Reading wellness principles of modern architecture via its examples in Güzelyurt

Abstract

Güzelyurt is a small old town in the western part of Northern Cyprus. After the division of the island and the forced displacement in 1974, people from the South side moved to the North side and settled in single and double storey houses. These houses which are mostly located at the periphery of the town were designed after modern architecture principles and they provided good life standards for crowded families with their large indoor and outdoor spaces. During the covid-19 outbreak in 2020 it was observed that these houses have enabled a tolerable lockdown period for their users in terms of personal comfort and safety. This study first focuses on the relationship of modern architecture with illnesses and wellness; then the space arrangements of these houses in Güzelyurt and their impacts to the life standards of the owners during the outbreak is analyzed. The aim of this study is to discuss the benefits of modern architectural principles to human health and then tried to suggest solutions to apply this guiding spirit to new housing design systems in town, which increase the quality of life, create a better protection for possible future outbreak risks and can be applied to other regions in North Cyprus.

Keywords

• Güzelyurt
• North Cyprus
• Pandemic
• Life at home
• House design
• Modern architecture
• Wellness

Modern mimarinin sağlık ilkelerini Güzelyurt'taki örnekleri üzerinden okumak

Öz

Güzelyurt Kuzey Kıbrıs’ın batısında küçük ve eski bir yerleşim yeridir. Adanın 1974 yılında 2’ye ayrılması ve zorunlu göçün ardından güney tarafındakiler kuzey tarafına geçerek tek ve iki katlı konutlara yerleşmişlerdir. Çoğunlukla kentin çeperinde yer alan bu konutlar modern mimarlık prensiplerine göre tasarlanmışlardır ve büyük iç ve dış mekanları ile kalabalık aileler için uygun yaşam standartları sağlamaktadırlar. 2020 yılında covid-19 salgınında bu evlerin modern mimari tasarımlarının kullanıcıların kişisel konfor ve güvenliği açısından tolere edilebilen bir izolasyon dönemi sağladığı gözlemlenmiştir. Bu çalışma öncelikle modern mimarlığın hastalık ve sağlıklı yaşam ile ilişkisine odaklanmaktadır. Daha sonra Güzelyurt evlerinin mekân düzenlemelerinin salgın sırasında kullanıcıların yaşam standartlarına olan etkileri analiz edilmektedir. Amaç; modern mimarlık prensiplerinin insan sağlığına olan faydalarını tartışmak ve bu yol gösterici ruhu; yaşam kalitesini yükselten, gelecekte olası salgın risklerine karşı daha iyi koruma sağlayan ve Kuzey Kıbrıs’ın diğer bölgelerinde de uygulanabilir yeni konut tasarım sistemlerine adapte edebilen öneriler oluşturmaktır.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Kuzey Kıbrıs
• Pandemi
• Ev yaşamı
• Konut tasarımı
• Modern mimarlık
• Sağlık
• Güzelyurt

References

1. Aljuboori, F. (2018). The influence of Le Corbusier on the emergence of the aesthetic values in the Modern Architecture of Cyprus. Journal of Contemporary Urban Affairs, 2(1), 1-12. https://doi.org/10.25034/ijcua.2017.3651
2. Amen, A. M. (2017). The inspiration of Bauhaus principles on the modern housing in Cyprus. Journal of Contemporary Urban Affairs (JCUA), 1(2), 21-32. https://doi.org/10.25034/ijcua.2017.3645
3. Ateek, G. (2020). Future of sustainable architecture: Rethinking Covid-19 a pandemic or turning point?
4. Atmodiwirjo, P., & Yatmo, Y.A. (2015). Architecture as machine; Towards an architectural system for human well-being.
5. Beach, B., Clay, K., & Saavedra, M.H. (2020). The 1918 influenza pandemic and its lessons for Covid-19. Working Paper 27673. http://www.nber.org/papers/w27673
6. Campbell, M. (2005). What Tuberculosis did for Modernism: The influence of a curative environment on modernist design and architecture. Medical History, 49(4), 463–488.
7. Capolongo, S., Rebecchi, A., Buffoli, M., Letizia, A., & Carlo, S. (2020). Covid-19 and cities: From urban health strategies to the pandemic challenge. A decalogue of public health opportunities. Acta Biomedica, 91(2), 13-22.
8. Cogaloglu, M., & Turkan, Z. (2019). Plan organization in XX. Century housing architecture in North Cyprus. Revista Amazonía Investiga, 8(22), 381-388.

