Sustainable Urbanization in
Konya ,Turkey
1
Sustainable Urbanization in Konya ,Turkey
The book is based on the discussions of the High-Level Meeting on Sustainable Urbanization
in Konya ,Turkey which took place at United Nations Headquarters, New York on 9 March,
2012, organized by UN-Habitat, Consortium for Sustainable Urbanization and the Konya
Municipality.
Edited by Aliye P. Celik, Richard Jordan, Anamaria Vrabie
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Acknowledgments
We would like to express deep appreciation and thanks to all speakers, moderators, chairs,
respondents and H.E. Tahir Akyurek , Mayor of Konya, and his staff for their invaluable
contribution to the Sustainable Urbanization in Konya, Turkey meeting.
We are particularly grateful to Ms. Cecilia Martinez, Director of UN-Habitat, New York City
Office, and Ms. Yamina Djacta, Deputy Director UN-Habitat, New York City Office, as well
as H. E. Ertugrul Apakan, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Turkey to the
United Nations and last, but not least, to … and Mr. Mustafa Sen ….
Board of Directors, Consortium for Sustainable Urbanization
Lance Jay Brown
Aliye P. Celik
Urs Gauchat
James McCullar
Consortium for Sustainable Urbanization
Mission Statement
The Consortium for Sustainable Urbanization is committed in support of the UN-Habitat
Agenda and the Goals 7 and 8 in the Millennium Development Goals. It represents a
collaboration of UN, academic, private sector and other institutions organized to promote the
identification of frameworks for sustainable development and exchanges of best practices
with a new found optimism about our urban future. Its objective is to bring together the
different stakeholders and delegations of UN member countries for conferences, discussions
and dissemination of innovative policies and solutions applicable to both developing and
developed cities and regions of the world. Its programs are meant to promote the goals of
sustainable urbanization with an […] to the widest audience of that includes students and the
general public.
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Contents:
Preface
H.E. Tahir Akyurek , Mayor of Konya
P6
Introduction
H. E. Ertugrul Apakan, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Turkey to the United Nations
P7
Identity and Image of the City
Professor Urs Gauchat, Dean, College of Architecture & Design, NJIT
P9
Principles for change and sustainability
Professor Lance Jay Brown, FAIA, ACSA Distinguished Professor
P10
User Friendliness: Konya as Perceived by Travel Guides and Websites
James McCullar, FAIA, Past President AIA New York Chapter, Co-Chair, Consortium for Sustainable
Urbanization
P13
International Tourism
Sarbuland Khan, Tourism World Tourism Organization Senior Adviser, WTO, Past Director, UNECOSOC
P21
The Challenge and Potential of Sustainable Urbanization
Aliye Pekin Celik, Ph.D. Co-Chair, Consortium for Sustainable Urbanization
P22
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Resilient Urban Design
Jeffrey Raven, AIA LEED AP, Principal, Raven A+U
P23
New Mindsets
Professor Dianne Davis, President ICCC
P25
Ideas for Improving Tourism in Konya
Professor Jukka M. Laitamaki, Preston Robert Tisch Center for Hospitality, Tourism and Sports Management
New York University
P28
Closing Remarks
Ms. Yamina Djacta, Deputy Director, UN-HABITAT New York Office
P35
Annex 1: Program
P36
Annex 2: Additional Websites
P38
Annex 3: Speakers Biographies
P39
Annex 4: Informartion on the City of Konya
P44
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Preface
H.E. Tahir Akyurek , Mayor of Konya
Konya is a city with a rich history and spiritual heritage and with a significant tourism
industry. My target as mayor of Konya is the happiness of the people. Konya is a religious
and historic city and can be seen as the cradle of civilization and where the east meets the
west. Konya is also one of the fastest growing cities in Turkey. The city is implementing
social policies in order to fight poverty and improve the lives of the poor – programs ranging
from vocational trainings to ecological management.
