EXCURSION & WORKSHOP, WS 2013/2014
Dr. M. Reza Shirazi

Istanbul - Participatory Neighbourhood (Re)development in Istanbul

Istanbul is a city of rapid transformation. The recent protest demonstrations in Taksim Square have shown that redevelopment processes trigger many contestations and are fuelled by a broad discontent towards widespread deterioration, lack of investment and structural vulnerability in neighbourhoods, particularly former Gecekondu areas (English: build over night) that have developed informally and constitute around 70 % of the urban fabric. 

Students will study urban regeneration models applied to inner-city neighbourhoods of Istanbul. Two introductory teaching blocks will be held in Berlin to provide a theoretical overview to the subject. This will be followed by a 7-day field study excursion to Istanbul (end of November/begin of December: tbc) in which master students of TU Berlin and students from Istanbul Technical University ITU will conduct on-site field studies in one of the distressed neighbourhoods. The study includes analysing and understanding the dynamics of urban regeneration/renewal, examining possibilities and patterns of participation, and proposing solutions and new ideas towards more inclusive processes. 

The course is supported by the Participatory Urban Regeneration Programme - a three-year cooperation between the TUB’s Centre for Technology and Society (ZTG) and Habitat Unit (IfA). Travel cost to Istanbul will be provided to a limited number of TU Berlin Master students who are required to send an additional motivation letter and CV to Dr. Reza M. Shirazi.