2024 - 2025 Spring
Landscape Design II Poster
"Whose landscape is this?"
Landscape Design II (PEM 311E - CRN 20817) - "Whose landscape is this?" will be conducted by Prof. Dr. Elif Lutfiye Kutay Karaçor @elif_lkkaracor and Res. Assist Mürşit Sönmez @landscapeontheway in the 2024-2025 Spring Semester.
This studio focuses on the TOKİ housing area in Muğla Menteşe, a region proximate to key public facilities such as universities and hospitals. The central question, "Whose landscape is this?" seeks to explore the potential of landscapes associated with mass housing areas, which are frequently criticized for contributing to identity erosion due to their repetitive and monotonous designs. The project aims to shift the paradigm from mass housing as a monologue—disconnected from geography and user needs—to a dialogue that fosters meaningful relationships between the designed landscape, cultural context, and spatial experience.
The design approach emphasizes not only the physical attributes of the landscape but also the social dynamics and the connections individuals establish with their spaces. The studio targets social, economic, and ecological sustainability, aiming to reintegrate mass housing areas—often culturally detached—into a landscape that serves the public interest. This reintegration is expected to enhance the sense of place, foster community identity, and promote a more harmonious relationship between the built environment and its inhabitants.