Archi Scarlet

Historic Famagusta: A Millennium in Words and Images

2012-01-02T08:19:00.002Z

Date: October 4, 2012 - 09:00 - October 6, 2012 - 18:35
Building: Nador u. 9, Faculty Tower
Event type: Conference
Event audience: Open to the Public

Historic Famagusta: A Millennium in Words and Images
The Center for Eastern Mediterranean Studies (CEMS) at Central European University in Budapest and The School of Art, Design and Media (ADM) at Singapore’s Nanyang Technological University, is pleased to announce Historic Famagusta: A Millennium in Words and Images, a conference held on October 4-6, 2012 at Central European University, Budapest.

From as early as the tenth century a surprisingly large number of travel accounts, histories, poems, fiction narratives, theatre plays, administrative accounts as well as maps, prints and miniatures about Famagusta have come down to us. These texts and images can be found all over Europe and the Near East from the pens and brushes of Christian, Muslim and Jewish authors and artists. The recent resurgence of scholarly interest in pre-1960 Cyprus calls for studies and academic discussions on this vast corpus.

The aim of the conference is to create a platform for historians, art historians, and literary critics to share their studies on textual and visual representations of Famagusta between 1000 CE and 1960. By investigating medieval, early modern and modern Famagusta in text and images, the conference will serve as an opportunity for an interdisciplinary dialogue among the participants, with the hope of broadening perspectives on Famagusta’s cultural and material legacy.

Specific, thematically aligned papers will also be selected for an edited book of the same name.

List of Presenters and Papers
The titles below have been organised in a rough chronological way and are not arranged in the order in which they will appear in the conference.

Pierre-Vincent Claverie – Bishop Stephen I of Famagusta and his time (1244-1259).

Phillipe Trelat – Nicosia & Famagusta: Two capitals for one kingdom?

David Jacoby – Refugees from Acre in Famagusta around 1300

Nicholas Coureas – Artisans and craftsmen in Famagusta in the notarial deeds of Lamberto di Sambuceto and Giovanni da Rocha, 1296-1310

Marianne Sághy – Piety, politics and propaganda: Philippe de Mézières in Cyprus

Margit Mersch – Donors and politics after 1291: The development of hybrid ecclesiastical architecture in 14th century Famagusta

Michele Bacci – Identity markers in the art of 14th and 15th century Famagusta

Ulrike Ritzerfeld – Keeping the Holy Land in view: The Carmelite church in Famagusta and its decoration

Maria Paschalis – Assimilation in Famagusta: the evidence from the mural decoration at the churches of the Latin regular clergy

Thomas Kaffenberger – Harmonizing the sources: Textual, pictorial and material evidence contributing to a new insight into the construction history and original appearance of the orthodox Episcopal churches of Hagios Georgios and Hagios Epiphanios.

Ege Uluca Tumer – An unknown town gate and a church in Famagusta, Santa Maria de la Cava and Porta di Cava, in the historic texts from the 14th to the 16th centuries

Luca Zavagno – The lost origins of Famagusta: The churches of the Greek quarter.

Michel Balard – Les Soudoyers de Famagouste Genoise au XVe Siècle

Gianni Perbellini – Famagusta: The two wooden models in the Maritime Museum in the Arsenal of Venice

Benjamin Arbel – Famagusta as a centre of regional trade during the Venetian period

Allan Langdale – The image of empire: Stephano Gibellino’s print of the siege of Famagusta, 1571

Marios Hadjianastasis – Ladders, petards and responsibility: retracing the failed Tuscan attempt at capturing Famagusta, 1607 – 2012.

Will Spates – Orientalizing Famagusta on the English stage, 1573-1628

Tamás Kiss – The siege of Famagusta and its influence on Selim II's public image.

Vera Constantini – The city of Famagusta in early Ottoman sources

Michael Walsh – Cornelis de Bruyn’s copperplate and his fear of ‘turning Turks’ in seventeenth century Famagusta

Mehmet Tütüncü – Two Dutch travellers’ accounts of Famagusta in the 17th Century

Ünver Rüstem – Imports from Istanbul: Ottoman exiles to Famagusta and their tombs

Yurdal Cihangir – Famagusta in Namik Kemal’s letters and writings during his exile.

