MİMARLIK AGENDA

Turkey cannot Prevail Urban Problems nor can Improve Life Quality Unless she Overcomes Democracy Crisis / İlhan Tekeli

The author indicating the two-staged administration system in metropolitan cities of Turkey, argues that these administrations are founded to attain coordination for the sake of improving efficiency at upper levels and to provide participation at lower levels. However, in practice since the mayors of metropolitan municipalities are excessively authorized and endowed with powers that restrict the sovereignty of provinces, the system is bound to bring out authoritative and imposing policies. He states that unless municipalities are governed with participatory policies, it is impossible to attain successful outcomes.

TOWARDS 2014 LOCAL ELECTIONS

(New) Tools of Planning Process/ Feridun Duyguluer

The author states that in the last 25 years “diversified building” processes caused by the “multi-institutionality” makes it impossible to attain a holistic approach in the field of planning and therefore the planning projects fail to develop an understanding regarding the city as a whole. Since singular projects have replaced the significance of making plans, “designing a project” and “fast construction practices” have become the major tools for organising the urban space. The article subjecting the emerging multifaceted planning tools founded through enabling planning processes, defining exceptions for accelerating the construction processes, the exemptions given to institutions and ignorance towards legislation, finally underlines the importance of a holistic planning approach.

COMMEMORATION

Commemorating: HAKKI ÖNEL, ARMAN GÜRAN, FAZIL AYSU / İhsan Bilgin, Ayşen Ciravoğlu, Cengiz Bektaş, Fazıl Aysu

In this issue we commemorate three colleagues: Hakkı Önel, Arman Güran, Fazıl Aysu… Founding member of Architectural Foundation, member of Architectural Foundation Architectural Institute Board of Directors (1999-2000), former dean of YTU Department of Architecture and head of YTU Building Science and Technology department Prof. Hakkı Önel, is an unforgettable name in regards to his valuable contributions to the Chamber of Architects and architectural community in general. The article in commemoration of Önel is written by İhsan Bilgin and Ayşen Ciravoğlu. We have recently lost Arman Güran, who is known through his valuable efforts in bringing Yeditepe University Department of Architecture to what it is today and his supports to the Chamber of Architects especially in 12 September period. The commemorative article is written by Cengiz Bektaş. The last commemoration is on Fazıl Aysu, who is best known as the architect of the İnönü Stadium. In addition he has realised many significant architectural projects and has developed his architectural practice through his cooperation with foreign architects.

AGENDA

Saraçoğlu 2013: A Place in Urban Memory and Urban Warfare / Bülent Batuman

Saraçoğlu neighbourhood is an important settlement that should be preserved and sustained due to its role in being a modern architectural heritage and having a special place in urban memory / culture / life of Ankara. However similar to many places in Ankara, it is a place that raises hopes for demolition for the sake of profitable income over land value and therefore it is a place, which is under constant threat of demolition. The author, who evaluates on the withdrawn decision of the announcement of “risk area” in the scope of the Natural Disaster Act by the State Council, states that this decision can be an exemplar case.

ARCHITECTURE AND EDUCATION ASSEMBLY

Notes from the Assembly: Aslı Tuncer

Architecture and Education Assembly starting from the year 2001 is being organised in every two years and the outcomes from the Assembly are directly carried to the architectural agenda. In the assemblies, architectural education and problems of architecture are discussed through major titles such as; formalism, restructuring, continuity, change, competency and responsibility, development and diversification, thus develop solutions through analysing professional environment and searching for possible cooperation between universities. The 7th Architecture and Education Assembly took place in Eskişehir, between the dates 14-15 November 2013 and hosted by Anadolu University. In the light of previous assemblies the agenda and the expected outcomes were evaluated under the general theme of the assembly; “Integration and Solidarity in Architectural Education and Professional Practice”. The article presents a summary of the presentations in the Assembly.

Evaluation / Bülend Tuna

With over ten years of experience and knowledge Architecture and Education Assemblies were started to be organised with an aim to define problems, document evaluations and arrive at possible solutions to present problems. Today assemblies have become “discussion platforms” rather than “informational meetings” and a serious effort has been made towards achieving decisions. Tuna, who is an active participant of the assemblies for many years, provides an overall evaluation on the 7th Architecture and Education Assembly.

