We have been collaborating with Lumbardhi Foundation since 2016 on the transitioning of the cinema into a cultural venue and this year Europa Nostra has awarded the efforts to preserve this urban collective memory in the category of ‘Citizens Engagement and Awareness-raising’. For our practice, the process has been one of learning and experimenting, building solidarity and friendship. We have been priviliged to work with and be supported by CHWB Kosova and Dokufest among other institutions such as UNDP, EU and Swiss Development Cooperation. Below you can find an excerpt from the award announcement:
“This is an exemplary project for the entire region of the Western Balkans and has been supported by a diverse set of partners. These include the Ministry of Culture of Kosovo*, the Municipality of Prizren, the Foundation for Arts Initiatives and Swiss Development Cooperation, Goethe International Relief, the Heinrich Böll Foundation, the Raiffeisen Bank, the Prince Claus Fund and several other smaller partnerships. The European Union has also provided significant support and has pledged funding for future restoration work of the cinema.
The revival of the open-air cinema (Kino Bahce) was undertaken between 2019 and 2020. A detailed design for the full restoration of the cinema will begin to be implemented in the autumn of 2022. The strategic renovation was led by Aslihan Demirtas of Khora Office.”
Radio Talk: Açık Radyo / Açık Mimarlık, Practice + Woman
On February 12, 2015 at Açık Mimarlık program at Açık Radyo, Evren Uzer, Yağmur Yıldırım, Cenk Dereli, and myself talked about our office practice, Philosopher’s Plant by Michael Marder, Yedikule Gardens, Graft and other. More to follow on these subjects in the coming days. You can listen to the program here. The blog about the program is here.
Seminar: METU, ‘Graft’
Graduate Program in Restoration at METU invited me for a seminar, 23 years after my graduation. It has always been enlightening and inspiring to be in the beautiful spaces designed by Altuğ and Behruz Çinici. Thank you Güliz Bilgin for inviting me and thanks to all my METU friends and professors.
Lecture: Bilgi University, “Taşı mı yonttun? Geri dur bak. Yontmana şaşma, taşa şaş.”
Açık Üniversite at Bilgi University, Department of Architecture, organized by Emrah Altınok. The title of my talk is a verse from a book of poems by Franco Buskas. The spine of the talk was about waiving (feragat, Tr.) and modesty (tevazu, Tr.) and I presented three works.
TV Conversation: IMC, Yedikule Gardens and productive landscapes on ‘Ne Yiyorsak Oyuz’
Myself and Yıldız Salman were invited to ‘Ne Yiyorsak Oyuz‘, Defne Koryürek’s program on IMC TV, to converse about recent developments and our work at Yedikule Gardens Protection Initiative.
Here is the link to the conversation.
Below you will find, Slow Food, Fikir Sahibi Damaklar‘s description of the content of the talk on the Yedikule Gardens campaign page:
“Üretken bir peyzaj, yenilebilir bir bahçe, başka bir dünya…
27 Kas 2014 — Geçen hafta sonu imc tv’de yayınlanan Ne Yiyorsak Oyuz’un konukları Yedikule Bostanları Girişimi’nden Aslıhan Demirtaş ve Yıldız Salman’dı. Yedikule Bostanları hem civar halkın yaşamının parçası bir yeşil alana dönüşür, hem de bostan vasfını nasıl korur, onu anlattılar. Yani üretken bir peyzajın, yenilebilir bir bahçenin ve dolayısıyla bambaşka bir dünyanın nasıl oluşturulabileceğini.. Lütfen seyredin, sunulan alternatif ilham verici. büyük keyif alacaksınız:
Size bu mektubu yazdığımız saatlerde kampanyamız 10 bin imzaya ulaşamak üzere! demek ki sayenizde 10 bin mektup gitti muhataplarımıza! Yaşasın! Sahiden de ya-şa-sın! Ama daha çok gitsin istiyoruz. Biz çoğalalım, sesimiz çoğalsın… daha iyi, daha adil ve daha temiz bir çözüm yolunda talebimiz duyulsun istiyoruz.
Slow Food, Fikir Sahibi Damaklar”
Honorable Mention: Gallipoli Historic National Park Focus Points Competition
We were awarded with an honorable mention for our entry to the Gallipoli Historic National Park Focus Points Competition.
Our team was one the 10 teams that were selected to continue to Phase II of the competition.
You can find the announcement along with other entrants here.
Team: Aslıhan Demirtaş, Selin Maner, Defne Akşin Akyol, Koray Özgen, Ali Cindoruk, Emrah Altınok
Advisor Team: Sibel Bozdoğan, Çiğdem Maner, Naz Beykan
with Seçkin Maden, Gizem Öneş, Athanasia Vasdeki, Doruk Özçiftçi, Zuhal Koçan, Gözde Şarlak
We are a Graham Foundation Grantee 2013 with Modern Essays 5:Graft
Installation photo from Modern Essays 5 : Graft, SALT, 2012. Photo by Serkan Taycan.
The Graham Foundation for Advanced Studies in the Fine Arts has announced its 2013 Grants to Individuals. We are honored to be one of the grantees with Modern Essays 5: Graft. With the support of the Graham Foundation and SALT we will continue our research towards an e-publication. Thank you all who have contributed to this process! Here is our grant page.