An Innovative and Sustainable Design Approach in Contemporary Architectural Education: Parasitic Architecture

Year 2025, Volume: 7 Issue: 1, 249 - 271, 10.07.2025

Fatma Kürüm Varolgüneş , Sedat Aras

https://doi.org/10.46474/jds.1705743

Abstract

This paper investigates parasitic architecture as an innovative and sustainable approach in contemporary architectural education. Parasitic architecture, which establishes symbiotic relationships with existing structures, is explored as a design strategy for creating new spaces within constrained urban environments. The study's methodology includes a multi-phase process beginning with a literature review and discussions on parasitic architecture, sustainability, flexibility, and innovation. Students then proposed structures based on their urban experiences and developed scenarios linked to architectural programs. The final phase involved a design studio at Bingöl University, where students applied parasitic architecture principles to real-world scenarios. The results demonstrate that this approach significantly fosters creative problem-solving skills, refunctionalizes spaces, and enhances environmental awareness. The study highlights the potential of parasitic architecture in addressing post-disaster challenges in urban environments like Bingöl, contributing to the reactivation of underutilized spaces and enhancing the social and cultural vitality of urban areas. This positions parasitic architecture as an effective strategy in both architectural education and practice.

Keywords

Contemporary architectural education , Environmental impact and sustainability , Urban context , Adaptive reuse of existing structures , Parasitic architecture

Ethical Statement

This study fully complies with the principles outlined in the Higher Education Institutions Scientific Research and Publication Ethics Directive. None of the actions classified as violations of research and publication ethics were undertaken during the preparation of this work. All authors contributed equally to the study, declare no conflicts of interest, and accept full responsibility for any ethical issues that may arise.

Project Number

This study was not funded by any supporter.

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