particularly chosen where architectural image can break its commonly acknowledged facet and can reconstruct to participate in the narrative. The architectural image is intended to be interpreted through the concept of city and architectural components in science fiction cinema. To create a mutual language, a world wide known city &amp / #8211 / New York City &amp / #8211 / is selected as the case study subject / that the research is developed upon. Initially the study is based on the discussion over cinema architecture relationship from an architect&amp / #8217 / s point of view. Subsequently architectural image in architecture and cinema is studied under several categories. Twenty four science fiction movies with various plots are chosen where all the movies are either located in New York City or in a fictional city inspired by it. By analyzing these movies through architectural concepts it is aimed to gain understanding to key points in architectural design.

Traditional Dwellings in Ankara Citadel have an important place among both Anatolian and Ankara Traditional Dwellings, reflecting certain characteristics of their own. Citadel Area, as one of the oldest settlements in Ankara, has been hosting both residential and commercial activities for a very long period of time. Today, the area has regained its popularity / as a commercial, cultural and tourism center with the potential of its remaining values from the past and conservation movements held in the area starting from 1970&amp / #8217 / s. Within these circumstances, the residential pattern inside Citadel area, the boundaries of which are strictly defined by historical fortress walls, carries the highest risk in the area. At this point, main factors threatening the existing pattern can be categorized in four titles, which also constitute the definition of the problem that the thesis is going to deal with. First factor is the rapid change in original use of traditional dwellings in the Outer Citadel due to the pressure derived from the increase in tourism, commercial and cultural activities in the area. Second factor is the assignment of gastronomic function as the most popular and major function among new functions of restored traditional dwellings in the area. The third factor is the disappearance of original characteristics and values of traditional dwellings due to restoration projects, which is caused by the discordant relation of the spatial, functional requirements of gastronomic use with the original characteristics, spatial capacity of traditional dwellings. Last factor is the present physical situation of traditional dwellings, which doesn&amp / #8217 / t correspond with their physical situation in the projects approved by the Board of Conservation of Ankara. Outer Citadel is the study area for the problem with its clear boundaries, which is actually a buffer zone between the commercial, cultural, tourism zone outside the Citadel Area and Inner Citadel, in which the existing residential pattern, mostly preserving its original characteristics and use, is located. This thesis mainly intends to point out how the original characteristics, values and spatial quality of traditional dwellings are affected from the gastronomic function in both positive and negative ways within the context of contemporary understanding and methods of conservation. Discordances and problems between the approved restoration projects and the restoration implementations are another subject of the thesis. The thesis starts with an introduction chapter, informing about the theoretical framework established for the study, the definition and aim, which also informs about the methodology followed. Second chapter consists of a historical research on Ankara Citadel and examinations on the present situation of the area, traditional dwellings in Ankara Citadel and other developments in the city which have an effect on Citadel Area and traditional dwellings. Third chapter includes the analyses of traditional dwellings chosen for the study with their evaluations, in which the original characteristics and values these dwellings are also indicated. Fourth chapter consists of the analyses of the restoration projects of the traditional dwellings again with their evaluations, considering both the present situation and the original characteristics and values. Thesis ends with a conclusion chapter, which makes a general evaluation of the study within the context of modern conservation approaches.

In this thesis, the problem of the principles of new designs in historic built landscapes is discussed. In approaching the problem, a theoretical framework is developed and the general principles regarding new buildings in historic settings are derived from the theoretical context. Subsequently, the proposed principles is tried to be adapted to the case of Odunpazari historic urban fabric. Finally, a Youth Center for a specific Project Area in Odunpazari is proposed, and the integration of the proposal to the context is evaluated. The foremost aim of the thesis is proposing general principles concerning good architecture that continues and contributes to the spirit of place, and adapting them for a specific design problem in a specific place in order to evaluate the efficiency of the principles proposed. In developing the theoretical framework, it was discussed that, in determination of the principles for new designs, the historic built landscape should be handled in a way that resolves the network of relationships and allow the definition of the spirit of place. The methodology of understanding the spirit of place was established with reference to the approaches developed by Christopher Alexander and Christian Norberg-Schulz. According to the studies by these scholars, a triad layer system in resolving the spirit of place is developed. As named by Christian Norberg-Schulz, the layers of Gestalts, typologies and figures constituted the analytical framework leading to the resolution of the network of relationships between the components of a place. This model of analyzing and defining the spirit of place was found valuable, since it does not only focuses on the formal aspects of the historic built landscape, but also questions the main rules forming the unity and coherence of place. Odunpazari traditional urban fabric is selected as a case study, and its physical, historical, social and economical context is evaluated by the help of the literature and site surveys. Finally, a &amp / #8216 / Youth Center&amp / #8217 / in a Project Area in Odunpazari is proposed according to the general principles derived from the theoretical framework, and the results are discussed.

