Reconsidering the Meaning of Topography (via the city of Istanbul)

Nowadays theory of architecture has been encountering with topography in a different way. Through several dimensions of this encountering, it seems that the deep meaning of it has been disregarded. It has as a further meaning beyond its physical existence as an ontological part of architecture. It is a kind of interface between the nature and space with its language which has further conceptions. If it is understood properly, there becomes a meaningful dialog among human, space and topography. This dialog has been corrupted via modern paradigm. Furthermore, it has been deeply affected by singular objects of architecture, rapid construction or cultural dynamics of contemporary world. Metropolises reflecting this situation such as Istanbul, it is commonly that topography has been almost neglected. Changing conceptions of the architectural discourses in the current architectural environment deeply effect the dialog between building and topography. This research points out that, topography is not just an environmental data or a kind of concept besides, it is a must to reconsider its meanings in this postmodern and chaotic milieu. It is essential to widen our perceptions that should make us to remember the spirit of being in a place. Thus, the paper has a critical overview to the architectural design process in terms of topography, while it focuses on the meaning of it via its wide context. A new perspective on topography-context relationship could be presented via its topological, ecological and geographical, socio-cultural, aesthetic, perceptional/ physiological and philosophical contexts. Conceptual openings and diversity of those codes have been proposed in an effort to promote our perception.

Keywords: Meaning of architecture, Istanbul; singularity; tectonic; topography.

Topo�rafyan�n Anlam�n� Yeniden D��nmek (ve �stanbul Deneyimi...)

�mre �zbek Eren
�stanbul �ehir �niversitesi Mimarl�k ve Tasar�m Fak�ltesi, Mimarl�k B�l�m�, �stanbul

Mimarl�k kuram�n�n, do�a ile olan hesapla�mas� bug�nlerde topo�rafya ile zorlu bir s�re�te. Oysa topo�rafya, mimarl��n ontolojik bir par�as� olarak, do�an�n bi�im dilinden �te anlamlara a��lan bir ara y�zd�r; edilgen bir veri olmay�p, yerin ruhunu i�inde bar�nd�ran, mek�n� �rg�tleyen, �rt�k bir y�n vericidir; hem insan eylemlerine hem de mimarl��a dair bir �eyler f�s�ldar. Bu f�s�lt�ya kulak verildi�i �l��de do�al �evre ile yap�l� �evre aras�nda bir diyalog, mek�n ve toplum aras�nda da bir anlam in�a edilebilir. Bu noktadan hareket edildi�inde, topo�rafyan�n, mimarl�k literat�r�nde yerle�ik olan kullan�m�ndan �ok daha derin bir kar��l�� oldu�u g�r�l�r. Ancak, moderniteyle birlikte topo�rafyan�n da tasar�m s�reciyle yollar� ayr��m��, mimarl�kta anlam aray�� e�itli alanlara da��lm��t�r. �stelik son zamanlardaki �tekille�me�lerden, in�a eyleminin isk�n�n �n�ne ge�mesi veya binalar arac�l��yla anlam kurma �abalar�ndan topo�rafya da pay�n� d��eni almaktad�r. �stanbul gibi b�y�k �ehirlerde ise, neo-liberal politikalar, k�resel ekonomi, pop�ler k�lt�r gibi etkilerle ilerleyen yap�la�ma s�recinde, topo�rafyan�n, -anlam� bir yana- bi�imsel boyutuyla dahi ihmal edildi�i g�r�lmekte. Bu �al��ma genel bir tahlilde, bir yandan kavramsalla�ma ekseninde ilerleyen mimarl�k d�nyas�, �te yandan h�zla ilerleyen yap�m �al��malar� aras�nda s�k��an topo�rafyan�n, bir kavram veya bir veri olmas�n�n �tesinde ta��d�� anlam�n�n yeniden sorgulanmas�na i�aret eder. Topo�rafyan�n mimarl�kla olan ili�kisine dair anlam aray��nda yeniden bir sorgulaman�n ka��n�lmazl�� vurgulan�rken, indirgemeci ve y�zeysel bir topo�rafya bilgisinden �te, mimarl��n �z�nde yatan kapsay�c� bir kavray��n �nemine i�aret edilmi�tir. Makale, bu kavray�� s�recinde topo�rafyan�n anlam�n�n, topolojik (bi�imsel), ekolojik ve co�rafi, ekonomik, sosyo-k�lt�rel, estetik, psikolojik (alg�-imaj) ve felsefi ba�lamlarda okunmas� gerekti�i �nermesine dayanmaktad�r.

Anahtar Kelimeler: Anlam, �stanbul; tekillik; tektonik; topo�rafya.

�mre �zbek Eren. Reconsidering the Meaning of Topography (via the city of Istanbul). Megaron. 2019; 14(2): 196-204

Corresponding Author: �mre �zbek Eren, T�rkiye

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