Damla Isiklilar

1) Why are you researching at the Bauhaus-Universität Weimar?

Throughout my undergrad and masters periods, I have been always inspired by and admired to the ecolé of German approach on urban studies, so I wanted to continue my academic career in Bauhaus University, Weimar, which is always one of my dreams, on newly developed public space and public sphere perspective and urban social phenomenons. With the global changes and urban social movements, new urban codes and new public space practice and praxis are emerging, so we need to answer the new urban questions.

2) What is special about your project? Why is it relevant?

While the world is dealing with increasing numbers of refugees, who have become one of the major challenges of the 21st century, nearly all human beings have confronted with significant changes in urban environment. Particularly in Turkey, both the citizens and newcomers are facing with the socio-spatial alterations. Turkey has been accepted as a critical partner for Syrian asylum seekers due to its geographical position. While urban environments are affected by this social trend and with the new term “Urban Refugee”, as urban designers we need to answer the new urban questions under the light of the newly developed agora having a new social inclusion. In this context, space of reflection for the details of physical, political, economic and social domains of Syrian urban refugees, who are the recent urban minorities, will be examined in a socio-spatial and heterotopic perspective. This research focuses on the new production of space having new urban codes and new urban praxis. The research question is based on the possible and potential future state of the socio-spatial condition of the neighborhoods, where the urban refugees are involved.

In this sense, with the level of education and knowledge that I am acquiring from Bauhaus University Weimar, I am confident about for integrating them with my background. My contribution to my country that has extensive multicultural social patterns, would be to apply my know-how formed by German ecolé and perspective.