2017, s. 233-249 Publication Date 21.11.2017 20.12 Elif SÖNMEZ.pdf · Akademik Sosyal...

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Akademik Sosyal Araştırmalar Dergisi, Yıl: 5, Sayı: 62, Aralık 2017, s. 233-249

Yayın Geliş Tarihi / Article Arrival Date Yayınlanma Tarihi / The Publication Date

21.11.2017 20.12.2017

Yrd. Doç. Dr. Elif SÖNMEZ

Altınbaş Üniversitesi, Güzel Sanatlar ve Tasarim Fakültesi, Iç Mimarlik ve Çevre Tasarimi

Bölümü

[email protected]

Arş. Gör. Zeynep SADIKLAR

Karadeniz Teknik Üniversitesi, Mimarlık Fakültesi, İç Mimarlık Bölümü

[email protected]

Arş. Gör. Alper TORUN

Atatürk Üniversitesi, Mimarlık ve Tasarım Fakültesi, İç Mimarlık Bölümü

[email protected]

KONYA/SİLLE KİMLİK BİLEŞENLERİNİN ANLATILAN TARİH

TASARIM YARIŞMALARI İLE YORUMLANMASI

Öz

Kentlerin tanınırlıkları çoğunlukla simgesel öğelerle sağlanır. Bu simgeler bazen o

yerin tarihsel ve kültürel kaynaklarından bazen ise doğal ve beşeri özelliklerinden

seçilir. Yapılan çalışma kapsamında ise Konya ili için önemli bir çekim merkezi,

tarihsel odak ve alternatif bir turizm alanı haline gelen Sille’nin kent kimliğinin

imge, simge ve kent mobilyaları ile ortaya konması hedeflenmiştir. Sille kent kim-

liği incelendiğinde, bölgenin tarihi kentsel kimliği üzerinde durulması amaçlanmış-

tır. Bu amaçla, çalışmada "Anlatılan Tarih Sille/Konya" tasarım yarışmalarında ta-

rihi mirasa ve geçmişe sahip olma özellikleriyle bölgeye dikkat çekmek istenmiştir.

Bu bağlamda çalışma kapsamında “Anlatılan Tarih Sille/Konya” başlığı altında iki

yarışma ilan edilmiştir. Her bir yarışma kendi içerisinde farklı aşamaları barındır-

mıştır. Yarışmaların genel sonucuna bakıldığında ise Sille’nin doğal ve beşeri özel-

liklerinin ön plana çıktığı ve ürünlerin her birinde Sille’ye özgü doğal ve kültürel

değerlerin hissedildiği açıkça gözlemlenmiştir. Ve tüm bu çalışma sonucunda orta-

ya çıkacak değerlendirmelerin, Sille kent kimliğinin gelişimi açısından yararlı fikir-

ler sunacağı ve bu bölgeye dikkat çekileceği düşünülmektedir.

Anahtar kelimeler: Kent kimliği, simge, imge, kent mobilyası, Sille

Konya/Sille Kimlik Bileşenlerinin Anlatılan TarihTasarım Yarışmaları İle Yorumlanması

The Journal of Academic Social Science Yıl: 5, Sayı: 62, Aralık 2017, s. 233-249

234

INTERPRETATION OF THE KONYA/SILLE IDENTITY COMPONENTS

BY THE HISTORY TOLD DESIGN COMPETITIONS

Abstract

The recognition of cities is often provided with symbolic items. These symbols are

sometimes chosen from the historical and cultural resources of the place, and so-

metimes from the natural and human characteristics. In the scope of this study, it

was aimed to present the identity of Sille, which has become an important attrac-

tion, historical focus and alternate tourism site for the province of Konya, with

images, symbols and urban furniture. While Sille city identity is examined, it is

aimed to focus on the historical urban identity of the region. In this context, it was

tried to draw attention to the region with its characteristics of possessing a histori-

cal legacy and past on “History Told: Sille/Konya” design competitions in the

study. In this sense, two competitions were announced in scope of the study under

the title of “History Told: Sille/Konya.” Each competitions had own different sta-

ges. When we look at the overall outcome of the competitions, it is clear that Sille's

natural and human characteristics are at the foreground, and that each of the pro-

ducts feels natural and cultural values unique to Sille. And it is expected that the

analyses that arose under the study will provide useful ideas for the development of

Sille urban identity and direct attention to the region.

