Metu Jfa 2006 / 1 ( 23 : 1 ) 1 - 18 Themes of Place and Space in Design Teaching : a Joint Studio Experiment in Amasya ( 1 )

The design studio is a medium of intense learning in architectural education. A learning experiment that engages in critical practice, seeking to present values instead of mere techniques, promoting investigative work rather than trying to bring exact definitions to what must be, is typical of architectural studio education. The choice of a theme around which to structure studio work is significant in this respect; themes define the trajectory and act as filters of perception, thought and action, which the instructors and students share throughout the design process (3). The theme of the studio exercise presented in this paper consists of the comprehension of place and space qualities and proposing new design in a historic context. While this theme directed learning of pertinent design vocabulary and concepts, it also required that students should develop an ethical approach based on the sense of responsibility towards delicate environments possessing cultural heritage.