The aim of this study was to investigate the thermal performance of residential units in the Middle East Technical University (METU) Campus, Ankara. The study was conducted on the unoccupied residential units to eliminate the occupant interventions. There were only three unoccupied residential units in the study period, hence sample was considered as randomly selected. Case study units were triplex row houses and all physical characteristics were identical apart from their orientations. The thermal performance of these three residential units was assessed by compiling data on temperature and relative humidity from a number of their rooms on certain days in January and February. The study was conducted in winter months, because heating loads are more significant than cooling loads for energy consumption in Ankara / the measurement period was determined according to the coldest days of the year. In this context, the temperature and humidity charts were evaluated and one of the units was simulated using the software tool Ecotect v.5.20. The simulation temperature charts demonstrate similar behavior and trends as the measured temperature / although, it was approximately 4 0C lower than the measured temperature. The possible reason for such a difference may be the precision of the material properties. Six different calibrations were tested by changing the thermal properties of the envelope materials to obtain comparable results with the measured temperature readings. Based on the calibrated model, it was found that an increase in the U-value of the envelope materials did not have a significant effect on the simulated temperature charts.

Today the most prosperous interface of architectural design and representation has become the architectural model both in its digital and physical forms. There has been a shift in the design medium from the physical modeling processes to computer-aided design, by way of which the computational design methods have established a much more dynamic, complex, and continual design. In this process, the digital design model now accompanies the whole design as a single entity, contrary to conventional analog modeling techniques where design is compartmentalized into linear phases. By the embracement of computer-aided manufacturing (CAM) in company of computeraided design (CAD), physical modeling has gained another dimension in the interwoven relationship of the digital and physical. The aim of this study is to explore the novel conceptual and computational changes which mark the departure of this new mode of design from the old. There has always been a hierarchy of presence between the virtual space of representations and architecture&rsquo / s materiality. Within this context, the emphasis of the study is on the relationship between the virtuality of conception and modeling processes, and the materiality of construction, production and fabrication.

This study is a critical reconsideration of architecture&rsquo / s affiliation with mathematics and geometry both as practical instrument and theoretical reference. The thesis claims that mathematics and its methodological structure provided architects with an ultimate foundation and a strong reference outside architecture itself ever since the initial formations of architectural discourse. However, the definitive assumptions and epistemological consequences of this grounding in mathematical clarity, methodological certainty and instrumental precision gain a new insight with the introduction of digital technologies. Since digital technologies offer a new formation for this affiliation either with their claim of a better geometric representation or mathematical controllability of physical reality (space), the specific focus on these newly emerging technologies will be developed within a theoretical frame presenting the significant points of mathematics in architecture.

&ldquo / Place&rdquo / is a complex and contested term being exposed to various theorizations and positions in diverse fields. Aiming to get an understanding of what it may contribute to in the discourse of architecture, the thesis firstly offers a framework that helps to depict a genealogy of &ldquo / place&rdquo / through its itinerary in phenomenologically driven human geography where it originated as a conceptual term, and in architecture to which became an important issue of debate and theorization over the relation between building activity and the ground. Conveying an understanding of &ldquo / place&rdquo / as an ethical component in architecture&rsquo / s agenda, the thesis defines architecture as the &ldquo / identification of place&rdquo / , and comes up with ideas for a conceptual framework of &ldquo / gathering&rdquo / insight concerning the physical location/condition, namely &ldquo / place&rdquo / , through the study and understanding of its components, namely &ldquo / reading&rdquo / them. The significance of defining, listening to and interpreting physical location/condition for a more &ldquo / enriched mission of architecture&rdquo / within developing a notion of dialogue is addressed in this thesis.

This thesis aims to gain an insight to the properties that make a living structure and examine these properties and the concept of living structure in traditional Kastamonu Houses in the light of Christopher Alexander&amp / #8217 / s theories of wholeness and centers. Especially in the last century, building activity has become a significant field with the developments in the construction techniques and technology. In this way, human life is being shaped also, beside the earth. The traditional housing fabric, which is the heritage of years of experience and the reflection of the lifestyle of a particular society, is being neglected. In any part of the world, the number of the buildings, resembling each other so much, increases / and most of the time, they lack the values that support the quality of life. Within the scope of this thesis, first of all, Alexander&amp / #8217 / s definition of order, theories of wholeness and centers, concept of living structure are studied. Then, traditional Kastamonu houses are analyzed, both visually and spatially / and properties that make a living structure are examined. The relation between living structure and expression of self and the importance of belonging to own time and place are put forward. Then, how different centers are united together by the help of these features is seen. This study helps to understand, how to create more sensitive environments to live by studying and understanding traditional housing concepts before losing them totally. Moreover, it emphasizes the values of traditional Kastamonu houses, which support the quality of life.

The search for the process of electrification in Turkey and how it is materialized in urban space in different scales in indoor and outdoor is the aim of this thesis. Looking for the effects of electrification by means of making a discursive analysis and taking into consideration the objects in substance, concerning the practice itself, and searching for the transformations in the urban space and in urban living are the main objectives of this research. Consequently, popular media will be the main source to look for how electrification was materialized and depicted in the publicity. The popular publications of the period like / magazines, newspapers, films are going to be investigated and re-read in order to decipher how discursive formations were constructed. The intervals of the research period are theheydays of these Modernist discursive formations, mainly the 1930s / starting from 1928 the foundation of Ankara Gas and Electricity Factory which is the symbol and generator of electrification in the new capital Ankara, and ending with 1938 with Mustafa Kemal Atat&uuml / rk&amp / #8217 / s death which can be considered a major turning point in the discursive formations. The theoretical framework of the thesis will take the modernity project in the Turkish Republic, focusing on how collective memory and social identity was constructed at that time.