Keywords: Urban identity, symbol, image, urban furniture, Sille

1. INTRODUCTION

There are various studies and definitions of a city which refers to a settlement and its way of life

with its own characteristics (Kaypak, 2014). The common denominator of these definitions is

that a city, like a person, has an identity. People who define urban identity generally state that

all cultural and social values ongoing throughout time provide the city with an identity. The

identity which develops in this process reaches a dimension that reflects basic characteristics of

that city such as life style, culture, history, political and economic structure. It has recently been

seen that these spaces are getting more different and a different urban process is emerging

(Kaypak, 2010). In almost every epoch, urban fabric has been a factor about the city that has

been prominent and influenced all activities. This is because every city has an identity or search

for an identity on its own. For a city to have an identity, it should be possible to express that city

with its separation from other cities and reveal its differences. Taking shape in this process, its

identity ensures the recognition of the city. Thus, it carries a meaning with the characteristics it

contains.

It is obvious that urban identities leave a mark mostly with symbolic realities with the recogni-

tion of the city. It is possible to come across symbols that represent cities all around the world.

These symbols are the common figures that comprise historical and cultural sources of that

place. While these figures may be the descriptions of humans, animals, plants, they sometimes

may be man-made structures. For example, the Berlin bear has been in the seals, emblems and

flags for centuries as the symbol of the city of Berlin (Ertaş et al., 2016). On the other hand,

today, cities can be evaluated with ways which are different but emphasize the basic qualities



235

such as industrial cities, culture cities, education cities or commerce cities. It may be stated that

there are cities in the world which have different identities such as those that are based on art

and culture like Paris or Milano, those that are known for their traditional urban fabric like Pra-

gue or Venice, or their amusement centers like Las Vegas.

Cities become an essential part of our memory with their values that have become symbolized,

as well as the transmission of social traditions, manners and attitudes, lifestyles, common

grounds or contradictions. Social life is the exchange of the signs, reading of the symbols

(Şapçı, 2000). In the light of Lynch’s (2012) comments about the ‘urban image’ presented as “if

an image is having a value to find one’s way in the environment, it also must have qualities,”

we think each citizen or individual leads to making sense of the city based on their own percep-

tion. Thus, we may infer that each individual has their own urban perception in the totality of

the city (Yüce and Yüce, URL-1). For example, in the monuments that have become the symbol

of a city such as the Eiffel Tower in Paris, the vision, namely the discourse gains importance

rather than the life experience there and their relations with the structure (Tekeli, 1991). Paris is

evoked by the Eiffel Tower, Pekin by the Empire Palace, Venice by gondolas, Morocco by

Bedouins, New York by the Statue of liberty, Antakya by the Mosaic Museum respectively

quicker than any word (Çizgen, 1994). In other words: “the moving elements of a city and espe-

cially the citizens and their activities are as important as stationary physical elements. We do

not merely stay as the spectators of view, and become parts of the show on the stage with other

participants. Our urban perception is generally not holistic. It is rather a fragmented perception

also embodying other concerns. Almost all senses take part in the process and the image is the

collection of all these” (Lynch, 2012: 2).

All these examples show that the city provides us with a social identity with its different charac-

teristics. The characteristic of a city which separates it from others is its identity. According to

Aydemir (2003), every environment has a characteristic that defines it. This characteristic is

formed by the reflection of culture which is accepted as an extension of geography as well as

presence and personality of humans, and social life in that environment in time. Therefore, the

physical direction also becomes a social symbol, and a definite environment characteristic is

defined not only with the physical structure of that environment but rather the symbolic content

that arises from a feeling of sense (Çoban, 2013).

This means looking at the identity, culture of the city and its physical factors that develop in

parallel with this in the wholeness of the image which is informative and descriptive about the

socio- economic and socio - cultural structure of the city symbols which are lost and tried to be

preserved (Şapçı, 2000). This is why one of the most effective components of the city identity is

the physical environment (Çoşgun and Aydın, 2003). The identity of the constructed environ-

ment and the social and cultural identity of the society are interrelated. Therefore, the values

forming the identity of the physical environment organizing the whole life in a city have a great

importance (Neill, 1997). The city and the constructed environment in the city represent a way

of non-verbal communication by forming messages (Rapoport, 1990).

