A PROPOSAL FOR REINTERPRETING THE CONCEPT OF HOUSING, TRANSFORMED BY GLOBAL EPIDEMIC DISEASES, IN THE CONTEXT OF FLEXIBILITY

Authors : Elif Çam, Arzu Özen Yavuz

Pages : 479-487

Doi:10.7456/tojdac.1798861

View : 88 | Download : 184

Publication Date : 2026-01-01

Article Type : Research Paper

Abstract :Global epidemics have significantly affected people\\\'s daily habits in various ways. In the field of architecture, the concept of space, originally shaped around people\\\'s lifestyles, has started to be reinterpreted in a new context. Houses, which were primarily used for shelter and basic activities like eating and occupied only for part of the day, turned into spaces that had to be inhabited continuously during quarantine, leading to the assignment of new functions and uses. This shift brought renewed attention to the concepts of flexibility, adaptability, and expandability in housing. In this study, a fieldwork was conducted within the scope of the Architectural Design II course for first-year students in the Department of Architecture at Gazi University, with the aim of examining changes in residential spatial design under the conditions of the global pandemic. Within this scope, students were asked to research how spaces could change and transform in the event of a room, an apartment, or a floor of a building being quarantined, and to develop alternative flexible design proposals by reinterpreting the state of isolation in this context. Accordingly, the study was conducted using qualitative research methods, and the projects were evaluated using content analysis. Ultimately, the study demonstrates that residential buildings can be reconfigured according to flexible design principles based on changing user needs, emphasizing the importance of instilling this awareness in architecture education from the very first year.
Keywords : Mekan, Esnek Tasarım, Konut, İzole, Mimarlık Eğitimi

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