A Comparative Assessment Towards the Use of Informal Education Buildings as a Tool in Sustainability Education: A Case Study of Türkiye

Aim: This study explores how sustainably designed informal education buildings can serve as tools for sustainability education, focusing on both architectural features and their integration into educational practices. It addresses a research gap in Türkiye by examining the hidden educational potential of such buildings through theoretical analysis and comparative evaluation with international best practices. Method: Selected buildings in Türkiye were assessed based on sustainable architectural design principles and their capacity to contribute to public education. These were compared with internationally recognized examples using five core sustainability criteria: site and transportation, water, energy, materials, and indoor environmental quality. Data collection included literature review, field visits, and semi-structured interviews. Findings: Four out of five main sustainability themes—site and transportation, water, energy, and materials—are relatively well integrated into educational uses in international examples. However, indoor environmental quality remains underutilized in both international and national contexts. In Türkiye, educational use is primarily limited to features related to energy and site planning. National examples also fall short in terms of training duration and instructional quality compared to their international counterparts. Conclusion: For informal educational buildings to function effectively as tools for sustainability education in Türkiye, early-stage design processes must intentionally incorporate educational strategies tied to environmental features. Emphasizing interdisciplinary collaboration and integrating educational theories into design can significantly enhance the impact and accessibility of sustainability education.