Performative design processes in architectural practices in Turkey: architects’ perception

Abstract

ABSTRACT During the last decades, the increasing need to ensure building performance during architectural design has led to highly interactive relations between architecture and various other disciplines, in which concepts of sustainability and building performance are tightly integrated into the design process. However, the adoption of these concepts in architectural practices and the recent advancements in the field have remained rather slow. This research aims to understand performative design (PD) in the context of existing design practices and investigate integrated design strategies and potentials of computational design throughout the whole design process. In this research, a qualitative study was carried out, focusing on PD processes in architectural practices based on semi-structured interviews and case studies. The collected data from nine selected architectural practices is analyzed through a thematic coding approach. The findings reveal that the widespread use of computational tools and technologies and the increasing awareness of both architects and clients on building performance have changed the design priorities in architectural practices. The results also show that the competence of the design team, the tools used during design processes, the involvement of direct and indirect stakeholders, shifting client demands, and market values are effective in pursuing an integrated PD process. Consequently, this research contributes to the current understanding of performative architectural design practices by investigating the key performance concepts, supporting computational tools, and finally the current practices of PD.