Lucie Bonato – The French rediscover Famagusta (1878-1912)

Andrekos Varnava – Famagusta during the Great War: From backwater to bustling

Jan Asmussen – Bertram John Weston and the creation of Cypriots

Danny Goldman – Famagusta 1946-49: Refugee camps and confiscated ships

Gül İnanç – William Dreghorn’s vision of Famagusta.

Zehra Cağnan – ‘A silent witness’: Seismic activity and the structural integrity of Saint Nicholas Cathedral Famagusta, Cyprus.

Werner Schmidt & Dan Frodsham – Saving the martyrs: The conservation of the Forty Martyrs of Sebaste in the church of Ss. Peter & Paul.

Hacer Başarır – The Kertikli Hamam: An historic building in danger

Hülya Yüceer – Recent preservation initiatives for the fortification walls of Famagusta by UNDP-PFF

Anthony Hyland – Urbs Famosa et Augusta: The mediaeval walled city of Famagustas claim to World Heritage Status

Carlos Jaramillo – Famagusta: A nomination strategy for World Heritage Status

Gazimağusa Belediye Binası Docomomo Türkiye

2011-12-20T10:19:00.007Z

Gazimağusa Belediye Binası (Famagusta Municipality Hall), an important building in the Modern history of Cyprus, was presented by myself (the poster designed with Devrim Yücel Besim) in the recent Docomomo Türkiye event in the University of Mersin.
The building is especially important, as according to our research, it is one of the first implemented buildings which is a product of an architectural competition in the Modern history of Cyprus. Below is the information related to the event (in Turkish).

Modernizmin Yerel Açılımları - VII. Modern Mimari Proje Sunumları ve Sergisi’ nde Kuzey Kıbrıs’ tan Modern yapılar da vardı.

Dr. Devrim Yücel Besim, Dr. Hacer Başarır (Doğu Akdeniz Üniversitesi, İç Mimarlık Bölümü Öğretim Üyesi) ve Yük. Müh. Mimar Ayer Kaşif, 16-18 Aralık 2011 tarihlerinde Mersin Üniversitesi’ nde düzenlenen VII. Do.co.mo.mo.tr Proje Sunum ve Sergisi’ nde yer aldılar.

Kuzey Kıbrıs’ taki modern mimari örneklerin ele alındığı üç poster yaklaşık 70 farklı proje ile birlikte sergilendi. Sunulan ilk iki bildiri Kuzey Kıbrıs’ tan önemli yönetim yapıları olan Lefkoşa’ daki Meclis Binası ve Gazimağusa’daki Belediye binasıydı. Konut türlerine örnek olarak ise Kaşif apartmanı projesi, iç mimar Mücessem Öder tarafından sunuldu.
DOCOMOMO (DOcumentation and COnservation of Buildings, Sites and Neighborhoods of the MOdern MOvement) Türkiye çalışma grubunun organize ettiği ve her yıl tekrarlanan etkinliklerde, erken 20. yüzyıldan yaklaşık 1970’lere kadar devam eden süreçte üretilmiş olan modern mimarlık örnekleri görsel ve yazılı belgelerle tanıtılmaktadır. Kurumun asıl amacı, Modern mimarlığının bugüne kadar belgelenememiş olan örneklerine, özellikle de Ankara, İstanbul ve İzmir gibi büyük kentler dışındaki üretime dikkat çekmesi ve oluşacak yeni bakış açılarıyla dönem mimarlığının yeniden yorumlanacağı bir tartışma ortamı yaratılmasıdır.
Geçen yıl Eskişehir’ de düzenlenen etkinlikte yine Dr. Devrim Yücel Besim, Dr. Hacer Başarır ve Yük. Müh. Mimar Ayer Kaşif, Kuzey Kıbrıs’ ı temsilen Atatürk Kültür Merkezi ve Çıkartma Anıtı projeleriyle yer almışlardı.

