Mimarlık bilim ve sanatın buluştuğu bir bakış noktasıdır. Bilimlerarası bir doğası olan bu alanda yer alan mimar bilgi değişimi deneyimini mütemadiyen yaşar. Hem teorik hem de stüdyo derslerimize olan yaklaşımımız, mimarlığın sadece bir çalışma alanı ya da bir meslek olmasının ötesideki bakış açımızı yansıtmaktadır. Bölümümüz sağladığı öğrenme süreci ile herbir öğrencinin kişisel ve bireyler özelliklerini genişletip, mimari bir şekilde düşünebilme ve kendisini ifade edebilme becerisine sahip olması için çalışmaktadır. Bu sepeble, öğrencilerimizin bölümümüze ve fakültemize getirdiği çeşitlilik ve renkli dünya görüşleri ile gurur duymaktayız.

Doç. Dr. Shahin Keynoush

GAU Mimarlık Bölümü Başkanı

Educational Objectives

The following program educational objectives are career and professional accomplishments that our graduates are expected to achieve after graduation:

Our graduates will be able:

1. To define, evaluate and conclude design projects in a creative process and with proper decisions

2. To identify and criticize challenges of human being  socio-spatial representations

3. To employ and develop technical and professional knowledge and skills

4. To conduct and justify interdisciplinary interactions in macro & micro scales

5. To contribute to the   social, environmental, cultural sustainability practice.

Program Learning Outcomes:

Program Learning Outcome - Course Relationship Matrix 

Employment Opportunities

Architects work in design, planning and construction of various types of buildings and structures, ranging from residential buildings to commercial ones or public facilities. They are responsible for designing buildings that meet the needs of people who are going to use them and in harmony with the environment in the most comfortable, healthy, safe, and economic ways. They have the chance to work in the public sector such as ministries or municipalities, or architecture departments of public institutions. They also can work in private sector architecture and construction firms or become self-employed by establishing their own businesses. During design and construction of a building, architects need to be in contact with the clients and users, and many different professionals including civil, electric and mechanical engineers, urban designers, landscape designers, interior designers, contractors and technical staff. Graduates of Architecture also have the chance to continue their career in academic institutions, by attaining Master and PhD degree.

Degree Awarded

This is a first cycle degree program in Architecture (240 ECTS). On successful completion of the Architecture program and gaining competencies, a student will be awarded the Bachelor of Architecture (BARCH).

Graduation Requirements

An undergraduate student is entitled to graduate if they satisfactorily complete all required courses attains a sum of credit-hours (145 Crd – 240 ECTS) amounting to at least the minimum required for graduation, has a CGPA of 2.00 or above and is financially of good standing. Graduation is conferred by the University Senate upon the recommendation of the Faculties. The Diplomas are prepared by the Registrar's Office, and indicate the name of the Program, the date of graduation, and the degree obtained.

1. Dr. Cemal Cenk Hamamcıoğlu (GAÜ, 2000), Yıldız Teknik Ünversitesi, Şehir ve Bölge Planlama Bölümü Öğretim Görevlisi. http://www.sbp.yildiz.edu.tr/kisiler/2/0/29/Cenk-Hamamc% C4% B1o% C4% 9Flu 

2. Özcan Can GAÜ, 2000), İstanbul Büyükşehir Belediyesi Meclisi Üyesi, http://www.ibb.gov.tr/tr-TR/kurumsal/BelediyeMeclisi/Pages/MeclisUyesiDetay.aspx?uyeID=27 

3. Redif Nurel, (GAÜ, 2002), Nurel Şirketler Grubu Sahibi, http://www.nurelconstruction.com/kibris-insaat-hizmetlerimiz.html 

4. Majid Behboudi, (GAÜ, 2010), Toronto Üniversitesi Master Öğrencisi, Yarının Evleri Yarışması Ödülünü Kazanmış, http://www.archdaily.com/222795/d3-housing-tomorrow-2012-winners/ 

Core Courses

ARC101-Basic Design Studio

This studio provides both a conceptual and practical introduction to design and introduces students to basic design principles, design theory and concept development. Through assignments students develop an understanding and appreciation of the design elements such as point, line, shape, form, space, texture, value and color, and design principles such as balance, proportion, emphasis, movement, pattern, repetition,  rhythm, variety, harmony and unity.