Physical environment should be handled with environment components and constituents as con-

structed or non-constructed areas. Humanity has been in a struggle for arranging the environ-

ment in which it has lived since it was born. In the spaces which are structured by humans, envi-

ronment consists of products which are created by humans and give the space a meaning as well

as three – dimensional cognitive environment which is natural. The character of such an envi-



236

ronment comprises objects, shapes, fabrics and colors which are there. Every object has an im-

portant role in supporting or wearing down the present identity of that space and building up

this environment (Güneş, 2005).

This study discussed Sille center of population which has a traditional urban fabric in the culture

province of Konya. It has been seen in recent years that a special importance has been given to

Sille as an important culture tourism corridor for the province of Konya with its tourism poten-

tial. Especially preservation and restoration works by the local government have gained momen-

tum in recent years. Therefore, the study discusses urban identity in the example of Sille and

reflections of this identity. The purpose of analyzing urban identity in Sille is to emphasize the

historical urban identity of the region, and focus on the identity of both the city and the citizen

as well as the urban fabric by considering the components of a city. Indeed, the geography

where people live in may have tangible implications on urban identity in many may. In this

context, this study aims to see the effects of urban components on the images and symbols se-

lected in the urban identity and their reflections in urban furniture, by focusing primarily on

components which direct the urban identity.

Thus, in the scope of the study, two competitions were announced under the name of “History

Told: Sille/Konya.” From this viewpoint, a symbol and image competition was initially made.

Thus, it was intended to make the designer think about urban identity. It was aimed to present

the effects of urban components on the images and symbols selected in terms of the urban iden-

tity. Afterwards, it was aimed for the designers to question their opinions in the symbolic or

fictitious sense under the same title by opening an urban furniture competition. This is because

city furniture also confronts us as one of the determinant factors that have importance in the

urban identity. Therefore, the subject of used urban furniture, its harmony with its environment

to be located, its ability to form a whole with the city and what kind of design sense it has in the

urban fabric, solution suggestions for it and producing an idea about what kind of functions

might be have great importance. It was expected the analyses that arose under the study will

provide useful ideas for the development of Sille urban identity and direct attention to the re-

gion.

1.1. Urban Identity and Its Components

A city is a whole formed by interrelated systems. These systems might be the lifestyles of peo-

ple, personality of the society, public, private or semi – private spaces and urban nature as well

as all the city components (Bartın; Bayrakçı, 1991). The constituents that form the city are lined

as the architectural fabric unique to the city, public spaces such as streets and avenues, and ur-

ban equipment that enable the relationships among these (Nayim et.al, 2003). By bringing all

these components together, the city’s skyline is formed, the city is shaped and it acquires an

identity (Aksu, 1998).

Those who define urban identity usually state that cities have an identity with their inner dy-

namics just like a person. City designer Çöl (1998) defines urban identity as “the wholeness full

with meaning that influences the city image; carries qualities unique to itself with different

scales and interpretations in every city; shaped by physical, cultural, socio-economic, historical

and formal factors; formed by urbanites and their lifestyles; reflects the concept of the city

which is constantly developing and is sustainable; revealed by a big process stretching from the

past to the future” (Çöl, 1998).



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The components that form urban identity were evaluated by Önem and Kılınçaslan (2005) with

factors resulting from the environment that is natural, humane and made by the human hand.

Identity factors that result from the natural environment are features such as the topographical

structure of the city, climate conditions, vegetation cover, general location, etc. Identity factors

resulting from the humane environment are the individual and the society. The values which the

individuals and the society form their identities and are in direct relationship with the urban

identity. The identity factors resulting from the environment made by human hand are the fea-

tures of any kind of arrangements made in the city. In these arrangements, any kind of urban

constituents such as avenues, streets, monuments in the city may take place. In preservation and

urban designer competitions, it is expressed that the space is an identity founder factor for de-

veloping a local identity. Besides, creating space is the strongest way to give meaning to a

space. The city is a theatre stage for the social activities, and the memories of the user form the

value of the city. In the city, daily determinant practices of the users are effective in building or

changing the meaning (Liggett and Perry, 1995; Birol, 2007). On the other hand, Ilgın (1997)

