The building sector is a major contributor to resource consumption, energy use, and greenhouse gas emissions. Sustainable architecture offers a solution, leveraging Building Energy Modeling (BEM) for early-stage design optimization. This study explores the use of genetic algorithms for optimizing sustainable design strategies holistically. A comprehensive analysis and optimization model was developed using genetic algorithms to individually optimize various sustainable strategies. The optimized strategies were then applied to a pre-existing building in Kabul City, a region facing significant environmental challenges. To enhance accuracy, this study integrated energy simulations with Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD). This research combines genetic algorithms with energy simulation and CFD analysis to optimize building design for a specific climate. Furthermore, it validates the optimized strategies through a real-world case study building. Optimizing the Window-to-Wall Ratio (WWR) and shading devices based on solar exposure significantly improved the building’s energy performance. South (S)-facing single windows and specific combinations of opposing and adjacent windows emerged as optimal configurations. The strategic optimization of building component materials led to substantial energy savings: a 58.6% reduction in window energy loss, 78.3% in wall loss, and 69.5% in roof loss. Additionally, the optimized pre-existing building achieved a 48.1% reduction in cooling demand, a 97.5% reduction in heating demand, and an overall energy reduction of 84.4%. Improved natural ventilation and controlled solar gain led to a 72.2% reduction in peak-month CO₂ emissions. While this study focused on applicable passive design strategies, the integration of advanced technologies like Phase Change Materials (PCMs), kinetic shading devices, and renewable energy systems can further improve building performance and contribute to achieving net-zero buildings.

The rising demand for building cooling has led to increased energy consumption and environmental concerns. This study aims to examine the effectiveness of natural ventilation strategies as sustainable approaches in arid and semi-arid climates, focusing on Kabul City. Employing integrated simulation techniques, including annual energy simulation and Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) analysis, various ventilation approaches were evaluated, such as single-side ventilation, cross-ventilation, and windcatchers. Results indicate that cross-ventilation with opposing windows significantly outperformed other strategies in terms of natural ventilation rates, achieving a 62.5% improvement over single-sided ventilation and a 36% improvement over cross-ventilation with adjacent windows. However, the complex interplay between solar gain and natural ventilation in these climates can lead to increased cooling demand. To address this challenge, integrating south-(S)-facing orientations into both single-sided and cross-ventilated configurations was found to be a balanced and effective approach. These scenarios demonstrated significant total energy savings. Among single-sided ventilation, the S-facing scenario achieved an average of 58.3% energy savings. For opposing cross-ventilation, the north-south (NS) scenario yielded 65.6% energy savings. Finally, adjacent cross-ventilation in the east-south (ES) and south-west (SW) scenarios resulted in an average of 51% energy savings. Furthermore, windcatchers, when combined with single-sided ventilation, further enhanced natural ventilation and reduced cooling demand while maintaining nearly consistent heating demand. Optimized rooftop windcatchers improved natural ventilation rates by up to 26.9% and attached windcatchers achieved up to 56.8% improvement. Compared to a baseline, rooftop windcatchers reduced cooling demand by 6.2%, and attached windcatchers by up to 18.7%. The findings of this study highlight the potential of window-based and windcatcher natural ventilation strategies as energy-efficient and balanced approaches for reducing building energy consumption, particularly cooling loads, in arid and semi-arid climates. These insights provide valuable guidance for architects and policymakers seeking to promote sustainable and energy-efficient building practices.

Erişilebilirlik, yapılı çevrede herkes için eşit koşulların sağlanması için gerekli bir ön koşuldur. İçinde yaşadığımız iç mekânlardan dış mekânlara, yapılı çevrenin genellikle ortalama bireyler göz önünde bulundurularak tasarlanması erişilebilirlik sorunlarına neden olmaktadır. Yapılı çevrede herkes için eşit koşulların sağlanması şüphesiz ki erişilebilirliğin sağlanmasıyla gerçekleşmektedir. Bu doğrultuda herkes için eğitim hakkının sağlanması da yapılı çevrenin erişilebilir olmasıyla doğrudan ilişkilidir. Eğitim alanları özellikle de üniversite yerleşkeleri kullanıcı çeşitliğini oluşturan tüm bireyler için bütün alanların ve unsurların erişilebilir ve kullanılabilir olması son derece önemlidir. Üniversite yerleşkelerinde, herkes için erişilebilirlik, evrensel tasarım/kapsayıcı tasarım veya herkes için tasarım gibi kavramlar son yıllarda yerleşke planlamada dikkate alınmaya başlanmıştır. Bu çalışmada, Düzce Üniversitesi Konuralp yerleşkesinin engelli kullanıcılar için mevcut erişilebilirlik durumu ortaya konulmaya çalışılmıştır. Elde edilen tespitler sonucunda kampüs alanındaki erişilebilirlik sorunlarının neler olduğu ortaya konularak erişilebilirlik haritası oluşturulmuştur. Bu çalışmanın ilgili alanda mevcut erişilebilirlik sorunların tespiti konusunda bir kaynak oluşturma ve üniversite yerleşkelerinde bu şekilde yapılacak çalışmalar ile eğitim alanlarında evrensel erişilebilirlik anlayışının oluşturulmasına katkı sağlayacağı düşünülmektedir. Çalışmanın nihai amacı ise erişilebilirlik olanaklarını ortaya koymak ve bu doğrultuda erişilebilirlik haritası oluşturmaktır.

The proliferation of sustainable design approaches and assessment methods has resulted in a vast array of indicators. However, this abundance often leads to confusion during interpretation and application. Additionally, rapid urbanization and environmental concerns sometimes overshadow social and economic considerations, emphasizing environmental impact reduction. This study addresses these challenges through an integrated approach that combines a Systematic Literature Review (SLR) with a Decision-Making Trial and Evaluation Laboratory (DEMATEL) analysis to provide a holistic model for sustainable building design. The SLR was carried out individually through a relative Structural Query Language (SQL) regarding sustainable building design and vernacular principle. The output of SLR was subjected to DEMATEL model to recognize the holistic indicators interconnection and validate the proposed model. The research identified 23 global indicators for building sustainability worldwide, with five—Energy, Materials & Resources, Sites & Ecology, Indoor Environmental Quality, and Water—emerging as the most prevalent. Additionally, 22 consistently applied indicators in vernacular design practices exhibited significant overlap with those in sustainable design. This model integrated two novel indicators—Vernacular Principles and Social—Culture—with common sustainable building indicators. These primary indicators complement the common and applicable sustainable building indicators, ensuring a balanced approach that considers global contexts. DEMATEL analysis confirmed the validity and interconnection of these indicators, emphasizing the critical role of vernacular principles in achieving true sustainability.

3D printing technology offers the chance to produce very small-scale, complex forms that could help to improve educational materials for architectural design. In this age of technological advances, architectural education needs to integrate modern teaching methods that could enhance students' visual perception. This research thus examined the impact of computational design modeling and 3D printing technology on the spatial cognition of architecture students. It starts with the premise that the use of the 3D printed models will support design logic and improve the deep understanding of spatial perception among students. Thirty architecture students were asked about a designed project realized for the purpose of this study. They were presented both a project designed via computer modeling software and a printed model of the same project. The outcomes indicate that the use of 3D printing gave better results in the development of students' spatial abilities. The findings also confirm that adopting this technology in the development of teaching tools will enhance students' spatial perception and extend beyond the seamless materialization of the digital model which can continuously inform design ideation through emerging perception qualities.