Determining Applicable Facade Design Decisions in the Architectural Environment Using the AHP Method After an Earthquake

In this study, priority facade design decisions were determined using expert opinions and Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) methods during the reconstruction process of structures following the February 6, 2023 Kahramanmaraş earthquakes. The aim of the study is to determine the priorities in facade design during the post-earthquake reconstruction process and to include them in the decision-making process. Facade design decisions of the structures to be built in Kayapınar district of Diyarbakır province, which were built after 2000 and were damaged in the earthquake, were discussed. The region was selected as the study area because it attracted attention with its rapid reconstruction process. Facade design criteria determined by literature and expert opinions were evaluated with the AHP method. The study showed that design priorities changed with the earthquake disaster and that this change could be effective in the decision-making process of designers. According to the analyzes, the criteria of “reliable”, “economic”, “compatible with the local texture” and “compatible with the surrounding structures” were found to be priority in the facades in the study area. Thus, it was determined that the priority value of the design criteria may differ depending on the earthquake disaster and regional needs. For example, while aesthetic and innovative approaches are preferred in normal conditions, elements such as economy and security have become priorities in the post-disaster process. The study, in which interview forms and decision support tools are used together, provides a multidisciplinary approach to the design process and provides scientific contributions to the reconstruction process. Suggestions have been developed for designers to make fast.