A presentation on 'Protecting Historic Famagusta, Cyprus'

2011-12-14T12:46:00.003Z

Dr. Michael J. K. Walsh, (an art historian at Eastern Mediterranean University in Famagusta for nearly a decade,currently teaches at Nanyang Technologoical University in Singapore) is going to give a presentation on the Historic Famagusta in New York on Friday January 6, 2012 (Organised by the WMF).

'Located along the busy shipping lanes of the eastern Mediterranean, the Cypriot port of Famagusta rose to prominence following the fall of Acre in 1291, and rivaled Constantinople and Venice as a center of maritime commerce. In the centuries that followed, Famagusta was ruled by a succession of conquerors including French, Greek, Genoese, Venetian, Ottoman, and British, creating an astonishingly varied artistic and architectural legacy. The Historic Walled City of Famagusta was included on the 2008 and 2010 World Monuments Watch, drawing attention to the beauty and significance of the famed city and the critical conservation and maintenance needs to protect the historic structures. In 2008, WMF conducted assessments of key structures in Famagusta and convened a roundtable to better understand conservation efforts undertaken in the recent past, and conservation challenges to be tackled immediately before important resources are lost. WMF supported a condition assessment of murals in six fourteenth-century churches in Famagusta and is currently organizing a conservation program for summer 2012.'

KONUT KURULTAYI III - “Kıbrıs’ta Konut: Planlama, Tasarım ve Uygulama”

2011-12-06T09:41:00.003Z

KONUT KURULTAYI III - “Kıbrıs’ta Konut: Planlama, Tasarım ve Uygulama”
09-10 Mart 2012, Atatürk Kültür Merkezi, Lefkoşa, Kuzey Kıbrıs
Konut ve yaşama alanları, mimarlık ve planlamanın en temel ilgi alanı ve bütün tasarım ölçeklerinin ortak paydasıdır. Belki, tam da bu nedenle konutun sorgulanması hiç bitmez ve konut çoğu kez bir ‘sorun’dur; yapma çevre ile ilgili her sorun gibi planlama, tasarım ve uygulama üçlüsü ile ilişkilendirilerek tartışılır. Plancılar, mimarlar, tasarımcıların yanısıra diğer meslek gruplarının, hukukçular, uygulamacılar ve politikacıların, planlama, mimarlık ve tasarım dışında farklı bilgi alanlarının (ekoloji, sosyoloji, psikoloji vbg.) ve tüm bu alanlarda çalışan araştırmacıların yolu hep ‘konut’la kesişir.
Doğu Akdeniz Üniversitesi (DAÜ) Mimarlık Fakültesi, Konut Eğitim Araştırma Danışmanlık Merkezi (HERA-C) ve KTMMOB Mimarlar Odası tarafından düzenlenecek olan III. Konut Kurultayı, “Kıbrıs’ta Konut: Planlama, Tasarım ve Uygulama” anatemasıyla, 09-10 Mart 2012 tarihlerinde, Kuzey Kıbrıs Türk Cumhuriyeti’nde, Lefkoşa Atatürk Kültür Merkezi’nde gerçekleştirilecektir.

Konut Kurultayı’nın alt başlıkları:

1-Kentleşme, Göç, Mobilite ve Konut Politikaları,
2-Konut Alanları Planlaması: Değişim, Dönüşüm ve Sürdürülebilirlik,
3-Konut Mimarisi ve Tasarımı: Kullanıcı / İmaj-anlam-beğeni / Estetikleşme / Tasarımda geri besleme / Bilgisayar kullanımı,
4-Konut ve Toplusal Çevre,
5-Konut ve Ekolojik Çevre,
6-Konut ve Teknolojik / Ekonomik Erişebilirlik,
7-Değişen Hane Halkı Yapısı ve Konut Piyasası,
8-Konut Stoğu: Üretim ve Pazarlama / Kır-Kent / Planlı-Plansız / Tek-Toplu Konut / Tip Konut-Konut Tipolojileri / Geneleksel, Yöresel-Modern Konut / Yeni-Yenileşmiş Konut / Geçici Konut-İkinci Konut / Herkes için Konut.

