The conversation, attended by a total of 36 students, started with Ms. Architect Gülbiye Hacıoğlu explaining why she turned to such a subject in her graduate career at İzmir Institute of Technology Architectural Design Program. Afterward, she continued his presentation by giving a narrative about the history of the concept of sustainability, talking about the importance of the concept of social sustainability in urban life, and the research questions of his work on the İnciraltı Urban Forest. In the interview; Concrete examples of the İnciraltı Urban Forest, which was examined as a case study through issues such as the importance of urban green spaces for social sustainability, the key concepts in the evaluation of social sustainability, and the use of urban green spaces in this evaluation process, were given.
“Demographic factors and user habits have significant effects on social sustainability...”
Stating that the demographic factors and user habits in the İnciraltı Urban Forest have important effects on social sustainability, Hacıoğlu mentioned that significant relations were determined between environmental factors and social sustainability in her study:
“To summarize, we can say that urban green spaces support some basic dimensions necessary to ensure social sustainability. The development of some dimensions, such as a sense of belonging, human rights, and participation, depends on social ties that develop through social interactions. Urban green spaces are very important in creating suitable environments for social interactions. In addition, urban green spaces are public spaces that serve all citizens without any discrimination. They promote themes of equality and poverty while creating equal opportunities for all visitors.”
Head of Interior Architecture Department, Asst. Prof. Dr. Yaprak Özel also shared her views on the transformation projects that have been created with the theme of sustainability in our country:
“If the idle areas are opened to the public even when they are idle, they can be transformed by themselves, but unfortunately in Turkey, these areas are kept on hold for the sake of profit and they can be radically transformed and opened to different uses with big projects. However, if society-oriented transformations are provided on their own, much more sustainable spaces can emerge.”
This interview with Master Architect Gülbiye Hacıoğlu also had great importance in terms of the basic principles and goals of Istanbul Gelişim University. EKF218 Introduction to Sustainability course has been added to the curriculum of all departments of our university as a compulsory course, with the accreditation of many departments following the AQAS evaluation process started in 2018 by Istanbul Gelişim University, which aims to raise an environmentally conscious generation. This course; To prevent the destruction caused by the profit-oriented policies and practices of decision-makers on nature and social layers, it is aimed to raise awareness about the environment and society-oriented activities and to bring environmental and economic development practices to the light with political and managerial approaches, and to enable students to develop new policies. In this sense, the theme of social sustainability in urban green spaces in Interior Architecture Talks is of particular importance.
Head of Interior Architecture and Environmental Design Department, Asst. Prof. Dr. Zerrin Funda Ürük also touched upon similar points regarding the conversation:
“Sustainability is an important issue that we are working on as a department. The examples abroad seem more positive in terms of sustainability for now. We hope that the number of original and socially beneficial projects on sustainability will increase in our country as well. On behalf of our students and our university, we would like to thank Ms. Gülbiye for conveying such an important and enjoyable topic to us with an interesting presentation.”
We would like to thank Gülbiye Hacıoğlu for her contributions and advice to our students regarding today's education and professional life and wish her success in her professional life.
