Architecture in Istanbul
| Location: | Rome / Istanbul, Italy, Turkey |
|---|---|
| Term: | Spring Semester |
| Eligible Students: | U of M Students, Non U of M Students |
| Open to: | Juniors, Seniors |
| Housing: | Apartment |
| Language Prerequisite: | No language prerequisite |
| Credit Type: | Resident Credit |
| Program Sponsor: | CDes |
Description
Istanbul: Tradition in Transformation is a Spring Semester 2013 program that explores the city of Istanbul as a city constantly engaged in the dialogue of modernity and tradition, and of the role that architecture, landscape, and the designed environment plays in this discourse. The city is a living laboratory, rich in history, curious in juxtaposition, and constantly captivated in the relationship of past, present and future.
This study abroad will focus on the city of Istanbul, but will begin with an intensive five week drawing class in Rome - as a way to introduce a part of Istanbul’s history as the other capital of the Roman Empire, and also, as a way to draw intellectual connections across East and West in and across two of the world's greatest Mediterranean cities.
Istanbul, like Rome, was built on seven hills and during its history and previous incarnations served as the capital of the Roman, Byzantine, and Ottoman Empires. In 330, the ancient city of Byzas became Nuova Roma, or Constantinople, inspired by a prophetic dream of the Emperor Constantine. Following the division of the Empire in 395, Byzantium- as the Eastern Roman Empire - lasted for almost a thousand years, until Sultan Mehmet II conquered the city in 1453. The city was renamed Istanbul and became the third capital of the Ottoman Empire for over 620 years.
Istanbul is a city characterized by its rich and layered historic past and its contemporary life as a major cultural, commercial, and political center. It is a city that straddles Asia and Europe, physically and intellectually. It links three continents - Africa, Asia, and Europe - and its vibrant cultural history is informed by a dialogue well over 2000 years old. It is the living heritage of over 20 centuries of architectural tradition (which include, palaces, churches, synagogues, mosques, caravansereis, housing, baths, markets, mausoleums, and monumental cemeteries), as well as emerging local and international design center for contemporary art and architecture.
Courses will be taught by faculty from the University of Minnesota's School of Architecture and Department of Landscape Architecture, as well as faculty from academic institutions in Rome and Istanbul. We will lean on the expertise of local scholars, historians, designers, artists, landscape architects, urban planners, photographers and architects in our study of the spaces and landscapes of these cities.
Courses include:
Rome: Drawing (-in) the Eternal City: An immersive drawing class that will study, analyze and investigate the spaces of the buildings, landscapes, monuments and public spaces of Rome. The course will also include site visits to Ostia Antica and Tivoli.
Istanbul: The City in Visual Culture: A seminar course, supplmented with guest lectures from Turkish historians, academics, architects, landscape architects and photographers that explores the visual culture of the city through its architecture, urban planning, public art and designed environment.
Byzantium+Istanbul: Crossroads of East and West: A history course that explores the broad, inter-connected arc of Byzantine and Ottoman architecture and landscape. The course will also include field visits to Bursa and Edirne - the earlier capitals of the Ottoman Empire, and will include historical walks and 'on-site' lectures through the city.
Istanbul Design Studio: Tradition in Transformation: An interdisciplinary design studio that looks at the legacy of the Bosphorous - its history, ecology and importance as an essential artery of the city. The studio will work to study and analyze an important transit hub of the city that links Europe to Asia and will culminate in a collaborative design proposal for a small ferry terminal and micro-urban landscape.
An optional, post-semester trip is available, that will include visits to sites such as Konya, Cappadoccia, the UNESCO heritage sites of Ephesus, Pergamon and Didyma
In both Rome and Istanbul, students will have get complete access to fully equipped academic centers (with studio space, classrooms and student service support). The course fee covers all housing (in shared apartments) close to each of the centers, UMN and departmental administration costs, metro-cards in Rome and Istanbul, VISAs for students in Turkey, all field visits, site trips and museum and monument access, as well as the cost of the flight from Rome to Istanbul.
Eligibility
Open to University of Minnesota College of Design undergraduate students in the BSc. Arch, BDA and LD+P programs.
Estimated Cost
Estimated Fees (not including flights to Rome and return from Istanbul or personal expenses) are approximately $13,500.00 (assuming a cohort of 16 students).
Contact
For further information, please contact Professor Ozayr Saloojee (saloojee@umn.edu, 612-625-0690) and/or Professor Brad Agee (ageex004@umn.edu).
