Evaluation of the Concept of Cultural Sustainability in Housing Projects: The Aga Khan Architecture Awards (1978–2025)

Abstract

Culture is a concept that encompasses the material and spiritual values unique to a society and ensures the transmission of these values from generation to generation. Cultural heritage shapes individuals' lifestyles and spatial practices, and this influence is particularly evident in residential spaces. Changing living conditions, population growth, and environmental issues have brought the concept of sustainability. Along with globalization processes, the homogenization of individuals and increased sensitivity towards preserving their cultures have brought the concept of cultural sustainability to the forefront. The aim of this study is to examine cultural sustainability in the context of residential Architecture. Research has shown that studies on cultural sustainability in the context of the Aga Khan Architecture Awards are limited. This study, undertaken to fill this gap in the literature, evaluates the concept of cultural sustainability specifically in relation to residential buildings featured in the Aga Khan Architecture Awards. Qualitative research methods, namely documentation review and visual analysis, were used in this study. The data obtained were presented through graphical analysis and tables. These methods were used to investigate the spatial and semantic ways in which cultural sustainability is achieved at the residential scale. A comparative analysis was conducted across time and geography. The findings reveal that cultural sustainability is shaped by temporal and spatial conditions.