The inspiration of Cittaslow was the Slow Food organization. Cittaslow’s goals include improving the quality of life in cities by slowing down its overall pace, especially in a city’s use of spaces and the flow of life and traffic through them.

With the cooperation of EMU and Yeniboğaziçi Municipality, a volunteer group, which I took part in, from Department of Architecture consulted to the ‘Yeniboğaziçi Cittaslow Committee’ on energy and environmental policy, infrastructure policies, quality of urban life policies (main focus), agricultural,  and touristic and artisan policies.

We conducted SWOT analysis with local partners, such as the citizens, municipality, local mukhtars and NGO representatives and intently worked together to implement several projects regarding to the energy efficiency, environmental protection, advancement of the infrastructure, healthy and accessible food, residents’ access to lifelong learning, touristic and artisan investments. We also developed projects in our post-graduate urban design studio together with our students.

Eastern Mediterranean University team was composed of Prof.Dr. Şebnem Önem Hoşkara, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Resmiye Alpar Atun, Assist. Prof. Dr. Ceren Boğaç.

Initial meetings with local partners

Placing Refuse Differentiation Bin

The proposed city development map by the consultancy team after the negotiations with the stakeholders

Primary school courses on cittaslow philosophy

Establishing cittaslow food union and starting food market

Press conference

Celebrations with the Cittaslow President and locals

On 9th of November 2013 Yeniboğaziçi has became the first cittaslow city of Cyprus.

Initial meetings with local partners

SWOT analysis with the local partners

Planning workshop with the municipality

Primary school garden landscaping and planting with student

On 22^nd of  June 2018 Geçitkale joined to the international cittaslow network.