9. Colomina, B. (2019). X-RAY architecture. Lars Müller Publication.
10. D’alessandro, D., Gola, M., Appolloni, L., Dettori, M., Fara, G.M., Rebecchi, A., Settimo, G., & Capolongo, S. (2020). COVID-19 and living space challenge. Well-being and public health recommendations for a healthy, safe, and sustainable housing. Acta Biomed, 20(91), 61–75. doi: 10.23750/abm.v91i9-S.10115.
11. Daniel, T.M. (2006). The history of tuberculosis. Respiratory Medicine, 100(11), 1862–1870. doi:10.1016/j.rmed.2006.08.006
12. Davis, T. (n.d.). Definition of Wellness: Meaning, Dimensions, and Examples. https://www.berkeleywellbeing.com/wellness-definition.html
13. Esentepe, B. M. (2013). Space transformation and change in mass housing in Nicosia, North Cyprus (unpublished master thesis). Eastern Mediterranean University, Gazimağusa, North Cyprus.
14. Fereos, S., & Phokaides, P. (2006). Modern architecture in Cyprus between the 1930s and 1970s: The search for modern heritage. Docomomo Journal, 35.
15. Gazioğlu, T. (1996). Social housing schemes in the TRNC. Northern Cyprus Monthly –Kıbrıs IV [online], (5). Available from: http://www.cypnet.co.uk/ncyprus/economy/econ10.htm
16. Giedion, S. (1929). Befreites Wohnen. Lars Müller Publication.
17. Giorgi, E. (2014). Wellness and happiness: how and why Architecture must contribute to a cultural revolution, Conference: ATINER - Fourth Annual International Conference on Architecture.
18. Gürel, A., Hatay, M., & Yakinthou, C. (2012). Kıbrıs’ta yerinden olmak sivil ve askeri çatışmanın sonuçları: Olaylar ve algılamalara genel bir bakış, Rapor 5. Peace Research Institute Oslo.
19. Hatay, M. (2007). Is Turkish Cypriot population shrinking? An overview of the ethno-demography of Cyprus in the light of the preliminary results of the 2006 Turkish Cypriot census. Peace Research Institute Oslo.
20. Honigsbaum, M. (2019). The pandemic century: One hundred years of panic, hysteria and hubris. C. Hurst & Co. Publishers.
21. Hoşkara, Ş.Ö., Çavuşoğlu, B.T., & Öngül, Z. (1999). Legal frameworks and housing environments in North Cyprus. METU JFA, 26(1), 81-100.
22. Hsu, C. C., & Shih, C. M. (2005). A typological housing design: The case study of Quartier Fruges in Pessac by Le Corbusier. Journal of Asian Architecture and Building Engineering, 5(1), 75-82.
23. Ibelings, H. (2002). Supermodernism: Architecture in the Age of Globalization. NAi Publishers, Rotterdam.
24. Ilseven, S. (2016). Assessment of the impacts of population decline in the town of Güzelyurt on the socio-economic structure of TRNC. Anthropologist, 23(3), 335–342. doi: 10.1080/09720073.2014.11891953
25. Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre –IDMC (2009). Cyprus: Prospects remain dim of political resolution to change situation of idps. Switzerland: Norwegian Refugee Council.
26. Joedicke, J. (1990). Weissenhofsiedlung Stuttgart. Karl Kraemer Verlag Stuttgart.
27. Keenan, J.M. (2020). Covid, resilience, and the built environment. Environ. Syst. Decis, 40(2), 216–221. doi: 10.1007/s10669-020-09773-0
28. KKTC Sivil Savunma Teşkilat Başkanlığı (2009). Kuzey Kıbrıs Türk Cumhuriyeti gezi kitabı. Lefkoşa: Sivil Savunma Teşkilat Başkanlığı Yayını.
29. Kiessel, M. (2014). Direct and indirect influences of Le Corbusier on the architecture of Cyprus. In: A. Öztürk, & A. Yücel (Eds.), A Swiss in the Mediterranean. The Cyprus Talks on Le Corbusier.
30. Larsson, N. Kujawski, W., Mangone, G., & Delcourt, H. (2020). Pandemics and the built Environment. International Initiative for a Sustainable Built Environment.
31. Le Corbusier. (1986). Towards a new architecture (13th Edition). Translated by Frederick Etchells, Dover Publications, NY.
32. Makhno, S. (2020). Life after coronavirus: How will the pandemic affect our homes? Dezeen. https://www.dezeen.com/2020/03/25/life-after-coronavirus-impact-homes-design-architecture/
