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Tagged: european center for architecture art design and urban studies

Imprisoned Turkish design activists are named 2023 European Prize for Architecture​ laureates

By Josh Niland|

Wednesday, Sep 6, 2023

2023 European Prize for Architecture Laureates (L-R) Tayfun Kahraman, Ayse Mücella Yapici, and Can Atalay. Image courtesy of The Chicago Athenaeum Archives.

The Chicago Athenaeum and the European Centre for Architecture Art Design and Urban Studies have together announced a group of Turkish architects and human rights activists as the 2023 European Prize for Architecture laureates.

Architect Ayse Mücella Yapici, urban planner Tayfun Kahraman, and attorney for the Chambers of Turkish Engineers and Architects Can Atalay are the Prize's 18th, 19th, and 20th laureates, respectively. The trio have been in prison since late May on charges of sedition tied to their involvement in the 2013 Gezi Park protests. Christian Narkiewicz-Laine, President and CEO of The Chicago Athenaeum, said their status is the product of a "years-long campaign of blatant political persecution" waged by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan against his critics.

The Prize was thus given out in honor of their bold fight for justice. Each is in prison after undergoing three separate trials for their supposed treason in using their position within the government to help organize the protests. (The first two have led to acquittals.) A citation stated that Yapici specifically "did this only for the necessity of her profession, and she acted solely for better living conditions in cities." 

The government's failed preparation for February's devastating 7.8 earthquake was also seen as a motivating factor in each of their arrests.

European Prize for Architecture 2023 Laureates (L-R) Can Atalay, Ayse Mücella Yapici, and Tayfun Kahraman. Image: The Chicago Athenaeum Archives

Yapici and her co-defendants now join previous awardees such as Mecanoo, Henning Larsen, Bjarke Ingels, Santiago Calatrava, and last year's laureate Christoph Ingenhoven as winners of the Prize, among others. This award is meant to not only recognize achievements in the built environment but also advocate for its best uses and maintenance from practitioners in keeping with the "highest standards of European civilization." 

Fittingly, a formal ceremony for the laureates will be held in their absence on Friday, September 15th, from the Acropolis in Athens. Each is currently serving an 18-year sentence, barring any possible future interventions, pardons, or governmental change.

RELATED NEWS Ingenhoven Architects is the ecologically-minded 2022 European Prize for Architecture laureate
RELATED NEWS Mecanoo named as the 2021 European Prize for Architecture winner

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european prize for architecture ● european center for architecture art design and urban studies ● chicago athenaeum ● turkey ● protest ● social justice ● award ● competition

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  • Orhan Ayyüce ·  Sep 07, 23 9:34 PM

    Gezi Park activists have no place in prison and harsh terms. Wonderful award to the right people. Gezi Park is modern times' first urbanist revolt and the government uses it to punish valuable intellectuals and urbanists. The Turkish government's paranoia against these people is very unjust and backward.
    Solidarity with Istanbul

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Imprisoned Turkish design activists are named 2023 European Prize for Architecture​ laureates

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Imprisoned Turkish design activists are named 2023 European Prize for Architecture​ laureates

By Josh Niland|

Wednesday, Sep 6, 2023

Share

2023 European Prize for Architecture Laureates (L-R) Tayfun Kahraman, Ayse Mücella Yapici, and Can Atalay. Image courtesy of The Chicago Athenaeum Archives.

Related

european prize for architecture ● european center for architecture art design and urban studies ● chicago athenaeum ● turkey ● protest ● social justice ● award ● competition

The Chicago Athenaeum and the European Centre for Architecture Art Design and Urban Studies have together announced a group of Turkish architects and human rights activists as the 2023 European Prize for Architecture laureates.

Architect Ayse Mücella Yapici, urban planner Tayfun Kahraman, and attorney for the Chambers of Turkish Engineers and Architects Can Atalay are the Prize's 18th, 19th, and 20th laureates, respectively. The trio have been in prison since late May on charges of sedition tied to their involvement in the 2013 Gezi Park protests. Christian Narkiewicz-Laine, President and CEO of The Chicago Athenaeum, said their status is the product of a "years-long campaign of blatant political persecution" waged by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan against his critics.

The Prize was thus given out in honor of their bold fight for justice. Each is in prison after undergoing three separate trials for their supposed treason in using their position within the government to help organize the protests. (The first two have led to acquittals.) A citation stated that Yapici specifically "did this only for the necessity of her profession, and she acted solely for better living conditions in cities." 

The government's failed preparation for February's devastating 7.8 earthquake was also seen as a motivating factor in each of their arrests.

European Prize for Architecture 2023 Laureates (L-R) Can Atalay, Ayse Mücella Yapici, and Tayfun Kahraman. Image: The Chicago Athenaeum Archives

Yapici and her co-defendants now join previous awardees such as Mecanoo, Henning Larsen, Bjarke Ingels, Santiago Calatrava, and last year's laureate Christoph Ingenhoven as winners of the Prize, among others. This award is meant to not only recognize achievements in the built environment but also advocate for its best uses and maintenance from practitioners in keeping with the "highest standards of European civilization." 

Fittingly, a formal ceremony for the laureates will be held in their absence on Friday, September 15th, from the Acropolis in Athens. Each is currently serving an 18-year sentence, barring any possible future interventions, pardons, or governmental change.

RELATED NEWS Ingenhoven Architects is the ecologically-minded 2022 European Prize for Architecture laureate
RELATED NEWS Mecanoo named as the 2021 European Prize for Architecture winner

Share

  • Follow

    1 Comment

  • Orhan Ayyüce ·  Sep 07, 23 9:34 PM

    Gezi Park activists have no place in prison and harsh terms. Wonderful award to the right people. Gezi Park is modern times' first urbanist revolt and the government uses it to punish valuable intellectuals and urbanists. The Turkish government's paranoia against these people is very unjust and backward.
    Solidarity with Istanbul

  • Comment as :

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