An analytical study of creativity in architectural design:case study of national architectural awards

Abstract

The subject of the thesis is in general based on the concept of creativity and specialised on creativity in the architectural design process. The topic, which is taken into consideration as the investigation of architectural creativity, begins with the definitions of creativity concept related with the design approaches. Throughout the evolution of these definitions, the common denominator of psycology, sociology, behavioral sciences and architectural design concepts are tried to be clarified. The creativity studied on the basis of concept, individuals and theories later developed as deciphering the classification of effecting channels of architectural design process.The classification consists of three main parts: 'personal channels' involving childhood, fantasy, imagination, metaphor, intelligence, self confidence, 'social channels' including education, national culture-history, religious factors, client, and 'environmental channels' that involve nature, material and climate. The concrete examples of this study are chosen among the projects of the leading architects in Turkiye. The first parameter for elimination is National Architectural Exhibition and Awards. Projects among National Architectural Exhibition and Awards are selected according to the criteria for architectural creativity related with the concepts such as originality, newness and contemporaneity which are not very far apart from the criteria of the jury. Concept of originality also includes sub-titles such as architectural language, conceptual approach, technology, material and at each sample different concepts primarily appears. To consider the existence of these criteria provides the evaluation of the samples related with the fact of creativity.