says that urban identity is defined by the natural or artificial elements and socio-cultural features

of a city, as well as the environment. Beyhan and Ünügür (2005) gather the components that

form the urban identity under the titles of environmental identity and social identity. The factors

that result from the environmental identity are the natural environment and artificial environ-

ment features of the city. While the natural environment features are determined by the topo-

graphic, climatic and vegetation cover features of the city, artificial environment features are

handled in the scale of location (buildings, streets, main streets, avenues), in the scale of equip-

ment and in the scale of elements that have become a symbol. Additionally, the factors resulting

from the social identity are the socio – cultural identity (historical, population and cultural fea-

tures), socio –economic identity and psychological identity (Beyhan and Ünügür, 2005).

After all these definitions that are examined, the schema of urban identity formation is interpret-

ed in Figure 1. with its expansions.

Figure 1. The schema of urban identity formation

Today, the main purpose of urban branding is to form an interesting image about the space by

using other characteristics and to gain an added value to the city in the global competition

(Eraydın, 2014). On the other hand, the equipment takes an important place among the identity



238

components resulting from the man-made environment as well. Like historical and cultural ob-

jects that take place in the city, urban furniture undertakes a symbolic function in time and plays

an active role in forming the piece of city they are in, or even the whole city (Öztekin et al.,

2003). In terms of the city, urban furniture has an important place because of its qualities that

define and privatize the environment they are in. Urban furniture which is tackled in a specific

system becomes an element of the city integrating with the environment it is in and making a

significant contribution for the formation of a city’s identity with the language unity the pieces

form with each other.

This is why we need approaches which ensure the elements of city equipment are tackled as a

design product each and make possible for them to build the right relations with the city spaces

they take part in, and with each other (Aksu, 2012). Assessing the urban furniture that provides

meaning and integrity to the city and has an important place in the readability and vision of the

city as a work of art will provide creation of art in the entirety of the city (Doğan, 2015).

1.2. In Terms of Urban Identity Konya/Sille

Sille, which is an important tourism corridor for the province of Konya, is a significant histori-

cal city partly due to the history background it possesses. Historical cities are the cultural envi-

ronments that manage to come far with their historical heritage, architectural legacy, and tradi-

tions and beliefs. Historical environments are crucial points in physical and social structure of

the city and components that bring quality to cities and towns (Velioğlu et al., 1993; Akyol,

2006). As one of the regions that is shaped with the culture accumulation of different societies

and builds a bridge between the past and the future, Sille confronts us as an important field of

study with the historical and cultural identity it possesses.

Sille, located in the Central Anatolia Region in the northwest of Konya province, is within 8 km

distance away from the Konya city center, in disguise of the valley between Takkeli and Kara-

buğa Mountains, a settlement located in the north of Sille River (Figure 2). Although it is at a

close distance to Konya, Sille draws attention as an unusual settlement area with its geograph-

ical structure, culture, beliefs and traditions.

Figure 2. The appearance of Sille, 2016



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Önem and Kılınçaslan (2005) state the components that form the urban identity as the factors

resulting from natural, humane and man-made environment. The following sections examine the

factors that result from natural, humane and man-made environment.

1.2.1. Natural Environment

Due to its general location, it lies along the river that flows from the middle of its center in the

direction of east-west in harmony with the inclined topography as a settlement that is located in

between two mountains. Main streets that outstretch to the both sides of the river are linked to

each other through alleys. Starting from the two fronts of the river, it is shaped gradually up-

wards in harmony with the county in the form of neighborhoods, streets and terraces (Ak-

lanoğlu, 2009). Location of the construction forms localized the urban fabric of the city with the

perception of perspective due to the shape of the terrain. No dwelling blocks each other’s sun or

landscape; therefore, the urban fabric in Sille lives in harmony with the nature (Kurak Açıcı,

2014). Due to the slope and the terrain’s limitations, its streets and main streets which are in

harmony with the terraces are quite narrow. Sille is a rich district with its streets in an organic

array and natural beauties thanks to natural land forms.

