Urban Dialogues | The Unbearable Lightness of Urban Growth • This edition of the Urban Dialogues series featured Prof. Dr Celal Abdi Güzer and explored the meanings of urban growth in different cultures and the development processes of cities. The Unbearable Lightness of Urban Growth took place at İskele on Saturday, 28 May, at 14.00.
The talk examined how concepts such as growth, building more, building faster and building more cheaply can be perceived as inherently positive in societies where critical culture and environmental and social awareness remain underdeveloped. It also addressed how increasing construction density and expanding cities are presented as natural outcomes and indicators of development in regions where economies depend largely on construction and migration to cities is intensifying.
The discussion highlighted how fragmented planning approaches fail to establish a coherent hierarchy within rapid processes of transformation. Looking at contemporary cities and their development through these observations, the talk emphasised the need to reassess existing priorities and values, together with the critical culture underlying them. New concepts and priorities were introduced for discussion, including planning for contraction rather than growth and reassessing what already exists instead of demolishing or rebuilding it.
Prof. Dr Celal Abdi Güzer received his bachelor’s degree from Middle East Technical University in 1982 and completed his master’s and doctoral studies at the same university. He conducted doctoral research on architectural criticism and taught at Newcastle upon Tyne University in the United Kingdom.
At the time of the event, he was teaching architectural criticism and leading a fourth-year design studio at Middle East Technical University. He produced numerous national and international publications focusing on theory, criticism and design in relation to contemporary architectural concepts and practices. At METU, he served as Vice Chair of the Department, Vice Dean and Head of Division. He also served for one term as President of the Architects Association 1927.
Güzer served as a jury member in various competitions and received numerous prizes and awards, including three first prizes. He developed many urban and architectural projects, primarily within Middle East Technical University. Among these, the MATPUM Research Centre building received the YEM Award in 2008.
In 2013, he curated the International Antalya Architecture Biennial and organised its main exhibition under the theme Template. In 2019, he received the TSMD Jury Special Award for his contributions to architecture. His research focuses on architectural criticism, contemporary architectural practices and concepts, housing and mass housing, urban transformation and sustainability.
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