On Saturday (29.6.24), as environmental activists and NGO representatives from both sides of Cyprus, we came together for a study visit and round table discussion on coastline developments in Famagusta and İskele, organized by UNFICYP. I am happy and thankful to have been given the chance once again to talk about fostering community participation and…
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20th Annual Canova International Architect Encounter 2024
What an honor it was to return to Domodossola after 10 years as an invited participant of the 20th Canova International Architect Encounter! The city of Domodossola hosted this special edition, where I was one of the 23 international architects from 13 countries, representing Cyprus, gathered to reimagine the historic Collegio Rosmini. The event also…
Famagusta’s Voices: Advocating for Peace Amid Division
One island and half a century of division. Four people, born at different times in the same city and into different universes, share the same pain: the division of our island, our city, and involuntary relocations. We also share the same passions: a love for the sea, the smell of orange blossoms, and a dedication…
Famagusta Futures: Towards Ecological and Sustainable Peace
Bugün, Bilkent Kentsel Tasarım ve Peyzaj Mimarlığı Bölümü (Bilkent LAUD) öğrencileriyle bir araya geldik. Mağusa’nın tarihini, bölünmüşlüğünü, kent sorunlarını, eski sakinlerinin geri dönme ümitlerine rağmen zaman içinde donmuş ve bir gün karanlık turistlerin ziyaretine açılmış Maraş’ı konuştuk. Nazik davetleri ve bana Mağusa’da barışçıl ve sürdürülebilir bir planlamanın, şeffaf olmayan süreçlerle değil, kentin önceki ve…
Cityscapes of feeling: Emotional Engagements and Urban Design
Places pulsate with emotions, memories, and lived experiences. Today, I delved deep into the concept of ‘cityscapes of feeling’—a realm where psychogeography intersects with urban design. I’d like to extend my gratitude to all the participants, including my colleagues and both former and current students from undergraduate to PhD levels, for joining me and posing…
Experiential Learning: Public Interest Design
I am immensely proud to have led such an amazing project, made possible with the guidance of invited Fulbright Specialist Prof. Dr. Charlie Hailey, who facilitated the workshop. The workshop was organized by the ISBE-Center of EMU Faculty of Architecture, emphasizing experiential learning and a constructivist approach. After 8 intense days, 31 students from EMU…
Praxis of Urban Peacebuilding in Famagusta Cyprus
Bogac, C. (2023). Praxis of urban peacebuilding in Famagusta Cyprus . Journal of Urban Research and Development, 4(01), 5–15. Retrieved from https://ojs.emu.edu.tr/index.php/jurd/article/view/447 Abstract Urban design and development have experienced significant changes, shifting away from traditional top-down decision-making methods. This shift has emphasized the importance of community engagement and participatory design, particularly in contested cities. Famagusta, a city…
Visions for the future of Famagusta: Interview with RTL Belgium
It has been a long time since urban design diverged from traditional top-down decision-making approaches and transformed into more inclusive, participatory, and collaborative methods. As a city deeply affected by the ongoing division in Cyprus, Famagusta needs not only physical infrastructure renewal but also a sustainable and ecological peace-memory-narrative infrastructure, where all the actors and…
Guest lecture on the vision of an eco polis
I was a guest lecturer today at the German University in Cairo. I would like to thank Dr. Covarino for inviting me to share my insights on ecocity and find a chance to negotiate the ecological and sustainability dimensions of tourist cities. Two amazing studios in parallel coordinated by Dr. Silvia Covarino in Egypt and…
Final review discussions with urban desing and landscape projects students from German University in Cairo
We discussed with Design Studio VII, International Urban Design and Landscape Project students from Urban Design Program, Faculty of Engineering and Material Science at German University in Cairo, about their new urban landscapes proposals for Famagusta. I would like to congratulate all the students for their studies where each considered the ecology and potential peaceful…
Emotional Vortexes and Place Transmutations / Duygusal Girdaplar ve Yer Dönüşümleri
8th International Conference on New Trends in Architecture and Interior Design 2022” held in Cyprus this year after Dubai, Croatia, Finland, Russia and Turkey. I am pleased to be one of the keynote speakers with my presentation titled “Emotional Vortexes and Place Transmutations” For this meaningful organization and kind invitation, I would like to thank…
Praxis of urban peacebuilding in Famagusta Cyprus
I would like to thank Cyprus Network of Urban Morphology, and organizing committee for inviting me to share my experience and thoughts on urban peace-building. Over 9 years, we tried to generate as a multi-communal movement and to introduce the parameters of establishing a peace infrastructure set forth by the ecocity principles. Our efforts have…
Students meet Advisors- Awards meet Education
Very exciting to be part of growing architecture community: Inspireli awards provide a large laboratory to exercise new ideas and take part in an inclusive virtual education platform. On today’s live talk “Students meet Advisors- Awards meet Education- we had a chance to discuss their projects with amazing future architects. Bugün farklı kıtalardan ve farklı…
The 10th Annual Eurasian Peace Science Conference
Turkish Text follows / Türkçe metin alttadır It felt amazing to come together with peace scholars around the world at the 10th Annual Eurasian Peace Science Conference during these haptic times!It was an honor to present my insights at the roundtable “Urban Peacebuilding in Times of a Pandemic” chaired by Dan Miodownik (The Hebrew University…
