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MIM 417 - Sustainable Design Ecology and Architecture

Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences · Architecture · Undergraduate

ECTS: 3 T+P+L: 2+0+0 Departmental Elective
Coordinator: Dr. Öğr. Üyesi İbrahim Agah TAŞTEMİR

Course Objective

The Ecology and Sustainable Design in Architecture course aims to examine sustainable approaches in architecture through their social, economic, and ecological dimensions by drawing upon both national and international case studies. It further seeks to investigate and discuss the various dimensions of environmental responsibility in architecture, enabling students to transform environmental awareness into specialized knowledge and to develop the capacity to conduct research on sustainability within the context of architectural practice in Türkiye.

Course Content

The course content focuses on the principles of sustainable design, addressing thermal comfort, energy efficiency, water efficiency, indoor air quality, environmentally compatible materials, waste management, daylighting, and green design strategies. It also examines the reflections of biomimicry, traditional architecture, and energy-efficient building practices on sustainable design, while exploring and discussing the various dimensions of environmental responsibility in architecture. The course aims to enable students to transform environmental awareness into specialized knowledge and to develop the capacity to conduct research on sustainability within the context of architectural practice in Türkiye.

Required Resources

Course Notes

Recommended Resources

Mimarlık- Ekolojik-Tasarım ve Planlama, Eryıldız D., 1. Basım, Okan Üniversitesi Yayınları, 2023

Yapıda Çevre ve Enerji, Yüceer N. S., Nobel Akademik Yayıncılık, 2015

Sustainable Construction: Green Building Design and Delivery, Charles J. Kibert, 3rd Edition, John Wiley & Sons, INC, 2016

Ekotasarım- Ekolojik Tasarım Rehberi, Yeang K., YEM Yayın, 2012

Green Building- Guidebook for Sustainable Architecture; Micheal Bauer and others, Springer, 2010

Sustainable Design Ecology, Architecture, and Planning, Williams D. E., John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 2007

Strategies for Sustainable Architecture, Paola Sassi, published by Taylor Francis, 2006

Explanations

  • Midterm Examination: The date, time, and venue of the midterm examination will be announced by the Dean’s Office.
  • Practical Exercises: Practical exercises will be carried out in accordance with the topics covered during the course. Submission deadlines for each exercise will be announced separately.
  • Quizzes: Quizzes will be announced one week in advance, and the announcement will specify the course content to be covered.
  • Final Submission: The final submission will consist of six practical applications completed throughout the semester. These applications must be integrated into the student's architectural design project developed within the concurrent Architectural Design Studio. For each application topic, students are required to prepare one A3 or B2 presentation board that explains both the theoretical framework of the application and its implementation within the architectural project. Final submissions must be submitted both digitally and in printed format.
  • Final Assessment Policy: As the final assessment is based on a comprehensive project submission rather than a written examination, there is no make-up (resit) examination for this course.

Rules

  1. Attendance: According to the University Regulations, students who fail to attend at least 70% of the total course hours will receive a grade of DZ (Absent) and will automatically fail the course.

    Late Arrival: Students are expected not only to attend class but also to arrive on time. Please note that three late arrivals are considered equivalent to one full absence. A late arrival is defined as entering the classroom after attendance has been taken by the instructor and more than 10 minutes after the scheduled start of the class.

    Seeking Assistance: Students are encouraged to ask questions during class or office hours and to seek assistance whenever necessary. Obtaining timely support is an important part of the learning process and is strongly recommended.

    Academic Integrity: All coursework submitted for assessment must represent your own original work and effort. Acts of academic misconduct, including plagiarism and cheating, are subject to the University's Academic Integrity and Disciplinary Regulations and may result in disciplinary action and the corresponding sanctions.

    Assessment Policy: The assessment methods and grading criteria specified in this syllabus are final. No additional assignments, examinations, or make-up assessments will be offered for the purpose of improving course grades.

Course Learning Outcomes

  1. Students develop solutions at the intersection of materials, technology, and sustainability, and formulate appropriate design strategies for energy-efficient architecture.
  2. Doğal ve kültürel açıdan önemli bina ve alanlardaki kaynakların korunması bilincine sahip olur.
  3. Students acquire knowledge of the concepts of sustainability, sustainable development, ecology, and ecological balance.
  4. Students develop the ability to evaluate sustainability through the principles of biomimetic design and to propose design solutions based on these principles.
  5. Students understand the importance of traditional practices, based on accumulated experience and integrated with nature, in the development of sustainable design solutions.

Core Area Distribution

(58) Architecture and Building%100

Teaching Methods

ExpressionQuestion-AnswerExercise and PracticeSelf study

Assessment & Evaluation

HomeworkPerformance Assignment ( Lab / Workshop / Field Work / Seminar / Presentation / Completion Study / ThesisTesting (Essay / Tests: True-Falls, multiple-choice, short answer, matching)

ECTS / Workload

ActivityQuantityDuration (h)Total Workload
Course Duration (Including Exam Week)14228
Out of Class Study Period14228
Midterm122
Quiz000
Assignment339
Practice000
Final122

Course Schedule

WeekSubjectPreparation
1Presentation of Course ContentComplete the assigned preliminary readings on the course topics.
2The Concept and Definition of Sustainability, the Concept and Definition of Environment, Environmental Problems, and the Emergence and Historical Development of the Concept of Sustainable DevelopmentComplete the assigned preliminary readings on the course topics and carry out the assigned coursework.
3Relationships Between the Social Environment and Architecture, the Natural Environment and Architecture, and the Built Environment, Architecture, and ConstructionComplete the assigned preliminary readings on the course topics and carry out the assigned coursework.
4Overview of Green Building Certification SystemsComplete the assigned preliminary readings on the course topics and carry out the assigned coursework.
5The Relationship Between Ecological Design and Traditional Architecture in the Context of SustainabilityComplete the assigned preliminary readings on the course topics and submit the assigned coursework.
6The Relationship Between Ecological Design and Traditional Architecture in the Context of SustainabilityComplete the assigned preliminary readings on the course topics and carry out the assigned coursework.
7The Relationship Between Ecological Design and Traditional Architecture in the Context of Sustainability, Midterm Review, and Question–Answer SessionComplete the assigned preliminary readings on the course topics and carry out the assigned coursework.
8Ara SınavAra Sınav
9Biomimicry as a Sustainable Ecological Design ModelComplete the assigned preliminary readings on the course topics and carry out the assigned coursework.
10Biomimicry as a Sustainable Ecological Design ModelComplete the assigned preliminary readings on the course topics and submit the assigned coursework.
11An Overview of Low-Energy Passive Buildings as a Sustainable ApproachComplete the assigned preliminary readings on the course topics and carry out the assigned coursework.
12Ecological Buildings Constructed with Recycled Materials as a Sustainable ApproachComplete the assigned preliminary readings on the course topics and carry out the assigned coursework.
13Student PresentationsComplete the assigned preliminary readings on the course topics and carry out the assigned coursework.
14Student PresentationsComplete the assigned preliminary readings on the course topics and carry out the assigned coursework.
15Student PresentationsComplete the assigned preliminary readings on the course topics and carry out the assigned coursework.
16Final SınavıFinal Sınavı