Sille stone which is frequently seen on the walls of the houses and a natural material unique to

the district covers the floor of the streets (Figure 3). While it was preferred as the main material

in a lot of constructions in the past in Konya due to the fact that it is processed easily since it has

a soft structure called “sille stone” or “blood stone” because of the terrain structure and being an

ideal material in terms of bleeding characteristics as well, it is also used in various forms today

(Erbatur; 1998; Erdoğan, 2014). It may be stated that stone and terra cotta artisans develop

based on the terrain structure and that they have great contributions to Sille economically.

Figure 3. Examples from Sille streets, 2016.

1.2.2. Humane Environment

Sille has been the host of many civilizations throughout history. The background of Sille in

which different nations have lived through the ages extends to the prehistoric ages (Figure 4).

a



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Figure 4. Identity formation of Sille in the historical process

Since the first periods of Christianity, Konya and its surrounding have been important religious

centers. Eflatun Monastery in Sille which is one of the oldest centers that is known in Anatolia

is one of the important centers of first the Christians (Erdem et al., 2010). In the Seljukian Peri-

od, Sille and its surroundings have witnessed important political events. Especially the Castle of

Gevele in Sille became prominent in political struggles of the Seljukian’s period (Sarıköse,

2008). In the Seljukian’s period, when Konya was conquered, the Greek in the city were moved

to Sille in accordance with security measures and conquest traditions of the city (Tapur, 2013).

Sille preserved its place in the Ottoman state authority just like in the Seljukian’s time, and im-

portant political and military events have taken place there in recent centuries (Sarıköse, 2008).

Sille is a settlement which developed before the Republic. However, the Treaty of Lausanne

which was signed in 1923 became a turning point for the history of Sille. Having an urban

quality in terms of social, cultural, economic and urban aspects before the Republic, it was a

settlement that had approximately an 18.000 population (including villages that are affiliated

with Sille) (Ertaş, 2014). With the population exchange in 1923, the Greek who lived in Sille

were subjected to obligatory exile and sent abroad (Tapur, 2013). Thus, as the majority of the

population comprised the Greeks, the population of Sille decreased considerably. Local people

who had stayed in the settlement until 1980 could not improve themselves about agriculture,

commerce and artisanship and began to regress socio-economically. As a result of this, its local

people started to migrate to big cities. Nowadays, the population which lives in Sille has de-

creased further.

Sille is in the positon of a culture center in which people from many religions and beliefs lived

together in the past. As people from various religions and beliefs lived together for centuries,

this brought a cultural richness as well as high tolerance. This cultural richness and tolerance

have been reflected in social life, art, customs and tradition. Sille was a quite developed settle-

ment before the republic period in terms of socio-economics.

1.2.3. Artificial Environment

Sille is a city that has a richness of ancient historical civilizations. Thanks to this, it has a quite

rich historical and cultural legacy and possesses different works from every period it experi-

enced. Culture marks belonging to different periods and cultures, historical places and areas still



241

maintain their existence today. It is a settlement that has cultural and ethnic variation in the ur-

ban fabric with cultural properties which comprise mosques, churches, monasteries, bathhouses,

bridges, fountains, traditional dwellings and wine estates belonging especially to the Seljukian

and Ottoman periods (Aklanoğlu, 2009).

Sille is an important settlement which needs to be preserved before losing all these unique char-

acteristics that it has and fall of the urban fabric into ruin. If necessary care is not given and

precautions are not taken, it will lose this multi-identity characteristic and become a region

completely devoid of nature and culture. The local government which is aware of the risks has

started a positive process about preservation practice in the center of Sille. In this context,

churches, mosques, fountains, historical mansions and traditional Sille houses which were

among these cultural and historical properties were examined by Konya Cultural and Natural

Heritage Preservation High Council and declared the cultural properties in Sille Urban Protected

Area with the resolution no: 4328 and on 19.11.2001 (Tapur, 2009; Mimiroğlu, 2002). By 2012,

street improvements were begun. However, in these projects, façade works were especially giv-

en importance, inner space organizations were insufficient due to deficient or lacking functional

planning (Ertaş, 2016). There is urban furniture that answers various needs on the lanes and the

main streets. Along the Hükümet Street, which was determined as the field of study, and in the

parks on the street; there is urban furniture including pedestrian or traffic guardrails, fountains,

lightning equipment, sitting units, signs and information plates, electrical panels, manhole co-

vers, electric covers, public toilet, telephone booths, litter bins, flower tubs and vegetative com-

ponents. However, when this urban furniture is observed, it may be seen that there is no lan-

guage integrity between them in terms of design. Sille does not carry values unique to the urban

identity and the settlement is not in harmony with the historical fabric.

