In the aftermath of the devastating February 6, 2023 earthquakes in Turkey, the small district of Gölbaşı in Adıyaman has become a stark reminder of the raw power of nature and the vulnerabilities of our built environment. The earthquakes, measuring 7.7 and 7.6 on the Richter scale, left an indelible mark on the region, causing widespread destruction and loss of life. Among the ruins, the stories of Gölbaşı’s Fatih and Yeni neighborhoods offer a grim tale of structural failure and the urgent need for more resilient architecture.
Rojat Aksoy Işık, a professor at Mardin Artuklu University’s Mardin Research Center, led a team of architects and students to Gölbaşı 79 days after the earthquakes to document the damage and understand the underlying causes. Their findings, published in the journal ‘Natural Disasters and Environment,’ shed light on the critical relationship between earthquakes and architecture, and the need for a seismic shift in how we design and construct buildings in earthquake-prone regions.
The team’s observations revealed a landscape of devastation, with many buildings reduced to rubble or left teetering on the brink of collapse. “The damage we witnessed was extensive and varied,” Işık recalls. “Many buildings were severely damaged due to ground liquefaction, where the soil beneath the foundations loses strength and stiffness, causing structures to sink, tilt, or even collapse.”
But the damage wasn’t solely due to the earth’s shifting. Structural failures, exacerbated by poor construction practices and inadequate design, also played a significant role. “We saw numerous examples of buildings that lacked proper reinforcement, had inadequate connections between walls and floors, or were constructed with substandard materials,” Işık explains. “These issues significantly contributed to the overall damage and loss of life.”
The study underscores the importance of understanding and mitigating these risks, not just for the sake of safety, but also for the economic and commercial impacts on the energy sector. Energy infrastructure, including power plants, refineries, and pipelines, are often located in or near earthquake-prone areas. Damage to these facilities can lead to power outages, fuel shortages, and environmental disasters, with far-reaching consequences for businesses and communities.
The research also highlights the need for a more collaborative approach between architects and engineers. “In countries like Turkey, which are located in earthquake zones, the effort of architecture and engineering disciplines to work together to create a safer living space is of great importance,” Işık emphasizes. “By combining our expertise, we can develop more resilient building designs and construction methods that better withstand seismic events.”
The findings from Gölbaşı offer a sobering reminder of the work that lies ahead. As Turkey continues to rebuild, the lessons learned from this study can guide the creation of more resilient structures and infrastructure, better equipped to withstand future earthquakes. The study also serves as a call to action for the architecture and engineering communities, urging them to prioritize seismic safety and innovation in their designs.
The insights from this research could shape future developments in the field, pushing architects and engineers to prioritize seismic safety and innovation in their designs. The collaboration between these disciplines is crucial for creating a safer living space in earthquake-prone regions, and the findings from Gölbaşı serve as a stark reminder of the importance of this effort. As Turkey continues to rebuild, the lessons learned from this study can guide the creation of more resilient structures and infrastructure, better equipped to withstand future earthquakes. The research, published in the journal ‘Natural Disasters and Environment,’ offers valuable data for post-earthquake damage assessment and improving structural design.
