Submitted by Berrin Chatzi Chousein
WAC’s most-read Turkey Architecture News of 2023
Turkey Architecture News - Dec 19, 2023 - 09:11 1999 views
From the devastating Turkey-Syria earthquake to Shigeru Ban's Paper Partition Shelters and the new Museum of Islamic Civilizations by do[x]architecture, we select 10 of this year's most-read architecture news in Turkey as part of our review of 2023.
Our roundup covers the best and most-read architecture news and projects from Turkey and also includes TPAO Headquarters currently under construction in Zonguldak is being designed by Melike Altınışık Architects – MAA, Hair Transplant Clinic in Istanbul by Slash Architects.
WAC's selections in the list were chosen based on the number of views throughout the year.
Read on for WAC's most-read architecture news and projects in Turkey in 2023 (listed by the number of views):
Emergency Service of Ukraine conducts search and rescue work in Hatay Province (February 15, 2023). Image by State Emergency Service of Ukraine (CC BY 4.0) via Wikimedia Common
The Extent Of Destruction Is "A Collective Complicity" Say Turkish Architects
In our top of the list in architecture news and projects in Turkey is our extensive article that discusses the dimensions of the devastating Turkey-Syria earthquake, with interviews of architects and experts in Turkey.
On February 2023, Turkey and north-west Syria were hit by two devastating major earthquakes, first 7.8 and second 7.4 magnitude. Described as "one of the most powerful earthquakes in at least a century", the epicenter of the earthquake was designated as the town of Pazarcık in Kahramanmaraş. WAC discussed the causes and consequences of the earthquake with architects and experts in Turkey. Our interviews include the opinions of Emre Arolat, Melike Altınışık, Alper Derinboğaz, Bülent Batuman and many other architects.
At the time of this writing, the story received over 3,410 views.
Read more about our interview series about Turkey-Syria earthquake.
Shigeru Ban's PPS system in Yenisehir Indoor Sports Hall in Mersin. Image © İrem Su Eliaçık, Voluntary Architects’ Network/Facebook
Shigeru Ban Creates Paper Partition Shelters For Turkey-Syria Earthquake Victims
One month after the Turkey-Syria earthquake disaster, Shigeru Ban together with his Voluntary Architects’ Network (VAN) designed Paper Partition Shelters for Turkey-Syria earthquake victims in Mersin and Hatay provinces of Turkey. The project ranks second in our most-read architecture news and projects in this year.
Ban installed his Paper Partition Shelters in the evacuation centres - one of them in Yenisehir Indoor Sports Hall in Mersin, and the other within temporary tents as a field hospital in Hatay. Paper Partition Shelters (PPS) are entirely made of paper tubes and fabric. Each shelter can accommodate up to two persons in a ward and can be easily built with three people in five or ten minutes.
At the time of this writing, the story received over 3,090 views.
Read more about Shigeru Ban's Paper Partition Shelters.
Shigeru Ban, courtesy of Shigeru Ban Architects
Shigeru Ban To Build Shelters For Earthquake Victims Who Lost Their Homes In Turkey-Syria Earthquake
Similarly, at the beginning of March, the news that the Pritzker Prize-winning architect Shigeru Ban will build Paper Partition Shelters for the victims of the Turkey-Syria earthquake is third on our list.
Together with Shigeru Ban's Voluntary Architects’ Network (VAN) worked closely with local universities and architecture offices, including Yaşar University, Istanbul-based architectural office Emre Arolat Architecture and Konfida, a local manufacturing company producing custom-tailored paper tubes and cores.
At the time of this writing, the story received over 3,089 views.
A collapsed building in Diyarbakır, 300 km from the epicenter on February 6. Image by VOA
Devastating Major Earthquakes Hit Turkey And Syria, Causing Severe Damage In The Infrastructure
The news that two earthquakes, the first with a magnitude of 7.8 and the second with a magnitude of 7.4, hit Turkey and north-west of Syria on the morning of February 6, was ranked fourth on our list.
The devastating earthquake was described as "one of the most powerful earthquakes in at least a century", while the epicenter of the earthquake was designated as the town of Pazarcık in Kahramanmaraş. On 7 February, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has declared state of emergency for three months in the 10 affected provinces. The death toll reached 59,259 people with 122,007 injured people, and 297 people are missing.
At the time of this writing, the story received over 2,185 views.
Read more about devastating major earthquakes in Turkey and Syria.
Image courtesy of World Architecture Community (WAC)
8 Most Viewed Stories By WAC Country Editors/Reporters In 2022
Early February, the prominent and most-viewed architectural news of 2022, written by WAC Country Editors/Reporters in the WAC Country Editors/Reporters Program, ranked fifth on our list.
