COMMEMORATION
Chamber of Architects’ Great Loss, Günhan Danışman / Aydan Erim, Ahmet Ersoy, Tuğçe Selin Tağmat, Louise Cox, Jordi Farrando, Juhani Katainen, Gaetan Siew, Lisa Siola, Helena Knifić Schaps
Chamber of Architects has lost one of its beloved members, Günhan Danışman, who was the symbol of devotion, hardworking and solidarity and who was the standing figure as well as the intellectual mind of the Chamber. In this collection, we have a change to commemorate Danışman’s personal and professional career in the words of his colleagues and friends. 
 
EXHIBITION
Emin Onat, Arif Hikmet Koyunoğlu, Wooden İstanbul: Three Exhibitions, Three Books, Three Concepts / Ali Cengizkan
Having started in 2008, especially as a contribution to the 100th anniversary of the organisation of the Turkish Architects, a series of events were organised consisting of various symposiums, exhibitions, meetings and presentations. These events, which should be regarded as precious gifts to the architectural historiography, also extended till the first months of 2009. 
 
EVENTS
DOCOMOMO_tr National Group’s Meeting in Bursa: Local Unfoldings of the Modernism of Turkish Architecture IV/ Neslihan Türkün Dostoğlu
The event organised by the DOCOMOMO_tr National Group took place in Bursa, in December 26-27, 2008. Besides including a session on the “Preservation of the Cultural and Natural Resources Board in Turkey and the Preservation of the Modern Architectural Heritage”, the meeting drew attention to the undocumented examples of the 20th century Turkish architecture.
 
European Winter School in Architectural Design EWSAD 2009 / Esin Boyacıoğlu
EWSAD is being organised by Gazi University, Department of Architecture since 2003. This year the event took place between in the first days of February 2009 in Ankara. The students analysed the İskitler Industrial District under the theme of the meeting, which was set also as design problem defined as: “Lost spaces” 
 
ARCHITECTURAL PROFESSION
2008 ACE Sector Survey Results are Announced / Edited and Translated by Tuğçe Selin Tağmat
The results of the survey being conducted by the Architects’ Council of Europe (ACE) to gather information on the general profile of the architectural profession in Europe since 2007, are announced. It is supposed that this survey will not only be useful in protecting architectural profession and public utility in the face of EU regulations in related fields, but also be of great significance for the accumulation of particular information about the profession throughout Europe.
 
FILE: CHANGING CONCEPTS AND NEW CONTENTS IN LOCAL GOVERNANCE:
The Quality of Governance Lies in the Liveability of the Cities
 
The attitudes and policies of the local governance towards issues related with cities and the major concepts that lead these policies are the most common discussion topics of the current agenda. There are some major policies resulting from the collaboration of the local governance with the central authorities in recent years. The opening of various valuable urban tracts to speculation in the name of “urban regeneration” projects; Housing Development Administration of Turkey (TOKİ), large scale housing projects that lack the necessary qualities related with human values and needs; the building of various city roads, highways, under pass and over passes that don’t base on an overall rational transportation plan and which damage the existing distinctive character of our cities; are some of the striking examples of this sort. As opposed to the approach in 1930’s, based on the significance of plan making in every stage of urban intervention, the period after 1950’s has presented these major public needs like housing, transportation, infrastructure (water and sewage) as political assurances merely related with the promises made in the course of elections.  What these policies usually disregard is the most important fact that should be in the centre of all discussions, which is to be able to provide the necessary conditions to ‘inhabit a place’. The key approach of the 2010 should have been the “Project for the improvement of urban quality in defending the people’s rights to live an honourable life”. As Tekeli amply states, it is of utmost necessity for us to enrich the meaning of the concept of “liveability”, which is a better starting point in discussing the issues in reference to the quality of life than insisting on discussing the concept of “sustainability”. 
 
