Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
Journal of the Faculty of Engineering and Architecture of Gazi University, cilt.17, sa.3, ss.35-55, 2002 (Scopus)
This study focuses on the evaluation of a primary school, which represents a type project that has been applied nearly in 450 places, in terms of building program and design decisions. In this context, a newly occupied building -Melek Özen Primary School in Keçiören, Ankara with a capacity of 960 students - has been focused. How the actual building corresponds to the original program and its interpretation through design is given special emphasis. Establishing a reliable basis for future programs and designs consists the main aim of this study. In addition, the study also presents a multi-methods model for the evaluation of future and existing buildings of same type. The study began with an analysis of the existing plans in hand and continued with the following applications of methods: (i) an interview with the school's headmaster, (ii) a questionnaire for students and teachers, (iii) behavioral maps and observations due to the use of classrooms, canteens and garden, (iv) adjacency matrixes in terms of space relations and groupings and (v) photographing the characteristic places and moments of use. The changes done right after the occupation and user satisfaction were the key concerns of the evaluation. This research revealed that; (i) the design is highly adaptable for the changes during occupancy, (ii) classrooms and corridors, which are the main spaces of the school, are adequate in sizes and appropriate in terms of layout and (iii) luminous and spacious areas which are realized through natural illumination, are favored by all users. Few negative points, such as narrowness of stairs and inadequate space for in-building sport activities, have also been mentioned. This study underlined the importance of knowledge-based programming.