FROM RURAL / CITY

Secret House of Cats: Gölyazı / Selay Yurtkuran

Gölyazı, one of the oldest settlements around the Lake of Ulubat in Ramsar district of Bursa, is an exchange refugee village made out of wood frame structured houses built over sarcophagus stones gathered from Byzantium walls. Bayır neighbourhood, which is also known as Zambaktepe, housing the Weeping Plane Tree, is connected to the Island with a narrow bridge. The author regards Gölyazı as a must see spot on the route of any journey made to Bursa.

ARCHITECTURAL CRITICISM

Archetype Houses and Göktürk Settlement / Esin Boyacıoğlu

The author evaluates on the 2012 National Architecture Exhibition and Awards nominee in the “Building Category” Archetype Houses, through focusing on the promises of the notions of “arche” and “type” developed in the design stage. Instead of focusing on the relation of the building, which is designed by Emre Arolat Architects (EAA), to its context, the author emphasises the role of urban settlements, designed in Göktürk district composed of a series of gated communities, as laying the foundations of segregation within the society.

INDUSTRIAL DESIGN

Effects of Globalisation in the Development of Industrial Design in Turkey / F. Esen Taylor

In order to survive globalised economy based on open market, the importance given to industrial design in companies has increased steadily starting from 1980s till today. The authors comment on the latest dynamics that effect the development of the profession of industrial design; legal regulations done in Turkey during the transition from state-funded system to open market economy; approaches of Turkish companies in attaining a place in the global market and projects prepared to support local designs at international platforms.

ARCHITECTURE AND CINEMA

Interaction between Cinema and Architecture: Criticism of Modernism in Tim Burton Movies / Gülşah Güleç, Nur Çağlar

The fruitful interaction between the fields of cinema and architecture has started to be referred often. The authors provide a reading on the criticism of modernism raised by these two disciplines, which have close associations in the production and presentation of space, through analysing Tim Burton movies. The criticism rose towards 21st century modernism in the movies of Burton, who is after novel contextual and semantic structure, make it inevitable for the architectural discipline witnessing a period named as “super modern” as a derivation of the term “modern”, to start thinking about the past, present and future of the modern world.

CHAMBER BUILDINGS

Chamber of Architects Aksaray Representative Office Service Building: Historical İbrahim Kaya Mansion / Tülay Karadayı Yenice, Osman Nuri Dülgerler

One of the last examples of re-functioning the buildings that have special place in the urban memory to become service buildings for the Chamber and to be part of the city life again is the project of historical İbrahim Kaya Mansion. While the authors account on the transformations during the restoration project of the building, they also stress on the value attained to the historical and genuine identity of the building.

ENVIRONMENTAL ARCHITECTURE

Green Roof Systems and Environmental Impacts / Eyüp Erkul, Abdullah Sönmez

Every building rise on a piece of land, which has a potential to contribute to the city as a green area. This potential of the green roof structures is analysed through the balance achieved between built environment and green area within the eco-system. The authors discuss the significant effects of these green roof systems to the city.

ARCHITECTURE OF THE REPUBLICAN PERIOD

Demonstration of Contemporary Rural Identity in the Early Republican Period: Planned Emigrant Villages/ Zeynep Eres

While the urban policies that represent the political understanding of every period, define the built and social environment of cities, they at the same time outline the architectural tendencies of the period. One of the prevalent planning activities of the early republican era is the emigrant settlements. The author, who explores the emigrant settlements in Thrace region, accounts on the effects of Village Law of 1924, how the new life stylepictured by the administration actually reflected on rural areas and how she defines the “modern rural identity”.

CONTACT

Reconciliation with Natural Disasters at the Coast of the City: Alluvial Sponge Comb / Yasemin Gültekin

Most of the urban systems that are developed to prevent natural floods are always designed as permanent concrete or steel walls and flood gates that act as separators between the nature and urban dwellers, blocking views and vistas and interrupting ecosystems. The design proposal “Alluvial Sponge Comb” that belongs to Anderson & Anderson Architecture, proposed for the sustainable design competition organised following the Hurricane Katrina that hit the city of New Orleans in 2005, proposes super absorbent polymer filled PVC bags, made out of similar material used in diapers, through the Mississippi coasts with an aim toprevent flood and erosion.