COMPETITION
Memorial Design for the Sarıkamış Operation Ideas Competition
The ideas competition aimed at achieving a memorial design in the memory of the Sarıkamış Operation and its casualties. In the evaluation process the operation was regarded as a significant turning point in the course of “nationalisation” more than merely a defeat and the idea of “peace” was regarded as an important input to the competition. 
 
COMPETITION REVIEW
The Reminding of the Sarıkamış Competition: The Needle and the Awl / Güven Birkan
Being a jury member in the competition, the author comments on the evaluation process of competitions, especially the ones that are subject to designing memorials, like in Sarıkamış, by stressing a series of issues like the way the main topic is being evaluated, the manner of the jury and the colloquium. He further remarks on our expectations from interdisciplinary competitions and the method of reporting, by constantly reminding the significance of the competitions in the architectural milieu.
 
COMPETITION
Two Stage National Competition for the Preservation of Kayseri’s Inner Castle and Turning it into an Art and Culture Centre
The two stage national competition for the preservation and revitalisation of the Kayseri’s Inner Castle aimed at achieving a plan, which can enliven the socio-cultural qualities of the existing urban space and bring out new innovative solutions for different usages.
 
COMPETITION
Urban Design Competition for a Sub-Centre in Küçükçekmece District
The competition aimed at creating a sub-centre in İstanbul’s Küçükçekmece district, with nearly 800 thousand population, which answers the criteria and standards of contemporary urban planning and design principles and which creates an identity to the district and carries a sensible approach to the existing environment.
 
ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN
Two Journeys to Jerusalem and Two Buildings / Esin Boyacıoğlu
Jewish architect Moshe Safdie had designed the two most striking buildings of the Holocaust in Jerusalem, one being the Holocaust History Museum and the latter is the Children’s Memorial. While telling her spiritual and corporeal spatial experiences in these two buildings, the author also provides the reader an architectural criticism.   
 
URBAN TRANSFORMATION
Urban Transportation in Sulukule: State Sponsored Gentrification: / Özlem Güzey
Sulukule Urban Transportation Project is one of the most common examples of gentrification in Turkey. The author criticises the awkward situation created by the planning approach, which doesn’t pay any attention to the current customs and needs of Romanians, who have shared and transformed the same urban space for nearly thousand years. In the words of author, the Sulukule plan, not only creates a break in the social and cultural continuity, but also deepens the social isolation and alienation in the city.
 
Unbounded Autonomous Planners’ (STOP) Enterprise: “Another Sulukule is Possible”
Including instructors, professors, experts, activists and students from various disciplines, STOP is a collaborative enterprise of people, who have come together in their common interest to find alternative solutions for Sulukule. The group, consisting of nearly 30 people, who have met while working on similar problems related with Sulukule, have declared an alternative plan for the possible future of the region.
 
TECHNOLOGY
Building Information Modelling Technology in Architecture / Şule Taşlı Pektaş
Analysing the computer based design tools representing the latest generation building information modelling systems, the author points out the significant differences of these modelling programmes in reference to other computer based drawing systems. She furthermore provides suggestions for overcoming the obstacles in using these systems more widely in the building sector. 
 
ARCHITECTURE OF THE REPUBLICAN PERIOD
Search for Identity in Anatolian Cities Bearing Central–Provincial Dilemmas and the Architectural Heritage of the Republican Period / Emel Kayın 
Following a modern progressive development line in the early Republican period, Anatolian cities, have started to regain a provincial character after 1950’s. The author argues that bringing the discussions on the architectural heritage of the Republican period to the current agenda can trigger new beginnings and an enthusiasm for our provincial cities.   
 
MEA ARCHITECTURA MEA CULPA
Bright Heads, Ferro Concrete Heads / Gürhan Tümer
“On the one side there are people with shining bright heads. Among these people there are politicians and architects. On the other side, however, there are wooden heads, stone heads, concrete and even ferro concrete heads. Among these people there are also politicians and architects.”