Katılımcı Tasarım Yaklaşımları Bağlamında Alternatif Okul Mekanı: Ankara Meraklı Kedi İlkokulu Örneği

Abstract

This research aims to analyze the relation of school space and alternative education in the context of participatory design. This subject examined on Another School İs Possible Association’s Ankara Cooperation, Private İncek Elementary School (The Curious Cat School). Through research, the study aimed to present and uncover spatial processes in school such as planning, designing, building and using. The case is chosen because of its authenticity as an alternative school experience in Turkey and its repurposed old village school building which seems contradictory to its educational approach. Research was conducted through semi structured interviews with actors who take place in spatial processes and workshops conducted with children. The participatory observation method was also used on workshops. This research, carefully designed to fit school and children routines. Research participants tend to be seen as active researchers on research processes. Research results shown that in spite of visionary and theoretically suitable attitude of alternative educational approach and participatory design processes arise from this, school spaces which can promote alternative education experience couldn’t shape physically as a practice of spatial creation in this case. But this case opened a path for investigation through presenting an example of alternative education and participatory design processes arising from this.