In Sille, there is a a natural identity that consists of water components and topographical ele-

ments among identity elements resulting from the natural environment, a cultural identity result-

ing from its social structure and the continuity of the region in the historical process, and a his-

torical identity which results from the historical buildings. With the aim of attracting attention to

this identity “History Told Sille/Konya” design competitions tests were arranged.

2. HISTORY TOLD: SILLE/KONYA DESIGN COMPETITIONS

In order to emphasize the urban identity, a test study was conducted via competition to the re-

gion of Sille/Konya which has an important historical environment identity. In the scope of this

study, it was aimed to present the identity of Sille, which has become an important attraction,

historical focus and alternate tourism site for the province of Konya, with images, symbols and

urban furniture. With design competitions of “History Told: Sille/Konya” announced at the

Karadeniz Technical University, Interior Architecture Department, it was aimed in 2015 at dif-

ferent periods to emphasize traditional fabric identity of Sille which contains historical values.

Student competitions are important tools that enable discussing and following of the latest sub-

jects, generating and sharing of ideas on different topics and problems, and making the generat-

ed ideas go one step further. With the arrangement of these student competitions, it was aimed

to contribute to the sharing process, the state of being a center of attraction in Sille, Konya prov-

ince, historical focus and an alternative tourism area.

The subject matters of the "History Told: Konya/Sille" themed design competitions were “im-

age and symbol” and “urban furniture” with the aim of presenting the identity of Sille (Figure



242

5). Different processes were experienced within both competitions, but the main purpose of the

competitions was to emphasize the urban identity which makes a city recognizable. Another aim

was to focus on Sille traditional urban fabric identity which has historical values and future

potentials, and present the aspects of components forming the Sille urban identity that draw

attention. Moreover, before the competition announcements, necessary meetings were held with

attendance of the regulatory board to make the decisions regarding the announcements.

Figure 5. Adverts of design competition

2.1.1. Competition 1: “History Told with Symbol and Image: Sille/Konya” Design Compe-

tition

It was a competition that was arranged as open for the students of the Department of Interior

Architecture who were enrolled in the course “Design of Urban Furniture” in 2015-2016 Atumn

Mid-Term at the Karadeniz Technical University. The banner which was prepared for the an-

nouncement of the competition was published on the website of the Department of Interior Ar-

chitecture and the related billboards within the department. The aim of the competition was

stated as the emphasis of Sille traditional urban fabric identity which contains past historical

values and is also devoted to the future in the image and symbol designs. Competitors were

asked to design imaginative values that appear in their selves absorbing Sille in three dimen-

sions under the image category and to design symbolic expressions in two dimension with a

linear language under the category of symbol.

The competition consisted of the studio, competition and evaluation processes.

• Studio: Before the competition, a studio process was held in scope of the course “Urban Furni-

ture”. In this process, in order to inform the students accurately, the organized provided various

information regarding the study area, and presentations were made about related issues and con-

cepts. The studio process was held under the scope of the competition announced in the course

with the aim that students would detail their image and symbol works suitably to the purpose,

prepare them based on the criteria, and complete an application.

• Competition: The students who were providing submissions were asked to present a presenta-

tion sheet containing information about the name, concept, design and computer-assisted model



243

of their project, as well as a model of it in 1/2 scale. In the symbol category, they were asked to

provide a two-dimensional linear design that reflects Sille and come up with a slogan. The slo-

gan was expected to be a short sentence that is in harmony with the symbol, easy to remember,

and resembling Sille. For this category, presentation sheets were asked to include the abstraction

stages describing the design process, the resulting design and short information explaining the

design.

• Evaluation: Outcomes of the symbol and image categories were evaluated by 7 jurors and

rapporteurs consisting of experts in their own fields. As a result of the application process where

students took part individually, 9 works in the image category and 9 works in the symbol cate-

gory were submitted. While choosing the rankings, considered criteria included ingenuity of the

design, reflection of the traditional fabric of Sille and suitability for the fabric, inclusion of his-

torical values, feasibility, material choice and compliance with terms of participation. Top three

design products were chosen for each category (Table 1-2).

