Edirne, housing, satisfaction, measurement invariance, multi-group analysis,

The aim of this article is to carry out a sociocultural interpretation of the physical form, spatial configuration, and architectural design of the vernacular Ağaçbekler home in Edirne, Turkey. Based on case-study research, this article presents the relationship between social, cultural, and religious traditions and the architecture of traditional vernacular (rural) home. This current work is an examination of the relationship between cultural traditions and domestic space of the Ağaçbekler home along specific factors: extended family and the status of family within the community; relationships between men and women; neighbor relationships; the daily customs of the family; customs, beliefs, and rituals within the life of the community; hospitality; and religious beliefs and practices.

This chapter investigates the relationship between social, cultural and religious traditions and the architecture of vernacular housing. It also represents a search for answers as to how the Turkish cultural traditions of the traditional Turkish family, beliefs, values and rituals influence housing architecture. The relationship between the house form and sociocultural factors can be explained through a model. Therefore, in this chapter, a model that consists of four parts and is flexible is used. It shows the linkages between architectural artifacts selected or devised by a culture, architectural values, social norms and social values. We illustrate the model through a study of the traditional Turkish house, focusing on how social values such as religious beliefs or the relationship between the male and the female figure, family structure, statue of the family in the society, privacy of the family, neighborhood, hospitality and social values in Turkish-Islamic tradition relate, in order to build form in Anatolia.

Purpose The purpose of this paper was to investigate housing satisfaction in a traditional neighborhood of Izmit, Turkey. According to this purpose, it was investigated whether the perceived living conditions (PLC) were mediating the effect on participants’ general housing satisfaction caused by satisfaction with the perceived quality of facilities (FQP), satisfaction with performance of local authorities (LA), satisfaction with social relations (SR) and satisfaction with physical surrounding (PS) in the Topçular neighborhood of Izmit District in Kocaeli, Turkey. Design/methodology/approach According to the hypotheses developed within the framework of the theoretical model, by using structural equation modeling (SEM), first, the direct relations between the variables were tested (PLC → overall housing satisfaction (OHS); PS, SR, LA → PLC; FQP → LA), then the indirect relationships between the variables were analyzed with the mediated role of OHS (PS, SR, LA → OHS → PLC). Findings The results show that all factors affected the OHS through the PLC. In conclusion, as the living conditions of the individual living in the neighborhood improve, the conditions take an active role in the relationship between the OHS and the satisfaction with the other relevant factors in the neighborhood, namely, PS, SR and performance of LA. In this relationship, it is seen that the satisfaction with PS has a negative effect, while the satisfaction with SR and satisfaction with the performance of LA have positive effects. Research limitations/implications The study was applied only to Turkey’s Izmit Province. Research may also be applied to other cities apart from those in Turkey. A small sample was also used in the study. Reaching a wider sampling for SEM can lead to different results. Practical implications Planners and designers should consider satisfaction – including various factors involved in planning, designing and refurbishing the neighborhoods – as the most important design data. Social implications The results of this study show that living conditions had an active role in the relationship between OHS and certain factors in the neighborhood: satisfaction with PS, SR and performance of LA. This study offers a framework to LA such as policymakers and urban planners to develop relevant and effective strategies and to improve dissatisfactory conditions in new and peripheral areas. Originality/value The originality of the paper is based on revealing the factors affecting the housing satisfaction of people living in the province of Izmit. This study offers a framework to LA such as policymakers and urban planners to develop relevant and effective strategies and to improve dissatisfactory conditions in new and peripheral areas.

Tarihi romanlar, mimari mekânlar hakkında özgün ve özellikli yorumlar sunarlar. Bu yaklaşımla ele alındığında Hikmet Temel Akarsu tarafından yazılan ve Özgürlerin Kaderi adlı romanın devamı niteliğinde olup tarihi İstanbul kentinin mekânlarını plato edinen Konstantinopolis Kapılarında adlı roman incelemeye değer mekânsal betimler içermektedir. Yazarın, "Türk Ortaçağı" olarak adlandırdığı roman serisinin ikinci cildi olan Konstantinopolis Kapılarında romanında, bir bahadırlık serüveninin arka planı olarak Ortaçağ imparatorluğu Bizans'ın başkenti Konstantinopolis'in mimari tasvirlerini bulunur. Dönemin şehir kurgusunu, önemli binalarını, anıtsal yapıları ve mimari mekânları çok net olarak göz önüne getirir, Romanda, Konstantinopolis'in önemli anıtsal yapılarından mabetler, saraylar, zindanlar, manastırlar, yanısıra İmparatorluk yolları, Adalar, limanlar gibi Ortaçağ mimarisine ilişkin açık ve kapalı mekânlar betimlenmektedir. Romanda geçen İznik (Nikaia), İzmit (Nikomedia) ve İstanbul (Konstantinopolis)'in dönemin kent ve mimarisine ilikişkin özelliklerinin stilize bir şekilde verildiğini saptayabilir. Kitabın platosunu ve temalarını ağırlıklı olarak oluşturan önemli yerleşim alanları Bizans İmparatorluğu'nun başkenti Konstantinopolis ve Nikaia (İznik) kentleri ve dolayısıyla onların mimarisi ve peyzajıdır. Bu roman aracılığıyla kentin tarihi ve mekânları/yapıları farklı bir bakış açısıyla değerlendirilmektedir. Makalenin sonucunda, plancı ve tasarımcıların tarihi kentlerin ruhunu algılayabilmek ve bunları kendi tasarım ve yaratılarına yansıtabilmek için sadece bilimsel materyallere, kalıtlara ve halihazırlara değil; bu tür hayal gücü ile desteklenmiş stilize yapıtlara da ihtiyaçları olduğu değerlendirmektedir.