Kurultaya, Türkiye’den konut konusunda uzmanlar – Prof.Dr. Ahsen Özsoy, Prof.Dr. Ali Cengizkan, Prof.Dr. Hülya Turgut, Prof.Dr. Şengül Öymen Gür, davetli konuşmacı olarak katılacaklardır.

Kurultay hakkında daha fazla bilgi için arch.emu.edu.tr/konutkurultayi3 web adresine erişebilir veya konutkurultayi3@emu.edu.tr elektronik posta adresine yazabilirsiniz.

Old City of Dubrovnik: the city walls

2011-01-09T15:25:00.006Z

The walled city of Dubrovnik, a listed World Heritage Site of UNESCO since 1979 and extended in 1994 after the restoration works carried out following the war.
The city of Dubrovnik is a significant case for my research especially because it can illustrate problems of heritage conservation in conflicting nationalisms and the power of heritage in national identity building. Moreover this city can showcase the effectiveness of the World Heritage Convention.

GAU IDES421 STUDENTS' VISIT TO KALAVAC VILLAGE

2011-01-08T17:00:00.004Z

As a part of the IDES 421 Restoration course, we have visited the Kalavac Village on the 12th of November 2010. Students have taken photographs and measurments of different buildings and furniture. Accordingly drawings of the existing have been prepared and currently they are working on detailed models of this distinctive Turkish Cypriot village. An exhibition will be organised in coordination with the local authorities of the village in the following semester.

GAU Department of Interior Design participated in ITU Meeting

2011-01-04T11:21:00.004Z

As the Girne American University Department of Interior Design, we have participated in the 3rd National Meeting of Interior Design Departments' Exhibition in Istanbul Technical University with the above poster. The poster consists of projects of the GAU Interior Design Department students. The exhibition will be open in the following 2 months. More information can be found here.

DoCoMoMo Türkiye Ulusal Çalışma Grubu Poster Sunuşları

2010-12-07T19:21:00.007Z

(6th National Meeting of DOCOMOMO-Turkey (DOcumentation and COnservation of Buildings, Sites and Neighborhoods of the Modern MOvement), took place in Eskisehir Anadolu University, 2-4 December 2010. As members of the Girne American University; Devrim Yücel Besim, Hacer Başarır and Ayer Kaşif, we have presented two posters. Below is the Turkish explanation of the event.)

DOCOMOMO - Türkiye Mimarlığında Modernizmin Yerel Açılımları IV. Proje Sunumları ve Sergisi’ nde Girne Amerikan Üniversitesi de vardı.
Mimarlık Tasarım ve Güzel Sanatlar Fakültesi İç Mimarlık öğretim üyelerinden Devrim Yücel Besim, Hacer Başarır ve Ayer Kaşif, birlikte ürettikleri iki bildiri ile Eskişehir Anadolu Üniversitesi’ nde 2-4 Aralık 2010 tarihlerinde düzenlenen DOCOMOMO - Türkiye Mimarlığında Modernizmin Yerel Açılımları IV. Proje Sunum ve Sergisi’ nde yer aldılar. İlk bildiride Kuzey Kıbrıs’ tan önemli kamusal bir yapı olan ve tasarımı Mimar Burhan Atun’ a ait “Atatürk Kültür Merkezi” akt arılırken, ikinci bildiride Kıbrıs Türk halkı için simgesel değeri olan “Barış ve Özgürlük anıtı” sunuldu. Türkiye’ nin farklı bölgelerinden Modern Mimari örneklerin sunulduğu ve yeni açılımların tartışıldığı etkinlik boyunca hem akademik hem de sosyal açıdan oldukça verimli bir ortam yaratıldı. Ayrıca açılışını Eskişehir Büyükşehir Belediye Başkanı Prof. Dr. Yılmaz Büyükerşen’ in yaptığı sergide yaklaşık 70 farklı projeyle yoğun bir katılım vardı.

DOCOMOMO (DOcumentation and COnservation of Buildings, Sites and Neighborhoods of the Modern MOvement), kamunun dikkatini 20. yüzyılda öne çıkan Modernizm’e çekmek ve “modern mimarlık, tasarım ve şehir plancılığı ürünlerini belgelemek ve korumak” amacıyla 1990 yılında oluşturulan uluslararası bir kuruluştur. Türkiye Çalışma Grubu ise 2002 yılında kurulmuş ve böylece Türkiye’deki modern mimarlık örneklerinin belgelenmesi ve korunması amaçlı bir girişim başlatılmıştır.

