BIBLIOMETRIC ANALYSIS OF VIRTUAL SPACE CONCEPTS AND CONTEMPORARY TECHNOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS IN ARCHITECTURE

Authors : Ayten Sümeyra Ünsaçar, Özlem Demirkan

Pages : 43-58

View : 59 | Download : 16

Publication Date : 2025-06-30

Article Type : Research Paper

Abstract :This study investigates the relationship between virtual space and contemporary technologies such as blockchain, NFTs, and the metaverse with the discipline of architecture using bibliometric methods, aiming to question their potential in shaping the future of the field. After defining each concept and technology forming the basis of the study, a bibliometric literature analysis was conducted to explore how these technologies influence architecture, reveal dominant perspectives, and identify the direction and intensity of recent developments. Analyses were carried out using two sets of keywords. Cluster A, related to virtual space, includes virtual space, cyberspace, and virtual reality. Cluster B, representing recent technological applications, includes blockchain, NFT, and metaverse. The distribution of publications by year and topic was examined through VOSviewer, and co-word analysis was performed. The results show a significant increase in publications addressing the relationship between architecture and virtual space technologies up to June 2023, suggesting an ongoing update in architectural terminology. Virtual reality and blockchain emerged as the most frequently studied concepts, indicating their strong association with the profession and their potential impact on the future of architecture. The study’s dataset consists of 732 peer-reviewed publications indexed in the Web of Science (WOS) between 2000 and 2023. In this new digital era, where the boundaries between the physical world and virtual environments are increasingly blurred, the position of the architectural discipline appears unresolved. This study reflects an interdisciplinary effort to understand how architecture’s future intersects with emerging technologies, with each discipline contributing its own perspective.
Keywords : Mimarlık, Blockchain, Metaverse, NFT, Sanal Mekân

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