A Hierarchical Adaptation Framework for Water-Centric Heritage in Bursa: Bridging Ottoman Philosophy and Biophilic Design

This study reinterprets Ottoman water philosophy through a “Hierarchical Adaptation Framework” to bridge the gap between historical heritage and contemporary biophilic design. While existing literature discusses Ottoman architecture and modern sustainability separately, a theoretical integration connecting these domains remains underexplored. Focusing on Bursa’s historical water network—specifically the Waqf-managed systems—this research utilizes a qualitative methodology to synthesize heritage-based water logics into a transferable design model. The proposed framework is structured around three interconnected layers: (1) Ecological (Resilience), prioritizing resource availability and passive cooling; (2) Sensory (Psychological Restoration), leveraging acoustic and thermal properties for user well-being; and (3) Symbolic (Identity), re-coding cultural rituals for modern civic memory. By mapping these layers against Browning’s 14 Patterns of Biophilic Design, the study identifies Ottoman water architecture as a “Proto-Biophilic” precedent. The findings argue that contemporary interventions must follow a strict prioritization—ecological viability first, followed by sensory optimization and symbolic resonance—to avoid “greenwashing.” The study concludes by proposing a “Technological Biomimicry” strategy to resolve conflicts between historical abundance and modern water scarcity, offering a resilient roadmap for water-centric urbanism in the age of climate crisis.