ARC102-Introduction to Architectural Design Studio 

This design studio introduces students to architectural design principles and design process, problem defining and solving, spatial organization and basic spatial design practices, anthropometrics and awareness of universal design principles, and architectural communication and presentation techniques. In this studio a series of projects of increasing complexity will be given to students. (Prerequisite: ARC101).

ARC111-Architectural Drawing I 

This course deals with advanced knowledge and skill acquisition of the diverse categories of information delivery required by the design professionals. Architectural abstraction in drawing to communicate ideas on spatial and environmental information through perspective, isometric, oblique and axonometric drawings will be explored. Various media will be covered as means of graphic presentation.

ARC112-Architectural Drawing II

This course deals with techniques of graphic presentation introduced as a basic language of architecture. Students work with a broad range of graphic presentation methods. Skills developed in architectural and spatial drawing. Theories of representation and the use of several visual means including free hand drawing will be covered to analyze and convey ideas regarding the environment. Fundamentals of orthographic drawing, rendering techniques and format layout examined through an array of projects.(Prerequisite: ARC111).

ARC121-Building Technology I: Materials and Methods 

This course introduces students to the role of building technology in the design process. Building materials and methods of construction are studied. Students become aware of all of the materials, the construction types, the elements and the methods of the construction.

ARC122-Building Technology II: Structural Elements 

This course continues beyond its prerequisite, Building Technology I: Materials and Methods. Building structural elements are studied. Students become aware of the concepts and procedures for the design, manufacture, and construction of structural components.

ARC131-Mathematics for Architects

This course provides students with necessary knowledge to understand the basic mathematical concepts and principles.  By such knowledge, students' understanding and problem solving skills are developed to help them cope with structural design problems during their education as well as during their professional career.

ARC134- Architecture and Programming

This course provides students with necessary knowledge to bridge among mathematics, computation, statics, technology and design. This course as a platform provides students the ability to engage in the creative process of architectural works by comprehending the relation between science and design. (Prerequisite: ARC131).

ARC141-History of Art and Culture 

This course provides students a broad understanding of the ancient, medieval, and post-renaissance world through an analysis of art and culture. This course places an emphasis on the great complexity and interconnectivity of socio-political and cultural facts and employs an anthropological view to the history of art.

ARC142-History of Modern Architecture 

This course, as the conclusive course for the series of history of Architecture, is providing a comprehensive vision and knowledge of the philosophies and theories in relation with the clustering of effective masters and thinkers and the built environment. From the Renaissance to the modern product design of the 19th and 20th century, with a clear understanding of the origins and roots in the previous historical events, the combination of chronological and analytical approach is necessary to the full understanding of each period.

ARC201-Architectural Design Studio I

This design studio is based on programming and planning for human habitation in dwellings and neighborhoods. At a micro scale, this course deals with housing as a response to human needs with the planning of rooms, houses, and groups of houses; analysis of climatology, physical, psychological, and social needs and their influence on the housing design; interior spaces and functions, and building design, layout, and formal development. (Prerequisite: ARC102 and ARC111).

ARC202-Architectural Design Studio II 

This design studio course explores architecture as a cultural practice that structures both the physical and the social environment with a series of macro spaces design based project. The organization of medium collective space will involve the deployment of building relationship within an urban built environment. The course includes the analysis and understanding of a selected context in order to propose a multi-level building in terms of architectural composition expression. (Prerequisite: ARC201).

ARC211-Digital Design & Presentation I

This course provides students with practical hands-on experience in using professional architectural drafting software (e.g., Autocad). The course looks at two-dimensional CAD techniques used by architects to design and create presentations. The course covers the process of creating, manipulating, and communicating through digital drawings. Emphasis will be placed on understanding architectural drawing convention, and generating sophisticated architectural graphics, mappings and analyses using a variety of digital media. Programs taught may include AutoCAD, Illustrator, InDesign, Flash, and Photoshop. (Prerequisite: ARC111).

