PurposeWhile the COVID-19 outbreak affects all aspects of life in the world, there is also a global impact in the field of education. Within the scope of the measures to control the epidemic, distance education was started shortly after the starting of the spring semester in all primary and secondary schools and universities. In this process, architectural design courses, which are one of the most fundamental courses of architectural education, started to be held in online studios. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the evaluations of architecture students about the online design studio courses carried out during the COVID-19 outbreak.Design/methodology/approachThis research used a qualitative approach to evaluate the ideas of first, second, third and fourth grade students of architectural design studios in the host university. A questionnaire was directed to students in order to see their opinions about the online design studio education.FindingsResults shows that students think the most prominent benefit of online studios appears in the use of digital tools. Another important result is that if they are equipped with the necessary tools and given the chance to realize themselves, students can work efficiently even in the distance education process.Originality/valueThis study is important in terms of learning the expectations of students from the online process and to identify important issues that should be considered for the next semesters. In addition, this study will serve as a basis for comparative evaluation of architectural education during and after the epidemic. In this context, the study will shed light on future academic research.

Waterfronts or other natural resources contribute in a positive way to the quality of urban life. Parks located on the urban waterfronts can be defined as being both valuable and unique as they combine the natural settings of water source and green spaces to meet the physical and social needs of urban inhabitants. The aim of this research to emphasize the importance of natural areas for the life quality by focusing on the user preferences of the parks on urban waterfronts in Istanbul. The evaluation of the urban waterfront parks in the Istanbul Metropolitan Area is presented by empirical data on quality of life. A face-to-face interview was conducted within the scope of the data set consisting of 1635 residential units selected by a random sampling method. As a result, the reasons that shape the preferences for urban waterfront parks will be discussed and various suggestions will be presented to increase the use of waterfront parks in order to improve the quality of life in Istanbul.

PurposeVoyvoda Street in Galata district of Istanbul originated centuries ago at the inner walls of the medieval city and was one of the most significant of its era, which has preserved its unique character and urban identity. In the nineteenth century, it became an important financial axis for the city. This study aims to understand the factors which determined the axial character of Voyvoda Street and its urban identity. The street, which is under the influence of new dynamics is examined in relation to spatial and functional transformation. Design/Methodology/ApproachThe analysis was developed by two essential components: the street and the buildings that define the character of the street by its architectural components, and their functional transformation since the nineteenth century. The axial character of the street has been evaluated due to selected criteria. The data is based on literature review, the survey of historical maps, visual materials such as photographs and gravure prints, and on-site observations. Findings The street has been shaped and transformed by social, political, and economic developments, external and internal migrations, the influence of modernist architectural movements, urban reforms, Western innovations in transportation, and technical developments. Voyvoda Street's strong character as an axis is determined by its historical buildings, which are attached to each other continuously that form a wall defining the boundaries of the street. It is one of the essential pedestrian connections and functions as a path. Since most of the buildings lost their original functions, following the re-use for various needs, the service and cultural industries have become dominant. Although the historical characters of some buildings have been changed by new additions, the original silhouette of the nineteenth century is still dominant. Research Limitations/ImplicationsVisual materials and resources of some buildings were available in detail, while for some of them, the materials were limited. Originality/ValueThe previous studies concentrated on urban, and architectural aspects of Galata district as a whole, whereas this study focused on the urban identity of Voyvoda Street. The street and the historical buildings that define the axial character and the image of the street by its architectural components, and their functional transformation have been analyzed.

No abstract

In the second half of the 20th century, urban waterfront development began in North America and spread around the world. During the development process, urban waterfronts were assigned various functions, however following their spatial transformation, various problems such as weak interaction with water, weak physical accessibility, and the loss of historical identity have occurred directly affecting open spaces. Since the 19th century, the transformation of Istanbul waterfronts has occurred in parallel to the urban development process but without being a part of holistic planning approach. In time, the loss of open spaces, the lack of qualities such as the spatial interaction with water, the weak accessibility by public transportation and the lack of diversity for recreational activities have grown into common problems. This article discusses the results of a study focused on the spatial characteristics of open spaces especially referring to historical waterfronts (Eminönü, Karaköy, Kadıköy, Üsküdar, Beşiktaş) in consideration with the qualities of ‘water-based environment’, ‘connectivity and continuity’, ‘imageability’, ‘compatibility’ and ‘looseness’.