During my time as a consultant to İstanbulSMD, the Istanbul Association of Architects in Private Practice, of which I am an honorary member, I developed What Is Architecture For? and co-curated the conference with Ertuğ Uçar, co-founder of TEĞET Architecture. I also hosted the conference and served as moderator for the day.
We developed the programme in the aftermath of the destruction and loss of life caused by the Kahramanmaraş earthquakes of 6 February 2023, at a time when we were questioning architecture’s place, meaning and social responsibility. Our aim was to explore the profession’s potential through different experiences and create space for new perspectives and exchange.
Held at Sofitel Istanbul Taksim on 21 February 2024, the conference’s six sessions addressed architecture’s role in recovery, rebuilding, alternative construction methods and the value of design. Vitruvius’s principles of firmness, utility and beauty provided the conceptual framework.
