Mehmet Inceoğlu

Building energy modeling (BEM) tools are essential for achieving sustainable building design by enabling the simulation and analysis of building energy performance. While Building Energy Modeling (BEM) tools have achieved widespread adoption, a systematic framework for their selection, grounded in project objectives and a comprehensive understanding of tool capabilities and applicability, is still lacking. This research addresses this gap by developing a framework to guide architects and other stakeholders in selecting appropriate BEM tools for sustainable building projects. This study identifies common sustainable design strategies from a comparative analysis of certified sustainable buildings. It evaluates capabilities and applicability of available tools from a comprehensive evaluation of BEM tools listed in the Building Energy Software Tools Directory. The resulting framework provides a structured approach, describing key input/output features and assessing the suitability of different tools for different types of project and analysis objectives. The results of this research can support a more efficient use of BEM tools in sustainable design, enabling professionals and policymakers to make informed decisions and to promote the transition toward a more sustainable built environment.

Bilim kurgu filmleri, genellikle fiziksel dünyada var olmayan mekânsallıkları olanaklı hale getirerek mimarlık disiplinin bilgi alanına katkıda bulunur. Bilimkurgu türündeki Blade Runner bu bağlamda kült bir mimarlık filmi olarak kabul edilmektedir. Blade Runner 2049, Blade Runner’ın 30 yıl sonrasında geçen ve ilk filmin görsel atmosferini bir taraftan koruyup bir taraftan da başarılı şekilde yeniden yorumlayabilmesi sebebi ile bu çalışmada örnek olarak seçilmiştir. Çalışma kapsamında, bir multi-genre örneği olarak Blade Runner 2049’da yer alan mekânları, Foucault tarafından ortaya atılan ve öteki mekân kavramına karşılık gelen heterotopya kavramı ile okumak amaçlanmıştır. Foucault’un yorumuyla ütopyanın karşısında yer alan heterotopya kavramı, Blade Runner ve Blade Runner 2049’a ait mekânların yorumlanmasında sıklıkla başvurulan ütopya-distopya dikotomisine yeni bir perspektif sunacağı öngörüsü ile seçilmiştir. Bu bağlamda öncelikle bir içerik analizi, sonra da mekânların görsel analizi yapılmıştır. Blade Runner 2049’un katmanlı tematik ve görsel yapısını anlamak için öncelikle bilimkurgu türünün alt türleri olan ve filmle ilişkilenen kavramlar detaylandırılmıştır. Daha sonra heterotopya kavramı mimarlık bağlamında açıklanmıştır. Blade Runner’da yer alan ve Blade Runner 2049’da morfolojik dönüşümleri görülen mekânlar ile Blade Runner 2049 özelinde yer alan ve dönüşen mekânlar heterotopya kavramı ile ilişkilendirilerek tartışılmıştır.

Natural disasters are increasing in frequency and intensity, causing escalating humanitarian crises and complex housing challenges globally. Traditional post-disaster housing solutions often fall short, being slow, costly, and ill-adapted to specific community needs. This study addresses these limitations by proposing an innovative, technology-driven model for post-disaster housing that integrates parametric design with 3D printing. The objective is to develop a flexible and adaptable system capable of providing both immediate temporary shelter and evolving permanent housing solutions. In this study, the methodology of the proposed model for post-disaster housing solutions is structured around three main phases: the development of the theoretical framework, the parametric design process, and the implementation phase. In the first phase, a comprehensive literature review and conceptual analyses were conducted to examine the concept of disaster, post-disaster housing approaches, and advanced technologies, thereby establishing the conceptual foundation of the model. In the second phase, parametric modeling was carried out for a modular system using algorithmic design tools such as Grasshopper; the model’s applicability across various scales and its flexibility were analyzed. In the final phase, material selection and digital prototyping of the gridal system were undertaken using 3D printing technology to evaluate the model’s feasibility for rapid on-site production, assembly, and disassembly. The model prioritizes user participation, modularity, and configurability to ensure rapid response and socio-cultural sensitivity. Findings indicate that this integrated approach offers substantial benefits, including accelerated construction, reduced labor and material waste, enhanced design flexibility, and the use of local, sustainable materials. This research highlights the transformative potential of advanced manufacturing in providing resilient, user-centered, and environmentally sustainable post-disaster housing, advocating for governmental financial support to overcome adoption barriers and foster broader implementation.

