Abstract

Our planet is overpopulated. The UN predicts that the world population will reach 10 billion people in 2057. So, the sustainability of the cities is the primary concern of the modern world. However, the bigger danger lies with implementing local solutions and incorporating sustainable development in the nation’s urban development strategy. This CSU talk will present two exemplary and successful efforts in Turkey to overcome this urban challenge.

First, the Eskisehir Urban Development Project, a sustainable project at the scope of environment, tourism, and culture, will be explained under its two components: Component 1: Eskisehir Tram System, and Component 2: Eskisehir Porsuk River Rehabilitation Project. Eskisehir Urban Development Project has provided many positive economic, social, and environmental impacts and has immediately become the center of interest for many municipalities from abroad and within Turkey itself. Both the Tram System Project and the Porsuk River Rehabilitation Project have been investigated on-site by other municipalities.

Second, a sustainable and inclusive urban development park project in Ankara will be introduced. This project is a significant conceptual project resulting from the collaboration between Turkey and Sweden, which considers urban living lab methodology as a new platform for experimentation and citizen participation to design green and blue-based nature solutions for sustainable and inclusive urban environments.

Event Recording

Speakers

Professor Yasemin Afacan

Yasemin Afacan received her Ph.D. degree in the Department of Interior Architecture and Environmental Design from Bilkent University in 2008. After working as a lecturer at the Queens University of Belfast, School of Planning, Architecture and Civil Engineering, she joined Bilkent University Department of Interior Architecture and Environmental Design in 2011. Dr. Afacan is the department chair, faculty member in Neuroscience Graduate Program, vice director of Graduate School of Economics and Social Sciences, and University Senate Member. She has published more than 25 papers on sustainable design and age-friendly environments in reputable journals, won outstanding young scientist awards and serves as a board member of International Society of Gerontechnology

Dr. Axumite Gebre-Egziabher

Dr. Axumite Gebre-Egziabher, who will moderate the discussion, held different positions at the UN-Habitat, working as Director of the UN-Habitat New York Office, Director of the Global Division and Regional Director for Africa. She is currently a Senior Adviser and Steering Committee Member of the New World Programme, Global Water Challenge and she is a Board Member of the Consortium for Sustainable Urbanization.

Introduction by Dr Aliye Pekin Çelik, Chair of CSU Board

Learning Objectives

• Describe the objectives, achievements, and challenges of the Eskisehir Urban Development Project to provide healthy, reliable, safe, accessible, and comfortable urban areas for all people.
• Identify how Eskisehir Urban Development Project addresses the economic, social, and environmental dimensions of sustainable urban rehabilitation.
• Demonstrate a conceptual sustainable development project in Ankara to apply urban living lab methodology in a park context.
• Gain a comprehensive understanding of urban living lab methodology as a new platform for experimentation, citizen participation, and collaboration.

Collaborating Organizations for Green Cities 2022

Consortium for Sustainable Urbanization, UN-Habitat, AIA New York, AIANY Planning & Design, the NGO Committee on Sustainable Development-NY, Habitat Professionals Forum for Sustainable Cities, Perkins-Eastman, Creative Exchange Lab, Global Urban Development (GUD) and Columbia Center for Buildings, Infrastructure & Public Space.