Bu yıl Eskişehir Anadolu Üniversitesi Mimarlık ve Mühendislik Fakültesi’ nin ev sahipliğinde yapılan DOCOMOMO - Proje Sunumları “Kamu yapıları, Eğitim yapıları ve Sanayi yapıları” olarak 3 ana grupta gerçekleşmiştir. Kamu yapılarının anlatıldığı ilk oturumda sunumlarını yapan Yrd. Doç. Dr. Devrim Yücel Besim ve Dr. Hacer Başarır bundan sonra yapılacak olan DOCOMOMO etkinlikleri için ev sahipliği yapmak istediklerini belirterek tüm katılımcıları Kuzey Kıbrıs’ a davet ettiler.

Two recent reviews related to 'The Venice Charter Revisited: Modernism, Conservation and Tradition in the 21st Century'

2010-06-17T14:49:00.004+01:00

Two recent reviews related to the book 'The Venice Charter Revisited: Modernism, Conservation and Tradition in the 21st Century' published on; 'Traditional Building' and Conservation South Asia.

2009-11-23T09:25:00.002Z

The Venice Charter Revisited: Modernism, Conservation and Tradition in the 21st Century
Editor: Matthew Hardy
Date Of Publication: Nov 2008
Isbn13: 9781847186881Isbn: 1847186882

Proud to be one of the contributors of this book edited by Dr Matthew Hardy.
More information can be found here.

Responsibilities and Opportunities in Architectural Conservation: Theory, Education, and Practice (CSAAR Press)

2009-05-26T21:02:00.004+01:00

The proceedings of CSAAR '08 Conference is now published as a book.

Title: Responsibilities and Opportunities in Architectural Conservation: Theory, Education, and Practice (Paperback)
Editors: Salim Elwazani, Shatha Malhis, Jamal Al-Qawasmi
Pages: 496 (vol I), 480 (vol II)
Published: November 2008
Language: English
Book Dimensions: 17X24 cm
ISBN: 978-9957-8602-6-4 (Volume I)
ISBN: 978-9957-8602-7-1 (Volume II)
Click here to order the title. Title also can be ordered from amazon.com and www.alibris.com
View table of contents of volume I
View table of contents of volume II.

My paper entitled "Conservation and Contemporary Design: Complementary or Contradictory Activities?", where different case-studies from the walled cities of Urbino and Famagusta/Gazimagusa were discussed, can be found in the second volume.

Yoros Castle, Anadolu Kavagi

2009-05-22T08:57:00.004+01:00

Kapalı Çarşı (Grand Bazaar), istanbul

2009-05-20T09:24:00.008+01:00

source

(author)

Dating back to the 15th century, the Grand Bazaar of Istanbul can be considered as a small town consisting of more than 60 streets and 4000 shops.

Archaeological Sites as an Integral Part of Cultural Landscape

2009-04-08T15:02:00.006+01:00

A very interesting presentation that I was lucky enough to be present during the CSAAR '08 Conference by Mirjana Roter, Gordana Milosevic and Ana Radiojevic from the University of Belgrade, Serbia. The paper was based on some student projects aiming at integration of contemporary design with archaeological sites.

THE STONES OF FAMAGUSTA

2009-04-05T15:31:00.003+01:00

The Stones of Famagusta, a film about the architecture of the walled city of Famagusta is a must-see film for anyone interested in architectural background of the island as well as in Byzantine, French Gothic and Venetian architecture of the period. The film was also screened at the prestigious Santa Barbara International Film Festival in Santa Barbara, California.

Famagusta/Gazimagusa -the city walls & the moat

2009-04-05T14:51:00.005+01:00

Design Project: Museum Extension and Redevelopment

2009-03-20T15:12:00.005Z

Master of Arts degree of Interior Design, September 2004.

