Wood, which stands out as an alternative to traditional building materials, is increasingly preferred in the construction sector for offering eco-friendly and aesthetic solutions. Wood, which reduces the carbon footprint and adds warmth to architecture with its natural texture, is becoming one of the key elements of sustainable urbanization. Dr. Architect Begüm Yazgan discussed how wood has become a strong alternative to traditional building materials and its critical role in sustainable architecture.
Today, sustainability in architecture and construction is gaining more importance, focusing on reducing environmental impacts and building structures in harmony with nature. Wood, with its ecological structure, aesthetic contributions, and architectural flexibility, stands out as a key material in this transformation. However, compared to traditional building materials like concrete and steel, wider adoption of wood requires industrial and technological developments. In this context, we discussed with Dr. Architect Begüm Yazgan how wood will play a role in urbanization and the construction industry in the future, the advantages it offers in terms of sustainability, and how projects like Longosphere contribute to this transformation.
- What is your opinion on the potential for wood to become the primary building material in future urbanization and construction projects?
As a nature-compatible material, wood has always had a primary place in urbanization and construction projects. In the future, with technological innovations, wood will be made more resistant to external factors such as fire, thus gaining a larger place in the industry. With technological innovations, there will be a significant increase in the consumption of wood in the construction sector. Wood production holds a very important position within the balance of economic and ecological sustainability. Maintaining a balance in resource consumption is crucial for leaving a natural environment to future generations. The balance between production and consumption needs to be considered in wood production.
“Wood, strengthened by industrial technology, will be more widely used in the construction sector”
- Although wood stands out as a sustainable material, it still cannot compete with traditional materials like concrete and steel in Türkiye. What radical changes are needed for wood to be more effective in the construction sector?
Wood is a weaker material in terms of competition in the construction market compared to traditional materials like concrete and steel, as it is more sensitive to environmental impacts. However, I believe that in the future, wood will become more economically accessible through technological advancements. Wood will be utilized in the construction sector in all its forms without waste. Furthermore, for wood to be more widely used in the construction sector, it needs to be equipped with certain industrial features. This will be realized through integration of wood with industrial technology.
“Wood is an indispensable part of architectural culture”
- As an environmentally friendly material, how does wood contribute aesthetically to projects?
Due to its compatibility with nature, wood has always been a material that is given prominence in the architectural sector. It is widely used by architects in both exterior facades and interior design. Wood is an indispensable part of architectural culture, and a space without the use of wood cannot be imagined. Today, architects are integrating wood innovatively into their architectural concepts with structural configurations. For example, renowned architects such as Shigeru Ban and Kengo Kuma have incorporated wood innovatively from a structural perspective and use it extensively in their architectural works.
“Local and recyclable materials are essentialvfor sustainable architecture”
- In order to minimize the carbon footprint, what criteria do architects consider during the design process?
Firstly, we make sure to use materials that are easily accessible, particularly local materials. To minimize the carbon footprint, consumption and production need to be balanced. This also applies to the architecture and construction industries. In this sense, the use of recyclable materials is important. Wood, being recyclable, is a very significant architectural material. To ensure balanced use of wood, the architecture and construction sectors have important roles to play.
“Longosphere: sustainable architecture integrated with nature”
- The Longosphere Project, which you have realized, stands out with its nature-friendly architecture and sustainable approach. What is the role of wood usage in the project? What advantages does it provide in terms of sustainability?
The Longosphere Project, implemented in the İğneada district of Kırklareli, attracts attention as a luxury camping area designed with the principle of minimal intervention to nature. Located 500 meters from the shore within a 17-hectare cultural forest, adjacent to Europe’s largest floodplain forest, the project features a camp area made of wooden bungalow constructions designed with an architecture that integrates with nature. By determining the areas where the structures would be placed through an inventory of the trees in the region, applications were made without harming the ecosystem. The project, designed as interconnected small villages, also includes social amenities such as an adventure park, picnic area, restaurant-café, and sports areas. Inspired by the Black Sea boats called “taka”, the wooden structures were dismantled into pieces to be transported and assembled on-site. Houses of various forms, such as lake houses, yoga houses, valley houses, courtyard houses, and dormitory houses, were built on wooden piles to avoid harming nature. In line with the sustainability principle, recycled materials were used, and natural materials sourced from local producers were employed to create an environmentally harmonious structure. While the first phase of the two-stage project was completed, the payback period of the investment, which is usually seven to eight years, was only one and a half years in this project. Longosphere, which hosts various events, festivals, and business camps, presents a sustainable model for nature tourism and stands as one of the pioneering projects that protect the ecosystem.
