About the Project
“Cappadocia and Urban Studies” is a research platform that has been conducted since 2022 in collaboration with the Cappadocia University Cappadocia Studies and Cultural Research Application and Research Center and the Department of Urban and Regional Planning. It examines the spatial transformation, urbanization processes, and cultural identity formation of the Cappadocia region from a multidisciplinary perspective.
The project aims to produce scientific knowledge and develop policy recommendations that support the sustainable development of the region by addressing Cappadocia’s unique geographical, historical, and cultural structure within the framework of spatial, identity, and aesthetic principles.
EVENTS HELD
1. Opening Workshop: “Cappadocia and Urban Planning Studies”
November 16-17, 2022
Organized in collaboration with the Department of City and Regional Planning at Cappadocia University and the Cappadocia Research Center, the opening workshop serves as the founding event of the “Cappadocia and Urban Planning Studies” platform.
Workshop Themes:
• Space and Identity
• Principles and Practices of Conservation
• Aesthetics and Urban Design
• The Unique Spatial Character of Cappadocia
The workshop produced important findings and suggestions regarding the preservation of Cappadocia’s spatial identity and the management of sustainable urbanization processes. The gathering of participants from different disciplines laid the foundations for the platform’s multifaceted research approach. Speakers:
Prof. Dr. Ruşen Keleş – Urban Scientist, “Identity in Cappadocia”
Prof. Dr. Mehmet Tunçer – Conservation Planner and Academic, “Conservation in Cappadocia”
Restoration Architect Aslı Özbay – Conservation Expert, “Planning for Cappadocia”
Surveying Engineer İrem Yurday – “Urban Agriculture in Cappadocia”
Tourism Areas Planning Specialist İdil Üçbaşaran – “Tourism and Urbanization in Cappadocia”
Throughout the workshop, sessions held in different locations in Cappadocia, field trips, and round table discussions provided a rich discussion environment among the participants. Lunch and tea/coffee breaks allowed for the strengthening of informal academic interaction.
The workshop produced important findings and recommendations regarding the preservation of Cappadocia’s spatial identity and the management of sustainable urbanization processes. The gathering of participants from different disciplines laid the foundations for the platform’s multifaceted research approach; a roadmap for future studies was created.
Click here for event details.
About the Project
Organized by the Cappadocia Studies and Cultural Research Center, within the scope of the ongoing “Cappadocia and Urban Planning Studies” project, and with the support of the Faculty of Architecture, Design and Fine Arts and in collaboration with the Department of City and Regional Planning, this scientific meeting constitutes an important part of the scientific research project titled “Investigation of the Effects of Population Exchange on Space and Identity in Cappadocia,” supported by Cappadocia University. Conference Scope:
The conference aims to examine the spatial, social, and cultural effects of the population exchange in a multi-dimensional way, focusing particularly on the Cappadocia region, on the 100th anniversary of the Turkish-Greek Population Exchange that took place after the 1923 Treaty of Lausanne. The study was conducted from the following perspectives:
Urbanization and spatial transformation
Sociological and psychological effects
Architectural heritage and preservation
Art history and cultural continuity
Tourism and economic transformation
Folklore and ethnology
Identity formation and memory
Participants:
The conference was attended by academics, experts, students from different disciplines, and representatives from various sectors such as tourism, culture, and local government. This multi-stakeholder participation allowed for the discussion of the effects of the population exchange in both theoretical and practical dimensions.
The findings and discussions generated at the search conference were presented as a panel session at the international congress “Rethinking the Turkish-Greek Population Exchange on its 100th Anniversary” (https://mubadele.kapadokya.edu.tr/) organized by Cappadocia University in September 2024. The panel titled “Evaluation of Life Before and After the Population Exchange from Different Perspectives: The Mustafapaşa/Sinasos Example” brought the effects of the population exchange on space and identity in a local context to the national and international academic discussion.
About the Project
Date: April 2026 The third scientific meeting of the “Cappadocia and Urban Studies” platform aims to examine the spatial, cultural, and ecological dynamics of Cappadocia, focusing on its viticulture culture.
Research Questions:
What are the historical and contemporary impacts of the viticulture tradition on the Cappadocia landscape?
How has the spatial organization of vineyards and vineyard houses been shaped?
What is the relationship between viticulture culture and local identity and social structure?
How does the climate crisis affect viticulture practices and the landscape?
How can sustainable viticulture and rural development strategies be developed?
Disciplinary Scope:
Landscape architecture and planning
Rural architecture and conservation
Cultural geography
Folklore and gastronomy
Climatology and ecology
Tourism and local economy
History and ethnobotany
Art history and archaeology
Collaborations:
This study will be conducted in collaboration with Cappadocia University Gastronomy Research Center, Department of City and Regional Planning, and relevant stakeholders (local vineyard owners, wine producers, local governments).
