Reading wellness principles of modern architecture via its examples in Güzelyurt

Abstract

Güzelyurt is a small old town in the western part of Northern Cyprus. After the division of the island and the forced displacement in 1974, people from the South side moved to the North side and settled in single and double storey houses. These houses which are mostly located at the periphery of the town were designed after modern architecture principles and they provided good life standards for crowded families with their large indoor and outdoor spaces. During the covid-19 outbreak in 2020 it was observed that these houses have enabled a tolerable lockdown period for their users in terms of personal comfort and safety. This study first focuses on the relationship of modern architecture with illnesses and wellness; then the space arrangements of these houses in Güzelyurt and their impacts to the life standards of the owners during the outbreak is analyzed. The aim of this study is to discuss the benefits of modern architectural principles to human health and then tried to suggest solutions to apply this guiding spirit to new housing design systems in town, which increase the quality of life, create a better protection for possible future outbreak risks and can be applied to other regions in North Cyprus.