ARC212-Digital Design & Presentation II 

This course provides students with practical hands-on experience in using professional architectural modeling software. The course looks at the principal three-dimensional modeling techniques used by architects to design and represent projects. The course covers the process of creating, manipulating, and communicating through digital architectural models. Emphasis will be placed on the generation of 3D architectural models and their presentation using AutoCad, 3DStudioMax, Maya, Rhino, Grasshopper and/or VRay. (Prerequisite: ARC211).

ARC213 - Advanced Technical Drawing 

The main aim of this course is to familiarize the students with advanced architectural technical drawings at the micro and macro scales. The course concentrates mainly on the functional, technical and cultural aspects of building systems. Topics such as material, design and construction techniques of building systems, building envelope structures, weathering and aging and the effect of climate on the building systems as well as the pertinent socio-cultural issues are covered. Also, the principles of designing landscape architecture, creating various landscape forms and the language of technical landscape drawing and detailing are part of the course agenda.

ARC221-Building Technology III: Structural Systems 

This course provides an introduction to the behavior of structural components and systems, for concrete, steel and timber structures. The theory and concepts of various structures and structural elements are presented with a visual format and models to emphasize an intuitive comprehension of the fundamental principles of structural behavior.   (Prerequisite: ARC122).

ARC241 - Contemporary Architecture 

In this course as the ending course for the series of history of Architecture, it is planned to make the students` mind skillful enough to be able to understand the current events in our world today in relation to the roots in previous courses in history of architecture. So the main methodology and approach for this course is Analytic instead of Chronological.

ARC252-Environmental Control Systems

This course aims at introducing students with understanding and knowledge of impacts of built environments on people and the natural environment. The course focuses on the role of spatial designers in designing buildings, building environments and interior spaces that benefit from natural resources, provide maximum comfort levels, limit environmental damage and energy consumption. The topics covered in the course are climate and climate change; bioclimatic design; comfort levels of buildings; use of natural resources and passive and active systems in heating, cooling and lighting, and water and waste management in buildings.

 ARC300-Internship I 

Off campus study gives an opportunity to students to demonstrate the interrelationship between theoretical principles of architecture as a profession and their application in practice.   The goal of the first internship is to provide effective professional preparation for students through field experience. The cooperative relationship between the business and academic learning should be enhanced. The student intern is responsible to keep a journal/diary of their daily experience. The internship is usually scheduled in summer for duration of twenty four (24) working days. The purpose of this assignment is to initiate the student into an awareness of professional firms and to provide an overview of on-site learning. 

 ARC301-Architectural Design Studio III 

This design studio course starts to focus and examine the impact of environmental issues with the aim to design an environmentally responsive building within the design process. The studio will develop an understanding of the relationships between space, function, built form and context throughout a sustainable approach. More attention is given to how the building fabric can be assembled and orientated to control energy use and building performance using sustainable construction processes. (Prerequisite: ARC202).

ARC302-Architectural Design Studio IV 

This design studio course progresses from developing research and demonstrating the ability to design more complex buildings and related constituents. Major studio project concerned with public buildings with medium scale spaces requiring advanced architectural, structural and constructional skills coupled with exploration of existing site conditions and new visual impact in the setting. (Prerequisite: ARC301).

ARC351-Urban Design & Planning 

This course is designed to help students develop the values, knowledge and skills which they need to become effective practitioners in the production of a better urban realm. A series of lectures which explore current urban design and planning theories and methods introducing the students to the analysis of urban problems in different context that will enable them to produce alternative design solutions in cities. This course will amplify the requisite understanding of urban areas practices with the development of analytical urban form theories through design lectures, behavior analysis and perception based exercises.

ARC361-Human Factors in Design 

This course aims at introducing students with knowledge and skills of designing barrier free environments that respond to various human needs, especially people with challenges. The course focuses on human anthropometrics, ergonomics of space, universal design and accessibility issues. The course further develops on generating design concepts that dismantle physical and cognitive barriers to mobility, orientation, hypersensitivity and multiple challenges in buildings and open spaces.

