A Xeriscape Landscape Design: The Case of Nefes Park

Gülbin Çetinkale Demirkan; İpek Turhan Eren; Ruziye Adem

Article Details

A Xeriscape Landscape Design: The Case of Nefes Park

Authors:

Gülbin Çetinkale Demirkan | İpek Turhan Eren | Ruziye Adem

Publisher:

Ahmet FİDAN

Main Topics:

Peyzaj Tasarımı

Journal:

Kent Akademisi Vol.18 Issue 5, pp.3002-3027

Document Type:

Article

Publication Date:

9/2025

Document Language:

Turkish

Document ID (Org No.):

2001358359

pISSN:

2146-9229

Keywords:

Abstract:

 Global warming and various environmental challenges have led to a decline in accessible freshwater resources and have made it increasing difficulty to reach existing supplies, posing critical issues worldwide. Although awareness of water conservation has grown in recent years, water use for irrigating green spaces remains unnecessarily high. Protecting water resources is therefore vital, in the planning and design of urban landscapes. In this context, adopting the Xeriscape approachwhich encourages the efficient and sustainable use of water in landscape areashas gained importance. This study presents a landscape design that combines xeriscaping principles with the philosophical framework of Feng Shui. The proposed site is a designated urban park in the central district of Niğde, Turkey, located in a dry to semi-arid climate zone. The xeriscape landscape design will be implemented in a 1,500 m² public park area. Surrounded by schools, hospitals, shopping centers, a cemetery, and residential areas, the park sits within a densely populated urban setting, highlighting its high level of human interaction and daily use. The site design was developed using AutoCAD, SketchUp, and Lumion software following the collection of environmental data pertaining to the area. The primary objective of this study is to draw attention to drought risks and promote water-conscious landscape practices suited to arid climates. By prioritizing low water-use plant species and efficient irrigation techniques, the design seeks to encourage sustainable water management in urban green areas. Integrating Feng Shui principles, aims to enhance the spatial harmony and and overall user experience of the park, offering a holistic design nd replicable modell for future urban landscape projects.

 Global warming and various environmental challenges have led to a decline in accessible freshwater resources and have made it increasing difficulty to reach existing supplies, posing critical issues worldwide. Although awareness of water conservation has grown in recent years, water use for irrigating green spaces remains unnecessarily high. Protecting water resources is therefore vital, in the planning and design of urban landscapes. In this context, adopting the Xeriscape approachwhich encourages the efficient and sustainable use of water in landscape areashas gained importance. This study presents a landscape design that combines xeriscaping principles with the philosophical framework of Feng Shui. The proposed site is a designated urban park in the central district of Niğde, Turkey, located in a dry to semi-arid climate zone. The xeriscape landscape design will be implemented in a 1,500 m² public park area. Surrounded by schools, hospitals, shopping centers, a cemetery, and residential areas, the park sits within a densely populated urban setting, highlighting its high level of human interaction and daily use. The site design was developed using AutoCAD, SketchUp, and Lumion software following the collection of environmental data pertaining to the area. The primary objective of this study is to draw attention to drought risks and promote water-conscious landscape practices suited to arid climates. By prioritizing low water-use plant species and efficient irrigation techniques, the design seeks to encourage sustainable water management in urban green areas. Integrating Feng Shui principles, aims to enhance the spatial harmony and and overall user experience of the park, offering a holistic design nd replicable modell for future urban landscape projects.

 Global warming and various environmental challenges have led to a decline in accessible freshwater resources and have made it increasing difficulty to reach existing supplies, posing critical issues worldwide. Although awareness of water conservation has grown in recent years, water use for irrigating green spaces remains unnecessarily high. Protecting water resources is therefore vital, in the planning and design of urban landscapes. In this context, adopting the Xeriscape approachwhich encourages the efficient and sustainable use of water in landscape areashas gained importance. This study presents a landscape design that combines xeriscaping principles with the philosophical framework of Feng Shui. The proposed site is a designated urban park in the central district of Niğde, Turkey, located in a dry to semi-arid climate zone. The xeriscape landscape design will be implemented in a 1,500 m² public park area. Surrounded by schools, hospitals, shopping centers, a cemetery, and residential areas, the park sits within a densely populated urban setting, highlighting its high level of human interaction and daily use. The site design was developed using AutoCAD, SketchUp, and Lumion software following the collection of environmental data pertaining to the area. The primary objective of this study is to draw attention to drought risks and promote water-conscious landscape practices suited to arid climates. By prioritizing low water-use plant species and efficient irrigation techniques, the design seeks to encourage sustainable water management in urban green areas. Integrating Feng Shui principles, aims to enhance the spatial harmony and and overall user experience of the park, offering a holistic design nd replicable modell for future urban landscape projects.

