6th International Space Syntax Symposium ISTANBUL 2007

VENUE & CITY

The 6th Space Syntax Symposium will be held in Taşkışla building of Faculty of Architecture of Istanbul Technical University (ITU).

The conference venue will be open on the afternoon of Monday June 11th, 2007 for delegates to register and to hang their posters.

ISTANBUL TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY

Of ITU's five campuses, the main campus is located at Ayazaga, a recently developed business area. The Rector's office and administrative units as well as faculties of Civil Engineering, Electric and Electronic Engineering, Chemical and Metallurgical Engineering, Mining, Science and Letters, Aeronautics, and Naval Architecture and Ocean Engineering are all situated on this campus which extends over an area of 247 hectares. Morevoer, of the five institutes ITU has, four are located on this campus comprising the Institute of Earth Sciences and the Institute of Information Technology.

With a history stretching over 227 years, providing technical education within a modern educational environment and a strong academic staff, ITU is strongly identified with architectural and engineering education in Turkey. Since its inception and foundation under Ottoman rule, ITU has constantly lead the way in reform movements, and in the latter era of the Republic of Turkey, ITU has assumed pivotal roles in the reconstruction, modernization, and administration of the country.

CONFERENCE SITE -TASKISLA BUILDING / FACULTY OF ARCHITECTURE

Taskisla is currently the home of Istanbul Technical University’s Architecture faculty and hosts five departments of design: Architecture, Urban Planning, Industrial Product Design, Landscape Architecture and Interior Architecture.

This immense building has been constructed all in stone between 1848 and 1853 as a military medicine faculty for the Ottoman Army under the rule of Sultan Abdülmecid. However during construction, the plans drawn by W. James Smith were modified and the building’s function was changed to military barracks in 1849. This modification was part of a construction plan that included several arsenals and military barracks that were to ensure the safety of the imperial domain around the Dolmabahçe Palace.

The building sustained some damage in the earthquake of 10 July 1894, and was restored by archiect R. d’Aronco.

In 1909, the rebellious troops were based in the building, thus it has become the scene of long fighting. Some results are visible in the façade, as few of the gunshells are still embedded in the stone columns of the entrance.

In 1944 the building was handed over to the I.T.U. and restored by architects P. Bonatz and Emin Onat. Teaching began in the building in 1950, with the civil engineering and architecture faculties. In 1983 it has been classified as a first degree historical monument. Between 1984 and 89 there was some unrest as the building was nearly sold to third parties to be converted into a hotel. But both the Chamber of Architects of Turkey and the I.T.U. opposed firmly and won the court battle. In 1993 final restorations were started and the interior and the façade took their actual form. In 1996 the World Habitat Congress was organized partly in the Faculty. Ever since, it is a natural part of the congress valley of Istanbul.

The plan schema of Taskisla is classical: four equal sides marked with four corner edifices (higher than the sides) and a vast courtyard. The west façade is crowned with a monumental entrance.

click to see the map of conference site