Table 1. Ranks of symbol categories

Prize Project Symbol

Grand Prize

İrem Bekar

Symbol: MOUNTAIN

Sille is a center of population which is valley-looking, located in the dried creek bed be-tween two mountains. With the two mountain skylines, a “S” abstraction which represents the stream between the skylines was designed.

Second Prize

Esra Üstünbaş

Symbol: CAVE

It was designed with the abstraction of the form of temple cave which is carved on the rock at the site of Dikili Kaya on the foot slope of the mountain which is at the south hillside of Sille.

Third Prize

Bahar Altuntaş

Symbol: MOUNTAIN

Sille which is in between two mountains was designed by being abstracted.



244

Table 2. Ranks of image categories

Prize Project Image

First Prize

Hilal Yıldırım

Image: DRIPPING WATER

The image of Sille which emphasizes the im-portance of the water architecture in the re-gion and whose lexical meaning is “gushing, cascading water” is Water. A form of a half drop of water was used in the design dripping from its center.

Second Prize

İrem Bekar

Image: POTTERY, PITCHER

One of the most important means of living in Sille is the pottery. Sille Pitcher, which is one of the products of pottery, was used as an image. Accepted as the simplest form of the pitcher, the development of the pottery from the past to the present has been shown with the movement presented in the form.

Third Prize

Esma Ünal

Image: CANDLE MAKING

Drawing attention to candle making, which is one of the most important means of living in Sille, a “candle” image was designed as the shadow of the time.

2.1.2. Competition 2: “History Told with Urban Furniture: Sille/Konya” Design Competi-

tion

It was a competition that was arranged as open for the students of the Karadeniz Technical Uni-

versity, Faculty of Architecture and Faculty of Forestry Landscape Architecture. The “History

Told with Urban Furniture: Konya/Sille Design Competition” was announced on 7 December

2015 for Hükümet Main Street which is thought to support culture tourism that reflects Sille

Residential Area’s commerce life, socio-cultural structure and architectural character.

The banner prepared for the announcement of the competition was declared on the official site

of the Interior Architecture Department and related billboards within the departments. The com-

petition was announced as a one-stage event. The participants were provided information re-

garding the data that will promote the Sille settlement with its history and identity. The main

subject of the competition was to produce open ideas on what kind of functions they might be

with solution suggestions intended for how an understanding of design in historical or tradition-

al fabric can form a whole within the city. At the end of the given competition period, students

handed over 18 projects. Submitted materials were evaluated by 10 expert jurors and rappor-



245

teurs. While choosing the rankings, considered criteria included ingenuity of the design, reflec-

tion of the traditional fabric of Sille and suitability for the fabric, inclusion of historical values,

feasibility, material choice and compliance with terms of participation. The products which

were ranked at the top three were determined by 10 jurors that consisted of people who are ex-

perts in their fields (Table 3).

Table 3. Ranks of urban furniture categories

Prize Project Concept

First Prize

İrem BEKAR

İsa ÖZYURT

The name of the design: OTURAY

Concept: Road

Sille, Hükümet Main Street is a long and narrow street which has settlement on one side and a river on the other side. An equipment was designed for the parapet that separates the road and the river which do not create loss-of-space. It is a modular sit-in unit that enables flexible usage.

Second Prize

Ceren YEŞİLBAŞ

Abdullah BA-

KAN

The name of the design: CAVERN

Concept: Cave

In order to create a cave effect, pieces in the cubic form and where the pieces are torn a cavern were is designed with the topographic fabric feeling of the Sille canyon.

Third Prize

Hilal KIDIL

The name of the design: LAL

Concept: Stratification and difference

In order to emphasize the state of Sille today which is buried in silence, the word of “lal-mute” was emphasized. This is a city equip-ment which two people can sit or rest in a half lying down position after parking their bicycle. Lal, was designed with different materials con-sidering the integrity they form with the bond between Greek and Turkish people. Metal backrest symbolizes the stratification in Sille natural rocks and the fluidity of the Sille brook.

