A new design approach for Süleyman Demirel University Botanical Garden

Abstract

Botanical gardens were first established only for scientific reasons, however, later they have been started to be used for educational and recreation reasons. Since the 1980s it has been used to preserve natural resources and increase the biological variety. Botanical gardens are used as a tool all around the world to create environmental awareness, preserve natural resources and increase biological variety via educational activities. However, the botanical gardens which are important all over the world, are behind the world standards in Turkey when compared to other countries. However, 11.707 plant taxa including 3649 endemic varieties found in Turkey. Turkey seems to be richer in flora, compared with the continent of Europe, which is about 15 times larger than Turkey with 12,000 plant taxa. Turkey already deserves a sample equivalent to the botanical gardens in the world. Within the context of this study, Süleyman Demirel University Botanical Garden, which was started to establish in 1997 and not completed entirely, was determined as the study area. In the project, the main circulation system and the lateral roads reaching to the plant collections are not clearly perceived. There is no circulation hierarchy that visitors can follow. In addition, the botanical gardens are defined not only areas where collections are exhibited, but also areas where environmental consciousness and ecological awareness can be raised. So, new plan decisions were taken for Süleyman Demirel University Botanical Garden by using the data obtained from literature researches and field studies related to the Lakes Region, Isparta, and the study area. Within the framework of these plan decisions, a new design approach for Süleyman Demirel University Botanical Garden has been developed that includes plant collections such as healing garden, discovery garden, sensory garden, and local plant materials.