Yunt Talks #3: Pınar Erkan

The city, which has been the representation area of civilization since ancient times, appears as a phenomenon whose borders become blurred with the constant change of the physical and social environment. Dynamics such as construction and infrastructure activities, population mobility, environmental sustainability concerns, economic developments and technological advances make it necessary to think about the city. The complex structure of the city shaped by different dynamics brings with it the need to redefine the city. Making this definition has the potential to both understand continuity and changes and project the future of the city while evaluating the development of the city from past to present.

"Where is the City?" by YUNT The aim of the talk program titled "Rethinking the Boundaries of the City" prepared within the scope of the exhibition will be to popularize the practices of thinking about the city in the sessions to be held under the moderation of Prof. Dr. Eva Şarlak. Within the scope of the talk program, speakers will discuss the borders of the city from different aspects. Each session will take place under a separate subheading and the participants will be contacted before the session. Reading suggestions will be shared.

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This speech, which will discuss the city through the transformation of Istanbul in its history, will focus on the city's II. It deals with the restoration and construction process that started after the conquest by Mehmet II, the developments until the 18th century, and the reflections of the westernization process on the city.

We see how the political and economic changes in the 19th century, especially the Tanzimat reforms, affected Istanbul and led to major changes in the architectural, urban and administrative structure of the city. In this process, new building types have emerged while preserving the traditional texture of the city.

It is understood that the historical texture of Istanbul is like a palimpsest that changes in layers, and understanding and solving the city is only possible by understanding and interpreting these layers.

Resume:

Pınar Erkan is a faculty member at Istanbul Gedik University, Faculty of Architecture and Design, Department of Architecture.

He received his master's and doctorate degrees from Istanbul Technical University, Department of Architectural History, in the 19th century. He received his name for his studies on non-Muslim and missionary schools in the 19th century.

In his studies, he focuses on 19th century architecture and urban history, early 20th century Turkish architecture, and the architectural and urban history of Istanbul, especially Kadıköy and Galata-Beyoğlu.

In addition to Gedik University, he continues his activities by lecturing in the field of architectural history at ITU Faculty of Architecture, writing a column in Newspaper Kadıköy, and preparing and presenting the architectural program "From Wood to Concrete, from Mecidiye to Jetona", which has been broadcast on Açık Radyo every Tuesday morning for nine years. .

Reading/Source Recommendations:

• Erkan, P. (2019) "The Changing Built Environment and the Identity of Istanbul on the Bosphorus Coast from the 19th Century to the Present," Proceedings of the 2nd International Conference on Islamic Heritage , FSMV University, Istanbul.
• Çelik, Z. (2015) Changing Istanbul . Istanbul: İş Bankası Cultural Publications.