A main target is to see smiling residents in the city. All services should be integrated, using
city information systems. The city of Konya strives to serve as a role model also when it
comes to sustainable technology. For example dirty water is cleaned through biological
processes and distilled. This water is used for watering green areas. There is also a lot of
investment in waste management. Turkey signed the Kyoto protocol and therefore the city
believes that sustainable urbanization is the most important step for climate change. The city
is working in a lot of areas for improving the environment. For example diminishing pollution
produced by vehicles. The city also has priorities in increasing the areas of green land in the
city.
Slums are a challenging aspect of urbanization. Slums are unsustainable and a non-clean
environment. Konya is trying to build in an environmentally-friendly manner and provide
basic social services. Integrated policies for planning have been used, which all takes into
consideration available technology in order to neutralize the effects of climate change. Konya
is planning for the future and principles and laws are rewritten for 2020.
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Introduction
H. E. Ertugrul Apakan, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Turkey to the United
Nations
Today, people living in urban areas exceed half of the world's population. By the year 2050, it
is estimated that this rate would almost reach to 70 per cent. This rapid growth of urban
population has thus caused “sustainable urbanization” emerge as a global issue. Wise city
planning and viable design of infrastructure are not only vital for addressing economic and
social problems at the local level, but also essential for tackling the wider issues such as
climate change, land degradation and pollution.
Cities have naturally become the main drivers of the global economic activity with their
geographical concentration of people, infrastructure, knowledge, and resources. The largest
one hundred urban areas, in other words the megacities, are estimated to have a contribution
about 30 per cent to the global GDP.
However, urban populations exert more pressure on natural resources. Unsustainable
production and consumption patterns create polluted environment which negatively affects
health and quality of life. They also have implications on protected areas and biodiversity.
Slums are one of the most challenging aspects of urbanization. Poor living conditions,
poverty, unemployment and land insecurity are among the many problems arising due to the
slums.
In this context, pursuing “sustainable urbanization” policies is of crucial importance. Building
environmentally sustainable, socially responsible and economically productive cities needs to
be promoted for viable urban areas for citizens from all economic backgrounds.
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Of course, integrated polices are indispensable for planning and building sustainable cities.
Concerted policies should take into consideration resource efficiency, climate neutrality,
appropriate infrastructure and available technology.
Empowerment of local authorities is also central for an integrated urban development policy.
Their proximity to inhabitants gives them a pivotal role in providing basic services. They
must work together with national governments more closely with a view to alleviating poverty
and improving living conditions.
Urban issues are increasingly weighting higher on the international agenda. Urbanization,
among others will be a major topic of the upcoming Rio+20 Conference. The sixth World
Urban Forum will convene in Naples this year in September, with the theme of Urban Future.
These consequent meetings will enlighten the path to the UN-Habitat III Conference, to be
held in 2016. I am happy to once again reiterate that Turkey stands ready to host this
Conference in Istanbul.
Konya is a vibrant city in the heart of Anatolia with a population of 2 million people at an
annual population growth rate of 12 per cent. Almost 75% of its inhabitants live in the urban
centers. Konya is also a historical city, a cradle of civilizations in Anatolia, from Hitites to
Persians and from Romans to Seljuks and Ottomans.
One could easily say that Konya with its cultural and historical heritage is well positioned to
offer an interesting case study from urbanization perspective. With a holistic approach
integrating population dynamics and industrialization with cultural and historical aspects,
cities like Konya can also contribute substantively to global endeavor on sustainable
urbanization.
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Identity and Image of the City
Professor Urs Gauchat, Dean, College of Architecture & Design, NJIT
When talking about the theme of “Identity and Image”, it is important for the projected image
to match the expectation, but also the experience in itself.
Whether Konya is a religious city, a historic city or the cradle of civilization, it is noteworthy
that the relationship between image and identity is met. An unfortunate example is the city
Bilbao, Spain- a city that is in financial trouble for not being able to ensure a continuous
program of festival and events complementary with its landmark museum.
Identity and image are essential in answering the question “who we are”. It is important to
maintain the identity of the city. In Konya there are various trade activities, shows and music
festivals. The challenge is to identify which factors are of interest to the city and how to
connect these factors.