WAC's Country Reporters and Editors who penned the eight top articles include WAC Italy Country Reporter Antonello Magliozzi, WAC Taiwan Country Reporter Chaolee Kuo, WAC France Country Reporter Franklin Yemeli, WAC India Country Reporter Megha Balooni, WAC India Country Editor Pranati Satti and more.
At the time of this writing, the story received over 2,080 views.
Read more about 8 most viewed stories by WAC Country Editors/Reporters in 2022.
Turgut Polatel, courtesy of METU Urgent Design Studio
"I Want To Use My Knowledge And Experience For General Public" says Shigeru Ban
Sixth on our list is the lecture given by Pritzker Architecture Prize-winning architect Shigeru Ban at METU Faculty of Architecture in Ankara, Turkey. Hosted by METU Urgent Design Studio, the architect explained his desire to use his knowledge and experience not only for the privileged people, but also for the general public.
Ban said "I was disappointed in my profession as an architect". According to the architect, architecture has lost its way between power and money, rather than being useful to the general public. In addition, as part of his lecture, Ban presented his Paper Log House, a prototype of temporary housing unit designed for the victims of the Turkey-Syria earthquake.
At the time of this writing, the story received over 2,010 views.
Read more about Shigeru Ban's lecture at METU Faculty of Architecture.
Image © Alp Eren - Altkat Architectural Photography
Sculptural And Interactive Spaces Inform Islamic Artefacts At Museum Of Islamic Civilizations
Seventh on our list is the newly-opened Museum of Islamic Civilizations (MIC). The museum, whose interior architecture and scenography were designed by Istanbul-based architecture office do[x]architecture, brings a new perspective to how exploratory representation of more than 400 Islamic works can be presented through digital and interactive ways.
The 8,000-square-metre museum, which opened its doors last year in Çamlıca, Istanbul, are based on real Islamic references and enhanced with several interactive, digital and audio-visual installations throughout the interior spaces. Tree of Life, drawn in a sculptural tree-like huge structural column - which can be seen in the above picture, makes up the heart of the building.
At the time of this writing, the story received over 1,973 views.
Read more about Museum of Islamic Civilizations by do[x]architecture.
Image © Melike Altınışık Architects - MAA
Melike Altınışık Architects Designs A New Headquarters That Looks Like "An Open Eye" In Turkey
Currently under construction at site, Melike Altınışık Architects' project, which resembles an eye stuck between two fluid volumes, ranks eighth on our list of the most-read architectural news in our review of 2023.
Named NTPAO Headquarters, the new building will be the headquarters of the Turkish Petroleum A.O (TPAO), a national petroleum and natural gas company in Turkey. Situated within the Filyos Port area, Melike Altınışık Architects takes cues from the contextual references and the location of the site. The studio calls the design approach as "a threshold where the borders between land and sea, between past and future, between history and technology melts into each other at the western edge of Filyos Port."
At the time of this writing, the story received over 1,924 views.
Read more about NTPAO Headquarters by Melike Altınışık Architects.
View from a collapsed building in Iskenderun, Hatay. Photography by Çağlar Oskay via Unsplash
Reports Largely Reveal Poor Ground Conditions And Material Weaknesses In Turkey-Syria Earthquake
The Turkey-Syria earthquake reports prepared by the Union of Chambers of Turkish Engineers and Architects (TMMOB) and the Chamber of Civil Engineers (TMMOB) are in the ninth place in our list of the most-read architecture news of 2023.
According to the two reports, "unplanned urbanization, material weaknesses, insufficient inspection processes and illegal constructions" were largely the main factors of the extensive destruction in the Turkey-Syria earthquake. The first 89-page report, titled Earthquake Detection and Evaluation Report, by the Union of Chambers of Turkish Engineers and Architects, uncovered the first-hand observations and pre-assessments made in the earthquake regions. Another 16-page report, titled Kahramanmaras Pazarcik and Elbistan Earthquake Pre-assessment Report, published by the Chamber of Civil Engineers (TMMOB), supported the findings and pre-assessments published by the Chamber of Architects.
At the time of this writing, the story received over 1,884 views.
Image © Aks Construction Company
Hair Transplant Clinic By Slash Architects Combines Technology And Nature To Create "Digital Forest"
Last on our list is the Hair Transplant Clinic designed by Istanbul-based Slash Architects. The new hair transplant clinic combines technology and nature elements in fluid lines in Istanbul, Turkey.
Situated in the third floor of a residence building in Yalı Ataköy Complex, the clinic features green-colored flooring, white curved lines and fluid-form barisol lightings on the ceiling together with a series of artworks. The interior was described as "a technological healing place", where both technological and natural elements are brought together to create a "digital forest".
At the time of this writing, the story received over 1,651 views.
Read more about Hair Transplant Clinic By Slash Architects.
Top image in the article: Emergency Service of Ukraine conducts search and rescue work in Hatay Province (February 15, 2023). Image by State Emergency Service of Ukraine (CC BY 4.0) via Wikimedia Common.