Ecological Sustainability in Rural Settlements: A Meta-Analysis of Postgraduate Theses in Architecture from Türkiye

Authors : Ahmet Sinan Kınıkoğlu, İdil Ayçam

Pages : 467-483

View : 36 | Download : 27

Publication Date : 2025-09-30

Article Type : Research Paper

Abstract :The intensifying pressures of urbanization, resource consumption, ecological degradation, and the adverse effects of climate change have significantly influenced rural areas. To prevent rural settlements from contributing to ecological problems, ensuring ecological sustainability has emerged as a fundamental priority. This study aims to establish a theoretical framework through a meta-analysis of postgraduate theses in the department of architecture in Türkiye that address ecological sustainability in rural areas. The theses, obtained from the National Thesis Center database, were examined through bibliometric analysis. Based on the criteria established by the review, 32 theses were selected for inclusion in the meta-analysis. The meta-analysis revealed that the main approaches of the examined theses varied depending on the scale they addressed, such as the building or settlement scale, as well as the type of village selected as a case study. At the same time, the theses revealed commonalities in approaches, problem definitions, and proposed solutions, which could be evaluated under shared categories. These findings also align with trends observed in the international literature. The holistic inter-scale and interdisciplinary perspective, which has been more frequently observed in recent theses, is regarded as significant for advancing future research. By systematically analyzing studies from different disciplines through similar methods, and by ensuring complementarity among future investigations, it could become possible to establish a shared and more comprehensive interdisciplinary outlook. The theoretical framework developed in this study is expected to serve as a valuable reference for future research on ecological sustainability in rural settlements.
Keywords : Kırsal yerleşim, Köy, Ekolojik sürdürülebilirlik, Mimarlık, Meta-analiz

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