Turkey: At the Threshold

Summary

Guest-edited by Hülya Ertaş, Michael Hensel, and Defne Sunguroğlu Hensel, this issue explores Turkey's architectural past, present, and future. It examines how historical building traditions, climate-responsive design, modernization, and globalization influence contemporary architecture. Contributions discuss Istanbul's urban transformation, the modernization of Ankara, Anatolian cities, public spaces, gentrification, and emerging Turkish architectural practices. The issue also investigates how historical knowledge and regional identity can inform more sustainable and context-sensitive design approaches.

Key takeaways

• 1. Turkey's geographical position between Europe and Asia creates a distinctive architectural culture influenced by multiple histories, traditions, and social conditions.
• 2. Contemporary architecture must respond to local cultural identity rather than rely exclusively on standardized international design approaches.
• 3. Traditional buildings can offer valuable lessons in climate-responsive design, passive cooling, material selection, and environmental adaptation.
• 4. Istanbul's modernization demonstrates how urban development can reshape historical districts, public spaces, and patterns of social interaction.
• 5. Ankara's development illustrates the relationship between architecture, national identity, political transformation, and urban planning.
• 6. Medium-sized Anatolian cities offer opportunities to study how regional characteristics influence urban growth and architectural form.
• 7. Public spaces that develop outside rigidly programmed functions can support social interaction, informal activities, and unexpected urban experiences.
• 8. Urban regeneration and gentrification can create conflicts between economic development, historical continuity, and the needs of existing communities.
• 9. Emerging architectural practices can develop distinctive design identities by combining experimentation with local knowledge and cultural context.
• 10. Architectural heritage should be treated as a source of practical knowledge for future design rather than simply as something to preserve visually.
• 11. Sustainable architecture benefits from integrating historical building intelligence, contemporary technology, and site-specific environmental analysis.
• 12. A country's architectural future can remain globally connected while maintaining a pluralistic identity rooted in its regional and cultural diversity.

Practical application

Contextual analysis: Research a site's history, cultural identity, climate, and patterns of daily use before beginning conceptual design.

Climate-responsive design: Study traditional buildings to identify passive cooling, shading, ventilation, and thermal comfort strategies.

Urban regeneration: Evaluate how new developments affect existing communities, heritage structures, public spaces, and local businesses.

Public-space design: Create flexible outdoor spaces that accommodate both planned activities and informal social interaction.

Regional architectural identity: Translate local materials, construction methods, and cultural references into contemporary design concepts without copying historical forms directly.

Housing design: Investigate how urban density, changing lifestyles, and social patterns influence residential design.

Architectural research: Compare historical and contemporary projects to understand how political, economic, and cultural changes influence the built environment.

Sustainable design: Combine traditional environmental strategies with modern building-performance analysis to develop context-sensitive solutions.

Portfolio development: Present site research, historical references, environmental analysis, and design decisions as a coherent architectural narrative.

Good to know

Who it's for: Architecture students, practicing architects, urban designers, architectural historians, and design researchers

Topics

Turkish Architecture Istanbul Ankara Urban Transformation Architectural Heritage Modernization Globalization Regional Identity Sustainable Architecture Public Space Emerging Architectural Practices