QUESTIONING OF LEED CERTIFIED STRUCTURES IN THE INTERSECTION OF UNIVERSAL DESIGN AND SUSTAINABILITY CRITERIA: KONYA EXAMPLE

Abstract

Many concepts have been brought to the agenda with the rapid developments in all areas of our lives in recent years, causing
ecological and demographic changes. Among these concepts, universal design and sustainable design concepts form the
backbone of the study. In the study, where architectural design is located at the intersection of these concepts is examined. In
this context, the LEED certification system, which is an international certification system that creates brand value for building
design disciplines and is important for creating environmentally conscious design awareness, was selected and a reading was
made over the certified designs.
Within the scope of the study, the importance of certification systems, which are binding and encouraging in terms of ensuring
environmental sustainability, was mentioned in architectural design, and the unity of universal design and sustainability
concepts, which remain current among various design approaches, was discussed. This association has been examined through
the Konya Sports and Congress Center, Konya Science Center and Konya Novotel buildings, which are among the prestigious
buildings that have received LEED certification in Konya.
While evaluating, a quantitative method was adopted. First of all, the points received by the buildings in the LEED certification
system were shown, and then the positive and negative properties of the existing designs were determined according to the
universal design principles. The results are graded on the tables. As a result of the evaluation, it was tried to draw attention to
the fact that designs that are sensitive to both issues should be made with the awareness that there is no environment without
people and the environment without people.