This study explores the architectural planning and implementation processes of the maritime faculty building of the Mersin chamber of shipping from the perspective of the project’s architect. It begins by addressing the unique spatial and functional requirements of maritime education, emphasizing the critical role of such institutions in shaping architectural design strategies. The research traces the project's development from the conceptual design phase through to its realization, evaluating key factors such as sustainability, aesthetics, technological integration, ergonomics, and functional performance. The scope includes an in-depth analysis of specialized training spaces within maritime faculties—such as simulation rooms, laboratories, and training pools—within the framework of architectural design criteria. In this context, the study evaluates the design process and outcomes of the Mersin chamber of shipping maritime faculty building, focusing on the architect’s experiences and the building’s functional effectiveness. The methodology consists of a comprehensive literature review, on-site investigations, development of the building’s colophon, spatial analysis, and a semi-structured interview with the building’s architect, Kaya Arikoğlu. The interview was conducted using a SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threats) analysis framework, enabling a systematic evaluation of the project's internal and external dynamics. Through this multi-faceted approach, the study identifies the strengths and limitations of each stage in the architectural planning process and reveals the final architectural configuration of the project. Moreover, it proposes a set of strategic recommendations and a conceptual roadmap to guide future projects through both design and execution phases. This research highlights the importance of designing sustainable, functional, and pedagogically-aligned environments in the context of maritime education. Findings suggest a direct relationship between the architect’s decision-making process during the planning phase and the subsequent performance of the completed building. The study aims to contribute to the enhancement of educational architecture by offering insights and practical guidance for future architectural endeavors.

Microalgae facade systems have emerged as an innovative approach in sustainable architecture, offering benefits in energy efficiency, carbon reduction, and biomass production. However, research remains fragmented across biotechnology, environmental engineering, and architectural design, with limited synthesis of its intellectual structure and thematic evolution. This study presents a bibliometric and thematic analysis of microalgae facade research in buildings from 2016 to 2025 using a combined Web of Science and Scopus dataset of 59 publications. The analysis examines publication trends, influential authors, journals, collaboration networks, and key research themes, while science mapping identifies conceptual clusters and their evolution. A sustainability-oriented perspective further links these themes to the environmental, economic, and social dimensions of sustainability and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The findings show that research has primarily focused on photobioreactor technologies, energy performance, and biomass production, whereas architectural integration and real-world building applications remain underexplored. Although interdisciplinary collaboration has increased in recent years, the field is still at an early stage of development. This study provides a systematic overview of the current intellectual landscape, identifies research gaps, and offers directions for advancing microalgae facade technologies toward sustainable and net-zero built environments.