During my MA studies, the hypothesis of the study was “to create a dialogue between the past and contemporary new design and to filter it through my vision in the museum/ exhibition space.”One of the objectives of my MA studies was to create a dialogue with the history of the building and with the place.

I was designed the project brief as above and will continue publishing about the project in this blog.

An office table

2009-03-14T11:38:00.003Z

Being a big fan of Cem Yilmaz, it was amazing to see that he also has a good taste in interiors. You can find more info in this month's Marie Claire Maison. I love the wooden meeting table with metal legs.

Forms of Nature

2009-03-04T23:06:00.005Z

whenever I need a piece of mind!...

Capri Island

2009-03-02T15:11:00.001Z

A poscard from Capri which exactly illustrates the island!

Enterances to a walled city- Valletta

2009-02-08T23:03:00.003Z

The most-disputed main entrance: The city gate

The Victoria Gate.

Palladio in London

2009-01-31T19:27:00.005Z

Andrea Palladio
Andrea Palladio: His Life and Legacy
Royal Academy of Arts,
London
W1J 0BD
Starts 31/01/2009
Until 13/04/2009

more info can be found here

Istanbul- the capital of culture 2010-

2009-01-28T14:16:00.010Z

Here are some of my favorite posters designed for 2010 Istanbul Capital of Culture.

Hagia Sophia (Ayasofya), Istanbul.

2009-01-28T13:38:00.009Z

Hagia Sophia from south (source)

According to an article appeared on NTVMSNBC, as a part of the preparation process for Istanbul -capital of culture in 2010, the scaffolding that has been there for some 16 years will be removed. 2010 should be the best year to visit Istanbul...

so, how's research?

2009-01-27T14:59:00.001Z

Tour Eiffel and Paris by Robert Delaunay (1911)

2009-01-24T13:13:00.001Z

Oil on canvas, Pompidou Centre.

Peace Monument, Paris

2009-01-23T23:59:00.005Z

The monument was created by Clara Halter and Jean Michel Wilmotte in 2000.

Ron Arad in Pompidou Centre (2)

2009-01-22T18:15:00.005Z

Pyramide du Louvre by I.M.Pei

2009-01-21T23:32:00.003Z

The Pei Pyramids were built in 1989 in the courtyard of the Louvre Museum, since then they have been a great source of inspration for anyone interested in contemporary interventions within historic contexts...

Halle de la Grand Place by Francis Soler

2009-01-20T23:19:00.007Z

This market building project, designed by the architect Francis Soler, stretches alongside the main square of Bethune surrounded by facades which were rebuilt after 1918 as replicas of earlier facades and located at the foot of a 14th century belltower listed in 2005 as a UNESCO WHS.

Ron Arad in Pompidou Centre (1)

2009-01-19T22:32:00.006Z

Ron Arad's first big solo exhibition in France, his current Pompidou Centre Show, will be ending on the 16th of March 2009. It will tour to MoMA in New York in Summer 2009 and go on to the Stedelijk Museum in Amsterdam in 2010.

Arad claims that formal distinctions between art, architecture and design are obsolute - he defines himself as a "no discipline" artist.

two twentytwo (Valletta)

2009-01-13T22:44:00.007Z

One of the coolest transformation of historic defence structure projects: two twentytwo 2 22 by Chris Briffa Architects. Architects' definition of the concept can be found here. The project was completed in the year 2007. Its upsetting to see that there are still so many walled cities where interventions are not permitted within the city walls...

For more information on 2 22 click.

The Unusual Facade of the Church of Gesù Nuovo, Naples

2009-01-12T19:47:00.005Z

Originally built as a palace during the 1470s, the Church of Gesù Nuovo's facade was preserved during the transformation of the building.

Galleria Umberto I

2009-01-10T20:41:00.011Z

Galleria Umberto I (built during 1885s) by Emanuele Rocco.

Restoration of what?

2009-01-07T16:15:00.011Z

According to an article appeared on the Guardian website "officials move closer" to hanging giant electronic advertising screens from the St Mark's Square's (Venice) elegant palaces to pay for restoration work! A failed attempt -experienced many times elsewhere- which will destroy the urban space for 'restoration'.