 ARC 372–Principles of Restoration & Conservation 

The goal of the course is to give students an understanding of the importance of Restoration and Conservation in the field of historic environment sensitivity and consciousness. Students should become familiar with the Historic heritage and related bodies, and the architectural tools required to work with a historically valuable building. In addition, this course provides a practical guide to measured surveys of historic buildings with special emphasis on recording the fabric of historic areas and producing accurate scaled drawings of selected buildings.

ARC381-Professional Ethics 

Introducing values/value judgments, evaluation and valuation systems, personal and collective responsibilities of professionals and the accountability of profession in Architecture and Interior Design, this course challenges the students to examine critically a broad range of professional, legal, and ethical problems architecture and interior design as professions face today.

ARC400-Internship II 

The summer training program is designed to expose students to a collaborative, professional office environment and a team of experienced design professionals. The goal of the second Internship is to provide effective professional preparation for students through office experience. The cooperative relationship between the business and academic learning should be enhanced. Students will be exposed to both the creative and business environment. Assignments will vary and include project research, site visits, sketching, computer production, design reviews, and assisting on marketing proposals. The student intern is responsible to keep a journal/diary of their daily experience. The internship is usually scheduled in summer for duration of twenty four (24) working days. The purpose of this assignment is to initiate the student into an awareness of professional firms and to provide an overview of office culture.

ARC401-Architectural Design Studio V  

This design studio course represents the most extended and developed exercises in macro planning issues. First priority is given to the urgent needs of our environment in terms of regeneration project such as housing, schools, or community buildings for urban centers. Projects will reinforce the entire curriculum, emphasizing on the complex relationships of buildings in an urban context taking all factors into consideration by way of interrelated aspects of an existing urban fabric. (Prerequisite: ARC302).

 ARC402-Graduation Project 

The final project in architecture is an independent architectural design project based on a theme chosen by the student after accomplishing Graduation Research & Preparation prerequisite course (ARC 403). The graduation project is a cumulating studio and an opportunity for each student to define an individual position with regard to a specific aspect of architectural practice. Students are expected to incorporate research, programming, and site definition within their design process and present a written essay that discusses the development of their work. (Prerequisite: ARC401 and ARC403).

ARC403 - Graduation Research and Preparation 

This course deals with the development of an individual general study and research by the student on a specific topic of her/his own choice/interests which goes to the primitive draft and initial issues about the final project. The research encompasses the following stages: subject definition, data gathering and classification, information interpretation relevant case/sample studies, programming and planning (denoting to activities), spatial perceiving, and technical information, site/field analysis and environmental fitting which shall be presented as a research report. (Prerequisite: ARC302).

GRA412-Portfolio and Presentation 

This course focuses on preparing students for entry into professional practice.  Tasks include preparation of a final portfolio, presentation of the portfolio, constructing a resume, ways and means of self-promotion, the interview process and guidelines for freelance employment. Must be taken in the final semester before graduation (Prerequisite: ARC 401)

ARC481-Project Management 

Project Management course is designed to build and expand the foundation of knowledge needed by successful managers by examining the organization, planning, and controlling of projects and by providing practical knowledge on managing project scope, schedule and resources. Topics include project life cycle, work breakdown structure and Gantt charts, network diagrams, scheduling techniques, and resource allocation decisions.

ARC482-Professional Practice 

This course provides students the knowledge of the social, political, economic and legal aspects of architectural practice. This course includes topics on professional laws and regulations such as contracts, bonds and insurances, professional partnerships, human relations in the profession and occupational health and safety issues.

 NH001  - National History I

Starting with the second half of the 19th century and coming to date; not a chronological presentation but rather dwelling into social, political and economic reasons of events. To show how history functions as a social memory. Special emphasis is put upon national histories of both Turkey and T.R.N.C., presenting ideas and principles of Ataturk, the founder of modern Turkey.

NH002 - National History II  

A continuation of NH001

TURK001 - Turkish I  

Identification of the position of the Turkish language among World Languages; Turkish-speaking Lands of the World; An account of the historical development of Turkish; The teaching of writing, sentence structure and the grammar of the language. Special emphasis on explaining and teaching of writing styles. Classroom tasks of in-depth analysis of specimen books by Turkish writers.

