IDA: International Design and Art Journal

Urban metamorphosis in historical town Harput: Analyzing morphological changes with diverse approaches

Rüya Ardıçoğlu — 2025-12-01

This study analyzes the morphological transformation and physical character of a historical settlement that underwent dramatic urban metamorphosis, using Harput as a case study. Two different time periods have been compared to shed light on this transformation. The research is significant for addressing morphological changes in historical settlements and for using multiple analytical methods. Street systems, street blocks, and plots have been analyzed using the Conzenian approach, Space Syntax, topological analysis, and Marshall’s town plan taxonomies. Employing various methodologies allowed for a more comprehensive evaluation of urban morphology. In conclusion, findings from these methods validated each other, and integration, connectivity, and regularity levels of the town plan increased. The once-organic and irregular street pattern evolved into a more geometric and regular structure. This transformation, particularly in street typology, triggered changes in other urban elements, leading to plan units that are more uniform in size and shape. Hence, the study highlights the hierarchical influence of street patterns on urban form. It provides valuable insights into the urban evolution of Harput and can inform future planning, conservation, and development practices. Ultimately, these analyses aim to be a guide for future applications and conservation as well.

Professional ethics for interior architects: An evaluation of ECIA Code of Conduct

Burcu Gökbayır — 2025-12-01

Interior architecture is a discipline that creates aesthetic and functional spaces while also considering users’ needs, preferences, and choices. Professionals in this field bear responsibilities shaped by ethical principles toward society, their colleagues, and the profession. This research aims to examine ethical issues encountered in the field of interior architecture in Turkey through case studies, to evaluate the profession’s ethical and institutional framework, and thereby emphasize the necessity of professional ethical codes within the discipline. In the study, news reports related to the interior architecture profession in Turkey, as covered by the media, were analyzed to identify examples relevant to professional ethics. A case study screening model was employed; seven different news articles accessed online were analyzed using document analysis methods. The reviewed reports included practices directly related to interior architecture, conducted by both registered interior architects and individuals without professional qualifications. The findings demonstrate that the provision of interior architecture services by unqualified individuals poses multidimensional risks to public safety, user rights, and the reputation of the profession. Additionally, it was determined that awareness of ethical responsibilities among professionals remains limited and that oversight mechanisms are insufficient. The results of the research indicate the need to develop professional ethical principles, enhance their applicability, and adapt ECIA standards to the local context. As one of the few studies in the literature that addresses ethical violations in interior architecture with concrete examples, this research aims to contribute to future applied studies and policy development processes.

A perspective on the occupational health and safety course in interior architecture undergraduate education

Beyza Nur Azmanoğlu — 2025-12-01

Occupational health and safety (OHS) and interior architecture are complementary disciplines that mutually reinforce the necessity of designing spaces that are safe, healthy, and ergonomic for users. Integrating OHS into interior architecture education enables students to create designs that are not only aesthetically pleasing and functional but also conscious of human health and safety. This study examines the current state of OHS courses in interior architecture programs in Turkey using content analysis. Within the scope of the research, 76 universities offering interior architecture or interior architecture and environmental design programs were evaluated out of a total of 208 universities, and it was found that 35 of them included OHS courses. The data source consisted of course information packages published on university websites, including course objectives, learning outcomes, content, and weekly schedules. Content analysis revealed that OHS courses could be classified under eight main themes. The findings indicate that course content primarily focuses on legislation and theoretical knowledge, whereas design-related factors, ergonomics, and chemical and biological hazards are insufficiently addressed. This situation limits interior architecture students’ ability to anticipate workplace risks and design safe environments. The results suggest that OHS courses should be made more comprehensive, practical, and multidisciplinary. It is recommended that course content be restructured to integrate theoretical knowledge with practical applications. Accordingly, the position of OHS education within the interior architecture curriculum should be strengthened, and courses should be approached not merely as a requirement but as a means of fostering professional awareness.

Analyzing Indian cafes through social media: Spatial attributes and user perceptions of third places

Upendra Joshi — 2025-12-01

In the evolving landscape of urban public places, cafes have emerged as significant third places, providing social, cultural, and functional value to users. They are the places where people socialize, relax, and engage in various activities, making them critical to understanding urban life. This research analyses Indian urban cafes through social media platforms, particularly Instagram, as a primary research tool. It aims to analyze how spatial qualities—such as design, layout, and ambiance—impact user experiences and interactions. By analyzing images, posts, and comments related to 100 cafes across India, the key spatial attributes that influence user engagement and satisfaction as well as shape their perceptions. The research employs a quantitative approach that allows for structured and data-driven insights, providing statistical validation to the outcome. By analyzing the collected data, the spatial attributes that resonate most with users and understand how these interactions reflect broader trends in urban design and social behavior in Indian metropolitan cities. This study highlights the importance of these key attributes in creating places that meet the changing preferences of a digitally connected society and gives readers a better understanding of their geographical and cultural context.

Evaluating the aesthetic quality in computer-generated renderings via a comparative analysis

Mustafa Koç — 2025-12-01

In architectural competitions, patrons often receive a multitude of design submissions. Often, it is hard for reviewers to evaluate all submissions in a fair and balanced manner. The research aims to investigate how computational models can assess aesthetic quality in architectural renderings by comparing human-judged scores with algorithmic predictions. Using a dataset of crowdsourced architectural competition entries from Arcbazar, different deep learning models are trained to predict and compare aesthetic scores and generate attribute-based heatmaps. These heatmaps visualize the regions that contribute positively or negatively to the perceived quality of the designs, offering explainable AI outputs. The method includes preprocessing the images, extracting perceptual features, and evaluating model performance through metrics. The results show a high correlation between predicted and actual scores, validating the model’s effectiveness. By using machine learning algorithms, a fair and efficient method to assess aesthetics across a large number of submissions is tried to be achieved. This study aims to contribute to the field by providing a transparent and replicable framework for aesthetic evaluation in architecture, bridging human perception and machine analysis. It also demonstrates how explainable AI tools can support assessments in design competitions and stimulate critical dialogue on aesthetics in computational design processes.

