Istanbul and New York-based architecture studio SOUR has unveiled plans for the revitalization of Antakya in Hatay, Turkey. 

Hatay, located in southeast Turkey, was struck after the terrible earthquake on February 6, 2023, destroying several cities and causing more than 50,000 people's deaths.

Developed as part of the Türkiye Design Council's regeneration plans, SOUR was invited to rebuild the infrastructure and revive the spirit and essence of Antakya.

SOUR's new plans aim to "honor Antakya’s past, while paving the way for a vibrant future." 

"The city, known for its vibrant streets and cherished historical buildings, faced immense challenges in its path to recovery," the studio added.

A community-centered approach

Adopting a community-centered approach, the studio held ethnographic interviews and conducted a field research in Defne Harbiye, Antakya, Samandağ, Serinyol. The studio felt it was important to center communities and their lived experiences.

In order to ensure a responsible and trauma-informed practice, this research was conducted in collaboration with psychologists, anthropologists, and trauma specialists.

To ensure a responsible and trauma-informed practice, this research was conducted in collaboration with psychologists, anthropologists, and trauma specialists.

The research's findings were assembled into a thorough report and documentary, which provided guidance for the subsequent phases of the project and the overall master plan. To guarantee results that would be genuine for the communities, a co-creation panel comprising professionals with a range of professional and lived experiences provided guidance throughout the design process.

A paradigm shift in urban design

The reconstruction initiatives led by SOUR reflect a paradigm shift in the thinking behind post-disaster urban planning. This strategy aims to create neighborhoods where human dignity, healing, and resiliency are essential components of the urban fabric.

Sets a new benchmark for urban regeneration, SOUR's approach is more trauma-informed and empathetic.

Recently, Foster + Partners unveiled a revitalization masterplan for an earthquake-hit region Hatay in southeast Turkey. In addition, Shigeru Ban also created paper partition shelters for Turkey-Syria Earthquake victims in Mersin and Hatay provinces of Turkey. 

Project facts

Project Name: Revitalization of Hatay
Location: Antakya, Hatay, Turkiye
Size: 76,108m2
Status: Detailed Design Completed
Client: Turkiye Design Council
Type: Residential, Commercial & Landscape

Typology: City Center Quality Housing
Architects: SOUR
Design: Inanc Eray, Design Lead / Pinar Guvenc, Design Strategy Lead /
Design Team: Marianne de Zeeuw, Project Coordinator / Gamze Gürgenç, Project Coordinator / Ugur Imamoglu, Architect / Merve Güven, Architect / Pinar Gürsoy, Architect / Merve Akbay, Architect / Sevki Yapici, Architect / Kadija Fadil Bayero, Architect / Irem Gocmenoglu, Video Editor & Graphic Designer / Nafla Alqorayani, Design Researcher / Ersin Gök, Producer / Leyla Akça, Field Research Lead / Duygu Çendag, Anthropologist & Researcher / Sema Çiçekli, Psychologist / Tamer Kocager, Videographer.

Collaborators

Structural Engineer: Güven Özer, Ömer Çitil, Gürcan Durak, Tez Yapı

Mechanical Engineer: Hasan Duyar, Faruk Korkmaz, Mek Atölye

Electrical Engineer: Salih Çoşkun, Fatih Doğan, Apsis Atölye

Landscape Architect: Nalan Korkut, Şeyma Uz, Stüdyo Neoge

Fire Consultant: Bilal Iğdır, Sinem Aksöz, Betül Çırak, Etos

Civil Engineer: Eylem Güngör, Necati Dorukhan Güngör, Uğur Adıgözel, Uğur Harita

Visualizations: David Rossman, Stack Studios

Community Experts: Çagla İnan, Ali Uğurlu, Doğus Genç, Mert Salihli, Emel Duman, Fikret Duman, Gizem Cabbaroğlu, Cansel Aslan, Özge Uysal, Ferhat Yolcu, Mişel Atik, Cansel Sahutoğlu, Hüseyin Ataser, Süleyman Karataş, Lider Miçoğulları Necati Ogural, Rahşan Burgurcu, Ali Kanatlı, Selman Eskiocak, Nilgün Karasu, Hikmet Cinçin, Ece idil Ceylan, Mustafa Özçelik, Çağan Kaya, Sezer Kızgındemir, Nursen Avat Büyükaşık, Edip Bağdatlı, Berç Kartun, Agop Gökçe.

All images © SOUR.

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concept SOUR Turkey-Syria earthquake