33. Mc Coy, E. (1975). Arts & architecture case study houses. Perspecta, 15, 54-73.
34. Megaheda, A.N., & Ghoneim, E.M. (2020). Antivirus-built environment: Lessons learned from Covid-19 pandemic. Sustainable Cities and Society, 61, 102350.
35. Miller, G., & Foster, T. L. (2010). Critical Synthesis of Wellness Literature, The BC Atlas of Wellness. University of Victoria Faculty of Human and Social Development & Department of Geography, Canada.
36. Muhy Al-Din, S. (2017). The influence of Mediterranean modernist movement of architecture in Lefkoşa: The first and early second half of 20th century. Journal of Contemporary Urban Affairs, 1(1), 10-23. https://doi.org/10.25034/1761.1(1)10-23
37. Özay, N. (2004). A comparative study of climatically responsive house design at various periods of Northern Cyprus architecture. Building and Environment, 40(6), 841-852.
38. Parikh, A., & Parikh, P. (2018). Choice architecture: A new approach to behavior, design, and wellness. Routlegde, NY.
39. Phokaides, P. (2009). Architecture and Modernity in Cyprus. EAHN Newsletter No 2/09 [Newsletter of the European Architectural Historians Network]. https://www.academia.edu/4987823/Architecture_and_Modernity_in_Cyprus
40. Pinherio, M.D., & Luis, N. C. (2020). COVID-19 could leverage a sustainable built environment. Sustainability, 12(14), 5863, 1-27.
41. PRIO. (2011). Internal displacement in Cyprus: Mapping the consequences of civil and military strife. Routes of Displacement and Resettlement: Nicosia / GEUNYELİ. Available from: http://www.prio-cyprus-displacement.net/default.asp?id=300
42. PRIO. (2011). Internal displacement in Cyprus: Mapping the consequences of civil and military strife. Routes of Displacement and Resettlement: MORPHOU. Available from: http://www.prio-cyprus-displacement.net/default.asp?id=334 (Accessed date: 22 January 2021).
43. Schellenberg, G., & Fonberg, J. (2020). Housing characteristics and staying at home during the COVID-19 pandemic. (Catalogue no. 45280001).
44. Seelow, M.A. (2017). Function and form: Shifts in modernist architects’ design thinking. Arts, 6(1),1. doi:10.3390/arts6010001
45. Şevketoğlu, M. (2010). Historical introduction: Cyprus and the Morphou region. M. Jones and J.A. Milward (eds.), In The canopy of heaven: The ciborium in the church of St. Mamas, Morphou, Cyprus. United States: Supporting Activities that value the Environment (SAVE), 19-45.
46. Tobolczyk, M. (2021). Contemporary Architecture: The Genesis and Characteristics of Leading Trends, Cambridge Scholars Publishing, UK.
47. Tokazhanov, G., Tleuken, A., Guney, M., Turkyilmaz, A., & Karaca, F. (2020). How is COVID-19 experience transforming sustainability requirements of residential buildings? A review. Sustainability, 12(20), 8732. doi:10.3390/su12208732.
48. URL-1. https://www.artsy.net/article/artsy-editorial-modernist-architects-believed-designs-healthier
49. URL-2. https://www.archdaily.com/490048/ad-classics-weissenhof-siedlung-houses-14-and-15-le-corbusier-and-pierre-jeanneret?ad_source=search&ad_medium=search_result_all
50. URL-3. https://www.archdaily.com/490048/ad-classics-weissenhof-siedlung-houses-14-and-15-le-corbusier-and-pierre-jeanneret
51. URL-4. https://lecorbusier-worldheritage.org/en/maisons-de-la-weisenhof-siedlung/
52. URL-5. https://www.dezeen.com/2016/07/26/le-corbusier-colourful-cite-fruges-workers-housing-fashionable-apartments-unesco-world-heritage-list/
53. URL-6. https://issuu.com/dirthouse-photography/docs/neutra_health_house-was_it_really_healthy
54. URL-7. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Lovell_Health_House_3.jpg
55. URL-8. http://www.stat.gov.ct.tr/nufus2011.aspx
56. Wainwright, O. (2020). Smart lifts, lonely workers, no towers or tourists: Architecture after coronavirus. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2020/apr/13/smart-lifts-lonely-workers-no-towers-architecture-after-covid-19-coronavirus