TURK002 - Turkish II

Introduction and exposition of the Turkish Sentence structures and descriptive styles for the purpose of enhancing speaking skills. By means of written and oral discourse, the realization of student-centered tasks for the development of précis, examination and critical skills of the student.

Elective Courses

 ARC203 -   Creativity and Design 

The general aim of the course is to widen the conceptual and theoretical approaches in design as broadly conceived, therefore it is envisaged as suitable for students of every department of the faculty, as enrichment for their studio engagements by encouraging students to engage with design challenges. The main goal of the course is to show how to make a connection between seemingly disconnected elements and how to use and apply this function in advantageous ways.   In this regard, it will provide an environment to encourage students’ development of independent thinking rather than following proforma solutions. It is intended that the benefits of this course will be reflected in increasing the skills of the students at the practical level, and engagements in broader contexts.

ARC214 -ARCHITECTURAL SKETCHING TECHNIQUES

The aim of the course is to develop basic skills of freehand sketching for the students as a representation technique, to gain an understanding of relative visual-spatial perception such as perspective, light and shadow. Through the course students are expected to employ the techniques and find their individual drawing style. The course is beneficial in concept development and design process in terms of expressing their ideas as well as representation of the design projects in studios. 

 ARC253- Energy Optimization Architecture – 3Crd. – 4 ECTS

 This course is to provide the fundamental knowledge for students to be able to determine the optimum building design parameters according to design variables (such as climate, building typology, occupancy...etc) in order to increase the energy efficiency of buildings. The analyses of the reference building design parameters will be addressed according to national and international building codes and standards. Students will develop an integrated design by building modeling via building energy performance tools in all phases of the design process. Students will develop an understanding that the optimization of design will be based on annual primary energy demands that do not compromise the occupant’s thermal comfort.

 ARC254 - Sustainable Lighting Design (3 credits; 4 ECTS)  

 The aim of this course is to develop the students' understanding of quality lighting design in buildings. Students will develop the basic technical and conceptual design skills for designing sustainable lighting systems for different spatial typologies, forms and functionalities that enhance the physical and psychological wellbeing of the occupants.

ARC311 -  Geographical Information Systems

The Geographical Information Systems (GIS) course aims to provide an introductory yet comprehensive overview of the importance of geographic information in understanding and managing different resources with a consolidated body of knowledge. It will also include the application of a wide range of powerful tools and concepts to be able to explore spatial contexts. İt will also familiarize the students with basic GIS skills with computer-based examples on creating, editing, and visualizing geographical data. The course concentrates mainly on explaining basic terminology about global and local coordinate systems, database development, and analyzing for better urban planning and architectural design processes.

In this course, students will become familiar with the concepts and theories to properly and efficiently perform spatial analysis in a GIS application. They will be guided and assisted through: data creation, data input, attribute creation, data editing, visualization, analysis, and presentation of geographic information using GIS software.

ARC352- Urban Habitat

This course aims at raising awareness of main problems of contemporary urbanization such as high density of population in large cities and megacities; environmental, social and economic changes which create a new form and model of living and new attitudes; and which force people to adapt to these new conditions. The course will focus on interpretation and analysis of different case studies from different countries, contexts, cultures and environments through the exploration of new organization of space in cities, organization of social groups and communities, movement and settlement patterns and will provide understanding and tools to consider dynamics of new urban population at different scales.

ARC353 - Landscape Architecture

This course provides the basic knowledge about Landscape Architecture. Principle of spatial design within the context of the natural environment will be discussed through a multidisciplinary approach. Students will develop their design skills within the context of a natural and built environment.

ARC355 - Community Based Planning

This course is to introduce community based planning. Students will be encouraged to critically and analytically engage with the principles and the process of community based planning, which have been developed by wide range of communities in various projects within different scales and context around the globe.

