The Change of Spatial Organization in Konya Apartment Buildings: an Analysis with Space Syntax Approach

İngilizce (OpenAlex)

This study aims to examine the spatial transformation that has taken place in apartment-type residential buildings constructed in Konya between 1937 and 2015 through a morphological analysis using graphic theory and spatial composition methods. The research reveals how changing lifestyles and housing needs during Turkey's modernization process were reflected in apartment planning and how this process was shaped by socio-cultural, economic, and technological changes. Eight apartment buildings constructed at approximately ten-year intervals were selected for the study and evaluated in terms of their plan typologies within a historical continuum. Spatial design was analyzed using quantitative indicators such as integration, connectivity, depth, and comprehensibility. Methodologically, the graphic method, which reveals the functional relationships between structures, was used in conjunction with the spatial layout method, which evaluates spatial accessibility. UCL Depthmap software was used to generate numerical data from architectural plans; connectivity and integration values, along with beta and gamma indices, were used as the basis for the analyses. The findings reveal significant transformations in the organization of spatial components: the disappearance of the sofa/hallway, which functions as a transition area, the shift from schemes where wet spaces and kitchens are planned together to more differentiated spatial organizations, and changes in the use of circulation areas due to privacy needs are among these transformations. While early apartment buildings retain traces of traditional multi-generational housing, later examples feature a linear, functionally divided, and privacy-based design; however, the buildings generally have a fragmented spatial integrity. The study reveals that the spatial transformation of apartment buildings in Konya is a continuous process of interaction between traditional values and modern lifestyles. This study provides a methodological framework for analyzing spatial changes in housing typologies using quantitative tools and contributes to design strategies that are sensitive to user behavior and social dynamics.