Speakers
Description
The proposed paper examines the concept of "living heritage" in the context of post-disaster planning and reconstruction, focusing on practice-based research conducted by the authors in collaboration with Architecture Sans Frontières UK (Architecture Without Borders) and local partners in the area of Antakya, Türkiye, following the devastating earthquakes that struck the region in February 2023.
Nearly two years have passed since these catastrophic events, which resulted in the destruction of approximately 85% of Antakya and displaced a significant portion of its population. To date, much of the city remains a construction site, with many residents still living in temporary shelters.
The historical background of Antakya complicates the rebuilding efforts, as the region has a long history of state-led cultural erasure and dispossession. Consequently, both immediate relief operations and long-term reconstruction have become highly politicised, with residents fearing that government-led initiatives will reshape the city’s socio-spatial structure and demographic balance without adequate local input. Despite superficial calls for local involvement, meaningful engagement with residents remains limited, underscoring the need for concrete grassroots planning initiatives that articulate a shared vision for Antakya's future.
In response to the shortcomings of government plans and the growing social opposition advocating for resident-driven development, our coalition—comprising Architecture for All and Hatay Earthquake Solidarity—aims to promote community-led approaches in the planning, design, and implementation of reconstruction efforts. Since the summer of 2023, we have actively engaged various local stakeholders in this complex environment, aiming to co-produce more inclusive and equitable pathways for the city’s reconstruction.
A central element of our strategy has been to focus on the concept of "living heritage" as a framework for fostering dialogue and advocating for meaningful community involvement in rebuilding homes and neighbourhoods. This approach encourages the articulation of shared visions for the city of the future, grounded in people’s values and lived experiences.
This paper will critically review our experiences in implementing participatory planning within this context, highlighting the challenges and opportunities we have encountered in building coalitions, forming partnerships, and identifying effective advocacy channels centred around the notion of “living heritage.”
References
Architecture Sans Frontieres UK (eds.) (2023) Antakya's Living Heritage: A Collective Statement. London: ASF-UK.
Architecture Sans Frontieres UK and Hatay Deprem Dayanışması (2024) Reviving Living Heritage in Cekmece: Pathways Towards Community-led Reconstruction . London: ASF-UK.
| Keywords | Living heritage, community-led planning, post-disaster reconstruction, Antakya |
|---|---|
| Best Congress Paper Award | Yes |
