ADAPTABLE DESIGN STRATEGIES IN KINDERGARTEN EDUCATION BUILDINGS IN THE POST-PANDEMIC PERIOD /
MOHAMMAD ALIREZAEITEHRANI ; SUPERVISOR, ASST. PROF. DR. SEVİL AYDINLIK BAŞAR
- 282 sheets ; 30 cm +1 CD ROM
Thesis (MArch) - Cyprus International University. Institute of Graduate Studies and Research Architecture
The education system and design of school buildings have a powerful influence on a child's academic and social development, behavior and personality features, emotional and cognitive growth, and imagination. In particular, kindergartens, as the first formal step in a child's educational journey, play a crucial role in laying the foundation for a child's early learning experiences, holistic development, and future productivity. Architecture, design, and layout of kindergarten buildings is a specialized field that provides safe and inspiring learning environments for young children typically aged 3 to 6 years old. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the education system has dramatically changed all over the world and affected millions of student’s learning processes. This pandemic clearly showed the need for adaptability, flexibility, safety, and resilience in various aspects of our lives, including educational spaces. Therefore, adaptable design strategies are crucial for post-pandemic schools, making kindergarten buildings even more important in the context of evolving education systems. The main aim of this study is to investigate how kindergarten buildings might be adapted to meet the needs of post-pandemic education and promote safe, effective, and productive learning environments in response to the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. Therefore, in this study, it is important to understand why kindergarten buildings play an important role in early childhood education through flexible and modular space design, direct relation with nature, and one-to-one interaction with people, considering the changing educational requirements after the pandemic. By addressing these issues, the study can be used as a guideline for architects, educators, and policymakers by providing valuable insights and recommendations on integrating adaptive design principles in future kindergarten building projects.