2.2. Assessment of the Competitions in Terms of the Components of the Urban Identity of

Sille

Considering the competitions organized in the scope of the study where the historical axis of

Sille settlement was analyzed with urban identity components, it may be seen that Sille’s hu-

mane and natural environmental characteristics were emphasized and internalized by the com-

petitors. Considering the top-ranking results individually:



246

• It may be seen that the first three ranks in the symbol design category used the natural envi-

ronment identity of Sille. The first, second and third projects chose to symbolize mountains, a

cave and again mountains respectively. This shows that especially the topographical structure of

the city was used among identity elements resulting from the natural environment. This may be

interpreted as that the topographical characteristics of the settlement of Sille are effective and

noticeable in the region.

• It may be seen that the first three ranks in the image design category used the natural and hu-

mane environment identities of Sille. The first, second and third projects chose to portray water,

pottery and candle-making respectively. In the top project, the river between the two mountains

was especially selected as a topographical aspect among natural identity elements. In the second

and third project, among identity elements resulting from the humane environment, especially

the pottery and candle-making handcrafts were used as elements resulting from the socio-

economic structure of the region. This may be interpreted as showing that, in addition to topo-

graphical characteristics in Sille, handcrafts effective in the socio-economic sense are also effec-

tive and noticeable in the region.

• It may be seen that the first three ranks in the urban furniture design category used the natural,

humane and man-made environment identities of Sille. The first, second and third projects

chose to use the concepts of road, cave and stratification respectively. In the top project, a road

was used as one of the man-made environmental components in Sille. The second project used

the concept of a cave resulting from the topographical state of the settlement. In the third pro-

ject, an emphasis was made on the stratification of Sille due to its status as a city where people

from different religions and beliefs lived together through the history. As the urban furniture

design category was evaluated in terms of the usage of urban components, it may be seen that

Sille was noticeable in all its aspects. Sille may be seen as an attraction due to its topographical

structure, historical past and socio-economic structure.

3. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

In the physical environment arrangements, knowing the historical development processes of the

physical environment factors will help search the factors that influence the development and

design of these constituents, carry out designs suitable for the urban identity, and protect the

identity of our cities.

In the scope of this study, the emphasis was put on the Sille urban identity with design competi-

tions. With symbol and image categories in the first leg of “History Told: Konya/Sille,” design-

ers were inclined to think about Sille’s urban identity. Considering the results which had a place

in the competition, it was seen that design products were revealed based upon the natural envi-

ronment in the symbol category and the humane environment components in the image catego-

ry. In the designs that were influenced by the natural environment identity, especially the topog-

raphy of Sille was prominent. In the designs that were influenced by the natural environment

identity, especially the topography of Sille was used. Finally, in the humane environment identi-

ty, cultural richness was focused on. Considering all these results, it is clear that humane and

natural environment features outweighed others and were internalized by the designers. When

the submitted products were evaluated, depending upon being adopted by the people in time; it

was thought that the images which were obtained in three-dimensions will be the future symbols

of Sille, while two-dimensional symbols might be used for logo purposes or turning into three-

dimensions which will symbolize the city (Ertaş et al., 2016).



247

In the urban furniture category, which is the second leg of “History Told: Konya/Sille” design

competitions, Sille’s natural and humane environment characteristics still stood out. In this cat-

egory, an approach which tackles the terms of making sense of the urban furniture in the city

fabric was displayed. In the end of the design competition, the expectation was to reach urban

furniture that will make city life more active and livable for Sille, reflect cultural richness and

increase the usage of the visual diversity of the new designs that will point to the cultural sus-

tainability as well as designs that reflect the historical city and put them into practice by imple-

menting them in Sille. It was targeted for urban furniture which has an important place in the

urban identity to bring different perspectives to social and economic actors/stakeholders of the

city.

The point aimed to be made in this study was that urban symbols, images and furniture may be

designed by taking inspiration from the elements and factors playing roles in the urban identity.

It is clear that these factors are selected from among the noticeable elements of urban compo-

nents. Urban components and elements prove to represent the reality of being important ele-

ments reflecting the urban culture and identity which cannot be ignored. This importance in-

creases even more when these designs are recognized as significant historical spaces under pro-

tection. While the Sille settlement has a rich structure in every aspect, it proves to be a signifi-

cant region. Every aspect of the study was conducted to contribute to the historical urban fabric

of Sille at the least. On the other hand, students should be encouraged for being able to use cul-

tural elements without hesitation.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

This work was supported by Research Fund of the Karadeniz Technical University. Project

Number: 5350.

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