Architecture, archaeology and multilayered cities: An interdisciplinary design workshop experience

Abstract

This study aims to reveal the effects of informal workshops and interdisciplinary studies on design education. In this respect, an informal interdisciplinary design workshop is organized with the attendance of 33 undergraduate and graduate students from the Departments of Architecture and Archeology in the ancient city of Apollonia ad Rhyndacum in Bursa. The methodology of the paper, which is developed as qualitative research, is based on drawing the theoretical framework of the concept, conducting the workshop, and analyzing its results. The workshop’s theme was to design an idea project on temporary or permanent lightweight structural additions to strengthen the interaction between the urban layers and meet current needs in the built environment. The findings of this workshop show that interdisciplinary informal studies in design education create an environment for the students in which they can participate in a complex problem-solving process, learn to work under time constraints, experience working as a team, learn to respect the views of others and enrich their views with these dissimilarities, experience to visualize their design in the context of the built environment using a wide range of techniques, have the opportunity to share their ideas with residents and local authorities.