Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
GRAD SYMPOSIUM’25 Sustainable Solutions in Engineering, İstanbul, Türkiye, 15 - 16 Mayıs 2025, cilt.1, sa.1, ss.1-2, (Özet Bildiri)
Construction-oriented economic growth
strategies driven by neoliberal policies create
serious conflicts with sustainability principles. In
this context, it is important to examine the
relationship between the minimalist design
approach in housing production processes and
the United Nations Sustainable Development
Goals (SDGs). This study aims to identify the role
of minimalist design principles in sustainable
mass housing production and analyze their
contribution to the SDGs. The research is
structured through a multi-stage modeling
process based on a systematic literature review
and expert opinions. According to the findings,
“Functional Simplicity and Efficiency”, “Process
and Production Optimization” and “Human-
Centered Design” stand out as the most effective
criteria. The model showed particularly strong
relationships with SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities
and Communities) and SDG 12 (Responsible
Production and Consumption). This study
presents a strategic decision support model for
policy makers and practitioners by demonstrating
the multidimensional contributions of minimalist
approaches to sustainable international housing
design.
Keywords: Minimalist Design, Sustainable
Development Goals (SDGs), Delphi Method
Introduction
In recent years, many countries have adopted
construction-oriented economic growth strategies
within the framework of neoliberal policies,
creating serious tensions with core sustainability
principles. Within this context, exploring the
structural relationship between minimalist design
principles and the United Nations Sustainable
Development Goals (SDGs) in housing
production processes is of critical importance for
advancing sustainable architectural practices.
The aim of this study is to determine the role of
minimalist design principles in the production of
sustainable mass housing, to measure their level
of contribution to the relevant SDG targets and to
put forward a multi-layered evaluation model.
Materials and Methods
The research was designed using a mixed-
methods strategy and conducted in five stages:
(1) a systematic literature review, (2)
development of a conceptual framework, (3) a
two-round Delphi process involving expert
opinions (n = 56), (4) criterion weighting using
Likert-Based Fuzzy AHP, and (5) validation of the
proposed model through Structural Equation
Modeling (SEM). The literature review enabled
the identification of 13 minimalist design
principles, which were then matched in detail with
all 17 SDGs and their 169 sub-targets to
construct a conceptual structure.
Results and Discussion
Data from the Delphi process demonstrated high
internal consistency (Cronbach's α = 0.968) and
strong factor structure (KMO = 0.849; variance
explained = 79.2%).
The FAHP results indicated that “Functional
Simplicity and Efficiency” (0.223), “Process and
Production Optimization” (0.197), and “Human-
Centered Design” (0.182) were the most heavily
weighted and impactful criteria. SEM analysis
confirmed the structural validity of the proposed
model, identifying significant and direct
relationships between minimalist design
principles and SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and
Communities) as well as SDG 12 (Responsible
Consumption and Production) (m9.1–m9.3: r =
0.89, p < 0.001). The model’s fit indices were
found to be within acceptable ranges (CFI =
0.865, RMSEA = 0.132, SRMR ≈ 0.08).
Conclusion
This study systematically reveals the
multidimensional impacts of minimalist
approaches on sustainability-oriented housing
design and offers an original decision-support
model. The findings are a strategic reference
source for designers, policy makers and
practitioners who prioritise the principle of
sustainability in the international housing
production process.