This study investigates the potential of Tawa Khana, a vernacular heating system used in Asian countries, particularly Afghanistan, to improve building energy efficiency. Tawa Khana utilizes radiant floor heating, drawing warmth from a cooking stove or fireplace to heat the floor and subsequently the room. However, it is neglected in contemporary designs, and there is a predicted risk of losing this valuable knowledge entirely within the next few decades. This study aims to evaluate Tawa Khana's features, including its design and construction methods, with the goal of establishing a design manual for Tawa Khana. Furthermore, it analyzes the multifaceted contributions of Tawa Khana to building energy efficiency. For this purpose, a case study evaluation with comprehensive simulations analysis through the DesignBuilder program was conducted. The results indicate that Tawa Khana is applicable with minimal additional technology, increasing room temperature by 4 degrees Celsius, demonstrating its effectiveness as a sustainable heating strategy. This vernacular technique efficiently utilizes waste heat from cooking activities, reducing reliance on conventional heating systems and promoting energy conservation.

The rising demand for building cooling has led to increased energy consumption and environmental concerns. This study aims to examine the effectiveness of natural ventilation strategies as sustainable approaches in arid and semi-arid climates, focusing on Kabul City. Employing integrated simulation techniques, including annual energy simulation and Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) analysis, various ventilation approaches were evaluated, such as single-side ventilation, cross-ventilation, and windcatchers. Results indicate that cross-ventilation with opposing windows significantly outperformed other strategies in terms of natural ventilation rates, achieving a 62.5% improvement over single-sided ventilation and a 36% improvement over cross-ventilation with adjacent windows. However, the complex interplay between solar gain and natural ventilation in these climates can lead to increased cooling demand. To address this challenge, integrating south-(S)-facing orientations into both single-sided and cross-ventilated configurations was found to be a balanced and effective approach. These scenarios demonstrated significant total energy savings. Among single-sided ventilation, the S-facing scenario achieved an average of 58.3% energy savings. For opposing cross-ventilation, the north-south (NS) scenario yielded 65.6% energy savings. Finally, adjacent cross-ventilation in the east-south (ES) and south-west (SW) scenarios resulted in an average of 51% energy savings. Furthermore, windcatchers, when combined with single-sided ventilation, further enhanced natural ventilation and reduced cooling demand while maintaining nearly consistent heating demand. Optimized rooftop windcatchers improved natural ventilation rates by up to 26.9% and attached windcatchers achieved up to 56.8% improvement. Compared to a baseline, rooftop windcatchers reduced cooling demand by 6.2%, and attached windcatchers by up to 18.7%. The findings of this study highlight the potential of window-based and windcatcher natural ventilation strategies as energy-efficient and balanced approaches for reducing building energy consumption, particularly cooling loads, in arid and semi-arid climates. These insights provide valuable guidance for architects and policymakers seeking to promote sustainable and energy-efficient building practices.

The building sector is a major contributor to resource consumption, energy use, and greenhouse gas emissions. Sustainable architecture offers a solution, leveraging Building Energy Modeling (BEM) for early-stage design optimization. This study explores the use of genetic algorithms for optimizing sustainable design strategies holistically. A comprehensive analysis and optimization model was developed using genetic algorithms to individually optimize various sustainable strategies. The optimized strategies were then applied to a pre-existing building in Kabul City, a region facing significant environmental challenges. To enhance accuracy, this study integrated energy simulations with Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD). This research combines genetic algorithms with energy simulation and CFD analysis to optimize building design for a specific climate. Furthermore, it validates the optimized strategies through a real-world case study building. Optimizing the Window-to-Wall Ratio (WWR) and shading devices based on solar exposure significantly improved the building’s energy performance. South (S)-facing single windows and specific combinations of opposing and adjacent windows emerged as optimal configurations. The strategic optimization of building component materials led to substantial energy savings: a 58.6% reduction in window energy loss, 78.3% in wall loss, and 69.5% in roof loss. Additionally, the optimized pre-existing building achieved a 48.1% reduction in cooling demand, a 97.5% reduction in heating demand, and an overall energy reduction of 84.4%. Improved natural ventilation and controlled solar gain led to a 72.2% reduction in peak-month CO₂ emissions. While this study focused on applicable passive design strategies, the integration of advanced technologies like Phase Change Materials (PCMs), kinetic shading devices, and renewable energy systems can further improve building performance and contribute to achieving net-zero buildings.