Stylized architecture in 3D animated films: Aesthetic and narrative perspectives

Erdem Köymen — 2025-12-01

This study explores the stylization of architectural elements in 3D animated films, emphasizing their crucial role in visual storytelling. Using qualitative research methods, 10 films were analyzed, showcasing diverse periods, cultural themes, and aesthetic styles. The findings reveal that architectural elements are not just passive backgrounds but active narrative components that shape emotional and visual dynamics. Real-world architectural references are reinterpreted through historical or futuristic stylizations, manipulating form, texture, material, and lighting to create immersive atmospheres. By exaggerating proportions, simplifying structures, or using abstract forms, stylization visually reflects characters’ psychological states and enhances the dramatic flow of the story. The research highlights that stylized architecture enriches the visual experience while reinforcing the narrative structure, drawing viewers more deeply into the animated world. The concept of “hyperreality” helps explain how animated films use stylization to transcend physical realism, unlocking greater creative freedom. This process allows architecture to shape the film’s atmosphere, guide audience perception, and establish a cohesive visual language that amplifies storytelling. Ultimately, the study demonstrates that architectural stylization is not merely an aesthetic choice but a powerful narrative device. The findings propose narrative-driven design as a new approach for creating emotionally resonant spaces in both animation and architectural practice.

An investigation of the local industrial design industry in China: A micro view

Zhiyong Wang — 2025-12-01

The research on the development of the industrial design industry is of great academic value and historical significance in design studies. Based on the criticism of the heroic approach, this study investigates the local industrial design industry in Sichuan Province, China, from the perspective of anonymous history. It aims to understand better the details of the development of the industrial design industry in Sichuan and encourage further research on the local industrial design industry in China from a micro view. The study explores the grassroots activities of the industrial design industry in Sichuan through qualitative research methods such as field research, interviews, and questionnaires and examines the selected research objects by means of phenomenological depiction and analysis. This approach reveals some meaningful characteristics of the design and consumption ends of the local industrial design industry at the micro level. It concludes that many aspects of the anonymous part of the local industrial design industry remain untouched, and further investigation is needed to shed light on them.

Phygital design model proposal with innovative marketing approach for corporate fashion stores

Mertcan Öztekin — 2025-12-01

In recent years, experiential and innovative approaches have been seen in the act of purchasing in the fashion sector. The concept of “phygital”, which combines physical and digital advantages, has emerged. This study proposes a phygital design model as an innovative approach for corporate fashion stores. In the research, an interdisciplinary hybrid space design model with mixed methods is aimed. Firstly, the store atmosphere is based on the SOR model on a qualitative basis. The phygital space design model was constructed with inferences made from the literature and hypotheses developed in this context. Since hedonic consumption behavior is seen in fashion, the model is measured with a theory belonging to psychological behavior theories. Thus, the model quantitatively shows whether fashion stores can be included in the phygital space class. In addition, hybrid components and class values of space experience quality were created in the model. Two case studies were conducted to test the phygital design model. As a result of the research findings, how a phygital approach is realized in store space design is discussed comparatively.

Procedural design in digital games: Space and environment interaction in No Man’s Sky

Onur Aşkın — 2025-12-01

This study analyzes the effects of procedural design on the space and environment in No Man’s Sky. The research includes 300,000 comments from Steam gaming platform users between 2016 and 2024. Player comments were analyzed using the following categories to understand players’ experiences of space and environmental interaction: “creativity and possibilities,” “environment and space design,” “environmental interaction and dynamism,” “exploration and diversity,” “game mechanics,” “procedural generation,” and “repetition and predictability.” Word frequency, thematic analysis, and sentiment analysis were used to assess players’ perceptions of procedural design. The findings suggest that despite the procedural design’s freedom of exploration and visual variety, players generally perceive the experience with neutral emotions. Repetitive designs and limitations were found to reduce player satisfaction. The impact of innovative content was limited. This study highlights the potential of procedural design to create aesthetics, functionality, and individualized experiences in game design. The procedural design should be optimized in future studies to create stronger emotional effects, and the design processes should be restructured based on insights from player comments.

Reimagining facade design using a collaborative gamification approach for enhanced form-based codes: 15 Khordad Street in Tehran

Amir Shakibamanesh — 2025-12-01

This study presents a novel methodological innovation by integrating the Delphi technique into a gamified evaluation framework, offering a new hybrid approach to collaboratively developing Form-Based Codes (FBCs). The primary goal is to increase the flexibility and participatory nature of the design process. The research focuses on a segment of 15 Khordad Street in Tehran, where facade design was re-envisioned via a collaborative digital platform using the Delphi technique. Based on literature review and a survey, the study provides a deep understanding of the area’s design dynamics. Facade design alternatives were developed and interactively modeled using Unity3D. This interactive environment allowed urban designers exploring various design permutations and selecting their preferred facade elements based on the FBC alternatives. The collective preferences were then synthesized to identify an optimal facade design for the area. Findings revealed that 44% of participants favored a setback pattern, showing a strong preference for a specific urban design approach. By incorporating gamification into the FBC selection process, the study aims to shift urban design from a product-centric approach to a more dynamic, process-oriented, and participatory methodology. This research highlights the potential of gamification in transforming traditional urban design practices into more flexible, inclusive, and cyclical processes.