ARC357- Architecture and Public Space Interaction (3 credits; 4 ECTS)  

This course deals with Architecture and the open spaces.  Built form (that is, the buildings and their activities and the open spaces between them - streets, squares, plazas, courtyards etc.) operates as one entity and is experienced through users' interactions with and within it. The nature of activities it offers can be entirely in the public domain, on the one hand, or in the public-private domain, on the other. Therefore, to be successful and responsive to user needs, the interconnections between the elements and domains of the built environment as activity settings should be carefully designed/organized to augment their symbiotic relationships.

 ARC359 -Urban Ecology - (3,0)3 - 5 ECTS

 Urban Ecology course investigates the processes, systems and relations between the living beings that inhabit a given urban environment. The key topics to be covered in this course are physical environment (climate & water), ecosystem structure and function (productivity, soils, nutrient cycling), changes in global systems (urban growth,disturbance,climate change), and urban environmental pollution.

ARC373- Architectural Heritage

Thinking about the question of architectural heritage within the socio-cultural and physical context; additions and subtractions need to be considered to the existing architecture. Additions and subtractions to the existing architecture will be determined according to the needs assigned to the buildings to be preserved; these needs, no doubt, will be within the realms of both aesthetic and more utilitarian functionalities. In this respect, the course aims to emphasize the principles that need to be addressed and followed, if necessary. 

ARC382 - Gender and Space

This course aims to equip students with the awareness of gendered spaces in relation to contemporary urban spaces and architecture design.

ARC404 - Graduation Project Enhancement (3 credits; 4 ECTS) 

The principal aim of this course is to support the graduation studio in terms of the student’s architectural aims and their representations. In this course, architectural spatial representation is offered as an integral component of design and the creative thinking process.

ARC405- Research Techniques & Methods

This elective course is designed as an introduction to the research techniques and the methods that achieve them. The aim of this course focuses on processes recognising the everyday skills and techniques involved in different kind of research. It will be supplemented by a series of exercises designed to help brainstorming progress of research thinking. The course helps students to develop key issues in making research feasible at any stage and for any kind of studies. It offers advice on how to conduct research discussing different methods from analysis of findings to report of results. 

 ARC411 - Spatial Representation (3 credits; 4 ECTS)  

This is a course where students are encouraged to develop sharper sense of designed objects and their relation within given space/place through various representation exercises and discussions.

ARC414- Advanced Digital Modeling in Design

This course provides students with practical hands-on experience in using professional architectural modeling softwares (e.g., 3DStudioMax, Maya, Rhino, etc.). The course introduces advanced methods in 3-D modeling and architectural representation. The course covers the process of creating, manipulating, and communicating through digital architectural models. Students will learn to create algorithms using Grasshopper and Python in Rhinoceros 3D, while exploring parametric modeling, performance simulation, data visualization, and workflow automation.

 ARC441- Space and Place (3 credits; 4 ECTS)  

The purpose of architecture is creating a space or a place for dwelling and living making Space and Place among the most discussed concepts in architecture. The course will use several important resources to raise questions about the concepts of space and place, and aims to create understanding in how space is transformed into place.

ARC443- Special Topics in Architecture (3 credits; 4 ECTS)  

 This course will serve as a bridge from theory to practice taking advantage of current research areas and emerging theories and practices in Architectural theory, Architectural practice and allied disciplines. This will help students gain knowledge in the vast area of architecture and prepare them for the critical transition from the classroom to the professional life of an architect.

ARC455-Environmental Aesthetics

This course deals with basic concepts of environmental aesthetics. This course explores the aesthetic experiences of the built environment from a philosophical perspective and includes detailed discussion on such topics as how is aesthetic appreciation of nature similar to and different from appreciation of art objects?; what criteria may be used to evaluate beauty in nature and in the built environment?; how is our aesthetic engagement with the environment related to our embodiment, and how do the non-visual senses contribute to aesthetic appreciation?

ARC457 - Urbanization and Social Ecology

The goal of this course is to discuss the social and ecological problems caused by urbanisation and to introduce alternative habitat solutions. Students will be introduced to the Social Ecological issues within the urban context and a holistic understanding of alternative social and ecological models which inclusively cover the needs of human species and the other beings on this planet.