Bu araştırma, Merkez Park’ın mekânsal kalitesinin belirlenen hipotezler doğrultusunda değerlendirilmesi amacıyla ele alınmıştır. Elde edilen sonuçlarla Merkez Park’ın mevcut durumunda kentsel kalitesinin gelişimine katkı sağlayacağı ve kıyı boyunca yapılacak olan projelere kentsel kalite açısından katkı sağlayacağı düşünülmektedir. Çalışmada, iki farklı yöntem kullanılmıştır. İlk adımda Gehl, Greene ve Nasar’ın kalite göstergeleri ile parametreler oluşturularak mekânın somut kalite gösterge düzeyi belirlenmiştir. İkinci adımda ise PPS (Project Public Space) soruları çalışma amacına göre kullanıcılara aktarılmıştır. Sonuçlar, SPSS 29.0 programında belirlenen hipotezler doğrultusunda değerlendirilmiştir. Somut kalite göstergeleri- PPS anket sonuçlarından benzer sonuçlar elde edilmiştir. Somut kalite göstergeleri ve anket sonuçları ile elde edilen verilere bakıldığında Merkez Park’ın mekân kalitesi kullanıcı profili, gece kullanımı, nehir ve yeşil alan gibi doğal unsurların etkin bir şekilde kullanımı ile ve parkta yer alan aktivite çeşitliliği/ sayısı, parkın kullanıcı profili, güvenliği, bakım- temizliği ilişkisi ile bağlantılıdır. Park alanında güvenliğin sağlanması, kullanıcı profilinin değişmesi, temizliğinin sağlanmasıyla mekânsal kalitenin artacağını da göstermektedir. Kıyı alanlarının düzenlemesinde temel olarak ele alınan durum bireylerin su ile etkileşimi; kıyı kullanımının arttırılmasıdır. Bu ilişkinin doğru analiz edilerek Merkez Park’ın mekânsal kalitesinin arttırılmasında oldukça önemlidir.

The proliferation of sustainable design approaches and assessment methods has resulted in a vast array of indicators. However, this abundance often leads to confusion during interpretation and application. Additionally, rapid urbanization and environmental concerns sometimes overshadow social and economic considerations, emphasizing environmental impact reduction. This study addresses these challenges through an integrated approach that combines a Systematic Literature Review (SLR) with a Decision-Making Trial and Evaluation Laboratory (DEMATEL) analysis to provide a holistic model for sustainable building design. The SLR was carried out individually through a relative Structural Query Language (SQL) regarding sustainable building design and vernacular principle. The output of SLR was subjected to DEMATEL model to recognize the holistic indicators interconnection and validate the proposed model. The research identified 23 global indicators for building sustainability worldwide, with five—Energy, Materials & Resources, Sites & Ecology, Indoor Environmental Quality, and Water—emerging as the most prevalent. Additionally, 22 consistently applied indicators in vernacular design practices exhibited significant overlap with those in sustainable design. This model integrated two novel indicators—Vernacular Principles and Social—Culture—with common sustainable building indicators. These primary indicators complement the common and applicable sustainable building indicators, ensuring a balanced approach that considers global contexts. DEMATEL analysis confirmed the validity and interconnection of these indicators, emphasizing the critical role of vernacular principles in achieving true sustainability.

The aim of this article is to reveal the mathematical dimension behind the complex structure of architectural fabric through a three-dimensional analysis. Given that the architectural character, which has evolved under the influence of various cultures over time, is crucial for urban integrity and sustainability, understanding the mathematical dimension underlying this character is of great importance for new designs and interventions in existing urban fabric. Therefore, streets in the Arabahmet neighbourhood of Lefkoşa Suriçi, which best represents the traditional fabric, were examined using a three-dimensional fractal analysis method. The analyses indicate that, in general, the fractal dimension values of the residential fabric-created streets are above 2.52, demonstrating a high level of character and complexity in these streets. Additionally, the fractal dimension values of these streets are close to each other, supporting the spatial and mass consistency of different streets within the same neighbourhood.

The first year of design education is essential for students as it is their initial interaction with the design process. Awareness of the body through dance has the potential to reveal bodily experience in space. Abstraction of embodied experience contributes to realising the significance of the body and its analytical dimension for spatial and structural design. This study investigates the impact of embodied experience and abstraction on the architectural design process and the outcome through correlation and regression analysis. We observed that increasing awareness of the space through bodily movement and its drawn representation positively impacted students’ success in architectural design. Also, the measures related to space and structure mainly advanced students’ success in the final design. However, the association of the abstraction process with the final design remained limited. The study’s contribution is the systematic and statistical evaluation of the relationship between body, movement, abstraction and architectural design by constructing a set of measures from various stages of the design studio. We hope our research will provide a basis for the upcoming discourse.