Borusan Art and Music House - Istanbul

2009-01-06T22:54:00.005Z

An old 'shell' for a new core... A re-use project by GAD in the historic Beyoglu district of Istanbul.

Valletta- the WALLS

2009-01-05T23:58:00.002Z

Size Matters...

2009-01-04T19:31:00.004Z

Small House for Big People!
Apparently this house -red in the middle- is the smallest one in Amsterdam [w=1.20 m].

Decolonizing Architecture

2009-01-03T13:45:00.013Z

Questioning the future of Israeli colonies in Palestine; an acute architectural and urbanistic problem.

Scenarios for the transformation of Israeli Settlements.
A project by the London/Bethlehem based architectural studio of Sandi Hilal, Alessandro Petti and Eyal Weizman.

"Two case-studies; the settlement of P'sagot, a hill near Ramallah and the abandoned millitary camp of Oush Grab, near Bethlahem. The first project is an imagined set of scenarios and the second, a real battleground between Palestinians who want to turn it into a public park and Israeli settlers who try to claim it, heavily armed and escorted by the Israeli army."

Unfortunately, with the ongoing war in Gaza, seems like a lot more similar projects will be carried out in the future of the region...

Winners of the Competition for Basque Cultural Center

2009-01-02T23:11:00.006Z

I was surfing the internet for inspration regarding re-use projects within historic structures and areas, came across the Design Team's winner project for the Architectural Renovation of Tabakalera, [located in the city of Donostia-San Sebastian, the capital of the Gipuzkoa territory, in the Basque Country, next to the border between Spain and France].

The project is rather modest, [not really insprational] or 'conservative' in the sense that it hesitates how to stand in relation to the extant structure. The designers description that the project 'is characterized by its respect for the existing building' appears as a common excuse for rather spiritless designs in historic structures.

Welcome to 2009!

2009-01-01T20:37:00.005Z

war; global economic crisis; unemployment and etc...

Although 2009 does not seem very promising to many, cities around the world celebrated the new year with fireworks... and London was beautiful...

Königsplain, Brussels

2008-12-30T20:44:00.007Z

"Chair" by Ece Eldek

2008-12-26T00:06:00.004Z

One of the winner posters of Good 08: "Chair" by Ece Eldek. For more of the cool stuff click(http://good50x70.org/2008/gallery/gallery06/).

Facadism- as supported and funded in UNESCO World Heritage Sites

2008-12-24T15:16:00.006Z

According to news on BBC (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/7798139.stm), in Brussels the council wants to either force landlords to restore derelict buildings or buy them up itself, to upgrade areas surrounding the Grand Place. Experince shows that, focusing on physical environment and its static preservation through enforcement will not encourage long term liveliness of historic environments. Rather, a steril appearance and a deserted urban quarter (outside the tourism seasons) might be promoted.

A new hope for Hasankeyf

2008-12-22T22:33:00.005Z

Hasankeyf deserves to be designated as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.
Lets hope that the new developments will make Turkish Government understand that Ilisu project is a mistake!

Brussels Biennial 2008: Contemporary Art in the City

2008-12-09T21:35:00.007Z

the exhibition entitled "Fuck Architects" by mounir fatmi is an interesting one discussing architects and philosophers in relation to their education and background and how they repeat the things thought rather than actually creating something new?! The exhibition will be on until 04.01.09

London...

2008-06-25T15:28:00.001+01:00

a never-changing city!!!

a Manchester Art Gallery Exhibition...

2008-06-23T22:56:00.001+01:00

Take a seat...

Giancarlo de Carlo & Urbino Interventions

2008-06-19T22:40:00.005+01:00

The walled city of Urbino is an interesting city where you feel like you are in an artificial time or that you walked into a fairy tale... Things that you dont expect to see might pop up anytime...

Castelvecchio and Carlo Scarpa

2008-06-18T11:39:00.000+01:00

Castelvecchio Museum in Verona is a largely published building as it can be considered as a pioneer work of historic building remodellings. After more than four decades of its completion, it is interesting to see how influential the building still is. Especially the way it challenges the value of a straight-forward 'authenticity' concept is noteworthy.