By recognizing the linkages between image – expectation – experience, Konya can create a
positive and successful experience for tourists. The city has failed when tourists feel
disappointed. Image and branching for a city are crucial. The image has to reflect the people
living in the city, as well as provide an attractive and memorable setting – also by delivering
icons as the Eiffel Tower in Paris. World cities are characterized by iconic buildings, should
take under consideration in order to become a well-known international city.
There are several top world cities, which are ranked according to the amenities they provide.
London and New York are categorized as Alpha++ (the top group). Hong Kong, Paris,
Singapore, Tokyo, Shanghai, Chicago, Dubai and Sidney are in the second group, called
Alpha+. The following groups are called Alpha, Alpha-, Beta+ etc. These all consist of mostly
the biggest, well-known cities in the Western world. It is noteworthy to cherish all cultural
resources within a city. Cultural resources are equally attractive for both tourists and citizens.
For example Valencia, a city where festivals and events are taking place every day. Creative
cultural industries have a significant role for the sustainable development of a city.
Moreover, Konya is a major university hub. 80 000 students are studying at the University in
Konya. The educational aspect could be more visible. It is a factor that projects an image of
user-friendliness. Furthermore accessibility is another aspects which should be underlined.
Konya has an international airport, it is also served by high speed trains and a future fast train
is planned between Istanbul and Konya. These are valuable assets which contribute in a
positive way to the Image of Konya.
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Principles for change and sustainability
Professor Lance Jay Brown, FAIA, ACSA Distinguished Professor
1. Design at all scales in a regional context
Promote “a sense of place“ of neighborhood, district, and city identity/character
Enhance the legibility of all new development
Consider implementation and phasing for all new initiatives
Maintain the robust GIS system to help manage Konya’s growth and change
2. Design and Plan inclusively
Plan for housing and community development
Provide a diversity of housing types for visitors, pilgrims, students
Provide a diversity of use types and mix uses
Plan for evolving dynamic demographics?
3. Design for quality
Enhance the legibility of all new development
Consider the quality of the public realm (plazas, streets, parks)
Foster a cultural shift within the general populace as relates to sustainability and public health
Design for advantageous densities and housing choices
Respect views to and from neighboring districts
4. Design and Plan equitably
Develop means to engage citizens in the planning and design of their, neighborhoods,
districts, the city, and the region as a whole
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Ensure access to jobs, health care, open space, and other elements cntral to the pursuit of an
equitable city
5. Design for environmental sustainability
Reinforce continuity of natural systems (e.g. storm water management)
Maximize capacity to reduce and manage waste and waste water (Tuz Golu, Salt Lake issue)
Minimize dependency on fossil fuels
Maximize alternatives to the automobile (TOD, BRT)
Make all design and development work done in the future an exemplar of sustainable urban
living
Continue the process of greening and re-forestation
Maintain and enhance Konya’s hard and soft infrastructure and design for risk resilience
Raise awareness of on risks, both disaster preparedness, urban resilience,
And reconstruction strategies
6. Design for preservation and growth
Consider “urban acupuncture” to encourage positive change
Promote cultural preservation and enhance appropriate access for visitors/tourism
Promote the development and restoration of a quality cultural heritage district and corridors at
both site and city scale
7. Plan for jobs and economic development
Promote tourism including cottage industry homestays, agritourism.
Plan for education and re-education for the information age
Develop strategies for increased water resources to maintain and expand Konya’s agricultural
success (sugar beet and wheat) (Livestock?)
Continue to develop other successful industrial sector growth strategies.
8. Design Plan for maximum accessibility and connectivity
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Maximize the use and cost effectiveness of information technology
Design for social and physical mobility
Consider the convergence of energy, information, building and transportation technologies
Consider physical connections/linkages to the larger context (boulevard, streets, plazas, parks)
Enhance ease of movement and pedestrian accessibility (wayfinding, especially for
visitors/tourists
9. Design and Plan for health, recreation, and cultural amenities
Enhance personal and public health
Emphasize the public realm (again, streets, squares, parks, and other public spaces…the
building blocks of community)
In addition to historic monumental and religious sites for tourist visitors evaluate and develop
a broad range of athletic, camping, concert and other venues for residents and visitors.
