Four More TUBITAK 2209-A Project Successes from the Department of Interior Architecture and Environmental Design!

We conducted a delightful interview about the accepted student projects in our department with our students and their project advisors, accompanied by Research Assistant Ezginaz Kara.
"An Examination of an Educational Building in Terms of Visual Comfort in the Interior Space: The Case of Istanbul Gelisim University Design Studio"
Project Researchers: Betul Baskurt and Birsen Aleyna Pehlivanlar
Project Advisor: Asst. Prof. Dr. Hande Apak
Can you tell us a bit about the subject and content of your project?
The main focus of our project is to assess the visual comfort of the interior space of the Design Studio located on the 14th floor of the Tower block at Istanbul Gelisim University. This building was previously used as an office block by Zorlu Holding. After being converted into an educational building, only limited improvements were made to the artificial lighting system, and no changes were made to the opaque and transparent surfaces of the exterior facade. Therefore, it was found that the visual comfort level was inadequate, especially for architecture students. Considering that students spend long hours in the same space and conduct visually focused work, high levels of visual comfort are critically important for both psychological and physiological health. As part of the study, surveys will be conducted with users to assess the impact of the current conditions. Then, physical environmental data such as the building's location, annual sunlight duration, and surrounding obstructive structures will be collected; elements like the building's form, orientation, transparent/opaque facade components, and material properties will be analyzed. Based on these data, lighting simulations will be conducted using software such as Dialux and/or DesignBuilder. Finally, the findings will be evaluated according to existing standards and improvement suggestions based on daylight will be presented.
What advice would you give to students going through this process?
This process is long and requires patience, but every stage is educational and developmental. Using an academic writing style by conducting literature reviews beyond the project topic helps students develop their academic skills early on. Whether your project is accepted or not is not the most important thing; participating in this process itself is a significant gain. Having your project accepted at the end of all this effort is a great source of happiness and pride. Therefore, we highly recommend every student to experience this challenging yet rewarding and enjoyable process.
 
"Evaluation and Improvement of Indoor Air Quality and Thermal Comfort in a Converted Office Block Used for Educational Purposes: Sustainable Solution Proposals for User Comfort"
Project Researchers: Kubra Karak and Gizem Albayrak
Project Advisor: Asst. Prof. Dr. Hande Apak
What path did you follow to receive support from TUBITAK? How was the application process for you?
The application process seemed a bit intimidating at first because of the required forms, ethics committee approvals, and other official documents. However, with the guidance of our advisor, we began to progress step by step. First, we clarified our project idea and conducted detailed research. Then we created a budget plan and timeline, which was the most critical stage. Afterwards, we uploaded all documents to the TUBITAK system and completed our application. Although it seemed complicated initially, everything became clearer as we got more involved in the process.
Can you share the subject, purpose, and details of the accepted project?
Our project is an experimental study aimed at evaluating user comfort in terms of indoor air quality and thermal comfort in the Design Studio located on the 14th floor of Block K in Istanbul Gelisim University’s Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences. This block, previously used by Zorlu Holding as an office block, was converted into an educational building in 2018. In such buildings, user comfort is often overlooked. Therefore, we are conducting various measurements to determine the health and comfort level of this floor, where crowded studio classes are held. We collect data such as CO₂, humidity, and temperature through sensors and analyze users' experiences through surveys. Based on our findings, we propose sustainable improvements using natural materials. Our goal is to create a healthier educational environment and raise awareness in this area.
 
"Developing a Program Proposal to Increase Awareness and Consciousness of Renewable Energy Sources Among Interior Architecture and Environmental Design Students"
Project Researcher: Dursun Ediz Gunes
Project Advisor: Lecturer Irem Ozpinar
What is the main goal of your project? Can you briefly describe its content?
Today, both globally and in our country, a technological transformation is taking place. Smart robots, artificial intelligence systems, and renewable energy sources are becoming increasingly important. I believe it is essential to raise awareness about renewable energy to keep up with this change and live in a more sustainable world. Within the scope of our project, we aim to conduct various activities with fellow students in our department to raise this awareness. First, we will conduct a survey to measure the current level of awareness. Then, we will invite an expert in the field to our university to meet with students. Through this event, we aim to broaden understanding and emphasize the importance of renewable energy.
Did you encounter any challenges or key points during the application process?
Since it was my first time applying for a TUBITAK project, I faced some difficulties initially. I had doubts especially about research methods and the key factors for acceptance. However, as I became more familiar with the topic over time, I learned the necessary rules and completed my application correctly and thoroughly.
 
"Design Guide Proposal for the Safe Evacuation of Disabled Individuals in Emergencies and Disasters"
Project Researchers: Mustafa Gediklioglu, Yusa Malkocoglu, and Irem Teksen
Project Advisor: Lecturer Irem Ozpinar
What was your project about? Can you explain its content and objectives?
Our project focuses on the safe evacuation of disabled individuals in emergency and disaster scenarios. We noticed that existing regulations and practices in Turkey do not adequately address this specific user group. Therefore, by analyzing legal regulations and conducting field studies to observe the challenges faced by disabled individuals, we aimed to identify the needs in this area. Our primary goal was to develop a Design Guide that ensures the inclusion of disabled individuals' needs in architectural and interior design processes. We particularly aimed to offer applicable solutions for high-rise buildings, schools, hospitals, and other critical structures. The project not only provides technical solutions but also seeks to raise awareness about the issue. In this way, we aimed to build awareness among both design professionals and the general public.
How did your acceptance process into the 2209-A program develop? Can you talk a bit about the application stage?
Our acceptance process into the 2209-A program was a highly educational and developmental experience. First, we tried to identify a topic that could address a social need and was directly related to the discipline of interior architecture. The evacuation problems faced by disabled individuals in emergencies deeply affected us, and we created our project idea based on the deficiencies we identified. During the application phase, we conducted an extensive literature review. We examined national and international regulations, academic publications, and practices in detail. Then we structured our project under headings such as research question, methodology, originality, and impact. With the guidance of our advisor Lecturer Irem Ozpinar, we prepared a project proposal that was academically strong and socially beneficial. During the application, we carefully planned the observation, survey, and interview tools to be used in the methodology section. Having our project accepted was a great source of motivation for us. Turning an idea into a concrete and impactful research project was a proud achievement for all of us.