The presentation immerses itself in the intricate relationship between conservation and design, exploring how these concepts intersect within dynamic historic urban and rural landscapes. At the heart of the discussion lie interventions and adaptive reuse, recognized as essential strategies for negotiating the complexities inherent in safeguarding our heritage amidst urban development.
With an exploration of the definitions of interventions and adaptive reuse, the presentation lays the groundwork for understanding their meaning. By drawing upon case studies from diverse contexts, it unveils the multifaceted nature of these strategies, illuminating their role in fostering integrity and continuity. Through analysis and reflection, the presentation aims at inspiring design strategies for intervening in/on/around existing buildings and sites, ensuring their heritage values in contemporary contexts.

Biography:

Özgün Özçakır is an architect by training and specialized in the preservation field. He received his Ph.D. degree from Graduate Program in Conservation of Cultural Heritage, METU with his thesis entitled “In-Between Preservation and Economics: Establishing Common Ground Between Socio-Cultural and Economic for the Sustainability of Urban Heritage Places in Turkey.” The dissertation was awarded as the “Best Thesis of the Year” by METU due to its contribution to sustainable development.

Özgün Özçakır is associate professor and currently works as a full-time faculty at Conservation of Cultural Heritage Graduate Program, METU. He has attended multi-disciplinary international meetings as a speaker, which are organized by the Association of Critical Heritage Studies, Association of Cultural Economics International, BTU Cottbus, Columbia GSAPP and TU Delft. He is a member of ICOMOS Turkey, and his research interests include heritage values, conservation policies in Turkey, heritage and sustainability, heritage impact assessment (HIA).