 Küresel ısınma ve çeşitli çevresel sorunlar sonucunda, erişilebilir tatlı su kaynaklarının azalması ve mevcut kaynaklara ulaşımın giderek zorlaşması, dünya genelinde kritik bir sorun haline gelmiştir. Son yıllarda suyun korunmasına yönelik farkındalık artsa da yeşil alan sulamasında aşırı su tüketimi yaygın şekilde devam etmektedir. Su kaynaklarının korunması, özellikle peyzaj planlama ve tasarım süreçlerinde hayati bir önem taşımaktadır. Bu bağlamda peyzaj alanlarında suyun etkin ve sürdürülebilir kullanımını teşvik eden Kurakçıl Peyzaj Xeriscape yaklaşımının uygulanması giderek daha fazla önem kazanmaktadır. Bu çalışma, Feng Shui felsefi çerçevesiyle bütünleştirilmiş kurakçıl peyzaj ilkelerine dayalı bir peyzaj tasarımı önermektedir. Seçilen proje alanı, Türkiyenin Niğde ili merkez ilçesinde yer alan imar planında kent parkı olarak ayrılmış bir bölgedir. Kurakçıl peyzaj tasarımının yapılacağı alan 1500 m2 büyüklüğünde bir park alanıdır. Alan; eğitim kurumları, sağlık tesisleri, ticaret merkezleri, mezarlıklar ve konut alanları gibi yoğun kent işlevleriyle çevrilidir ve bu durum, insan etkinliğinin ve peyzajla etkileşimin yüksek düzeyde olduğunu göstermektedir. Alan ile ilgili çevresel verilerin toplanması ile Autocad, Sketchup ve Lumion programları kullanılarak alan tasarımı yapılmıştır. Çalışmanın temel amacı, kurak-yarı kurak iklim kuşağında kuraklık koşullarına dikkat çekmek ve su bilincine dayalı peyzaj uygulamalarını teşvik etmektir. Düşük su tüketimli bitki seçimi ve verimli sulama stratejilerini vurgulayan Kurakçıl Peyzaj yaklaşımı benimsenerek, önerilen tasarımın kentsel yeşil alanlarda sürdürülebilir su yönetimine dair toplumsal farkındalık oluşturması hedeflenmektedir. Bu çalışma ile Feng Shui ilkelerinin entegrasyonu yoluyla projenin mekânsal uyum ve deneyim kalitesini artırması, gelecekteki kent parkı düzenlemeleri için bütüncül bir tasarım modeli sunması amaçlanmaktadır.

Article Details

A Xeriscape Landscape Design: The Case of Nefes Park

Authors:

Gülbin Çetinkale Demirkan | İpek Turhan Eren | Ruziye Adem

Publisher:

Ahmet FİDAN

Main Topics:

Peyzaj Tasarımı

Journal:

Kent Akademisi Vol.18 Issue 5, pp.3002-3027

Document Type:

Article

Publication Date:

9/2025

Document Language:

Turkish

Document ID (Org No.):

2001358359

pISSN:

2146-9229

Feng Shui Philosophy

Climate Change

Xeriscape

Landscape Design

Effective Use of WaterFeng-Shui Felsefesi*

İklim Değişikliği

Kurakçıl Peyzaj Yaklaşımı

Peyzaj Tasarımı

Suyun Etkin Kullanım.

Issues

Article Details

Authors: Gülbin Çetinkale Demirkan | İpek Turhan Eren | Ruziye Adem

Publisher: Ahmet FİDAN

Main Topics: Peyzaj Tasarımı

Journal: Kent Akademisi Vol.18 Issue 5, pp.3002-3027

Document Type: Article

Publication Date: 9/2025

Document Language: Turkish

Document ID (Org No.): 2001358359

pISSN: 2146-9229

Issues

Authors:

Gülbin Çetinkale Demirkan | İpek Turhan Eren | Ruziye Adem

Publisher:

Ahmet FİDAN

Main Topics:

Peyzaj Tasarımı

Journal:

Kent Akademisi Vol.18 Issue 5, pp.3002-3027

Document Type:

Article

Publication Date:

9/2025

Document Language:

Turkish

Document ID (Org No.):

2001358359

pISSN:

2146-9229