Investigation of Environmental Sustainability Awareness in the Urban Furniture Design Processes in the Marmara Region

Abstract

This study aims to reveal the effects of the concept of sustainability on product design and sustainable design methods through a focus on urban furniture. In line with this purpose, the approaches to the design processes and methods of urban furniture are discussed through stakeholders such as municipalities, companies, and designers involved in this industry. In this way, it is aimed to determine the current perspectives of the sector and to reveal information that can be a reference for future studies. The research was carried out through semi-structured interviews to reveal in-depth information within the scope of urban furniture manufacturers, design groups, and municipalities in the Marmara region of Turkey. As a result of this research, the approaches of the urban furniture sector to the concept of sustainable design have been examined through discussion and evaluation, and it has been found that environmental sustainability awareness is at a lower level than economic and social sustainability awareness within the framework of the sample included in the study. In addition, it was concluded that sustainability awareness is high at the level of designers and variable at the level of producers and local administrations.