10. Planning and Design is a continuing process
To paraphrase Jaime Lerner: Sustainable Planning and Design focuses on good ideas, requires
good teams, is based on simplicity, benefits from unanimity, requires commitment… and,
finally, sustainability calls for all to celebrate the life of your city!
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User Friendliness: Konya as Perceived by Travel Guides and
Websites
James McCullar, FAIA, Past President AIA New York Chapter, Co-Chair, Consortium for
Sustainable Urbanization
The analysis was developed from the point of view of a potential traveler to Konya, and relied
on travel guide books on Turkey available in New York, the Report prepared by the
Municipality of Konya, and related travel sites found on Google. The analysis is based on
research from these sources, which tend to agree in their assessments.
1. Konya as Tourist Destination
Konya is located between two of Turkey’s top attractions – Cappadocia with its early
Christian caves in fairy like rock formations; and Antalya on the Mediterranean which is the
fourth ranked tourist destination behind Paris, London and New York. By contrast Konya is
not identified as a top city destination, but is recognized for its unique history and potential
that set it apart from other cities and regions in the world:
Cradle of Civilization: In local tradition holds that Konya was the first city to emerge after
the Flood. After the flood receded, the fertile Konya Plain gave rise to the first known human
city – Catalhuyuk – that dates from 8,000 BC. Konya, which was occupied by the Hittites and
known as Iconium to the Greeks and Romans, was visited by St. Paul and has left a legacy of
medieval Seljuk architecture. To this day it is known as the “breadbasket” of Anatolia.
Sufism: Konya is Home of one of Islam’s greatest mystical movements, the Mevlana or Sufi
Sect of “Whirling Dervishes” which advocates “love, charity, humility, equality and
tolerance” and helped reshape Islamic thought. The annual Mevlana Festivals is the second
largest in Turkey and attracts Muslim pilgrims and visitors from around the world; and the
Mevlana Museum is one of Turkey’s most popular attractions.
A Modern City: Konya has emerged as the 7th largest city in Turkey with over one million
residents and 80,000 university students served by Turkey’s first high speed train from
Ankara. The city, which derives considerable charm from the juxtaposition of old and new, is
experiencing a boom in popularity that coincides with the surging interest worldwide in the
Sufi mystic poet Mevlana Rumi and the rise of a moderate Islamist government in Turkey.
Yet very little information about contemporary Konya is available.
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2. Summary from Guides and Websites
Tourist Destination
During the annual Mevlana festival in December, Konya is transformed by an influx of
pilgrims and visitors. However, at other times, Konya is described as a fairly quiet and even
provincial city where one can see most of the sights in a day.
This view is shared by travel tours, which list Konya as an overnight stop between
Cappadocia and Antalya, with visits to the Mevlana Museum and occasionally the Karatay
Museum of ceramics. This is born out by attendances at Konya’s museums, where the
Mevlana draws over 1.6 million visitors (world class comparable to the Uffizi Gallery in
Florence and half the Topkapi in Istanbul at 3.7 million), but all other venues draw less than
100,000 (see the Konya Report, Chart 39).
The Konya Municipality does not appear to have a comprehensive tourist website or an
official tourist office; and only one travel guide listed the address of a local tourist office. A
private company was identified as providing half day tours of Konya and day tours to
surrounding sites such as Catalhoyuk, Kilistra and Sille.
Accessibility
International air access appears limited to 3 daily flights via Istanbul, which can take 16 hours
from New York. A new high speed train from Ankara takes 75 minutes, and overnight trains
arrive from Istanbul. Air and rail stations are removed form the central city, with access
limited to taxis and local transportation, with the exception of shuttles that meet flights from
Istanbul. One travel site advised to be careful with taxi drivers, who can take advantage of
visitors to their city.
Historic Sites
Konya has a recognized wealth of historic buildings, most dating from the Seljuk period.
However, little remains from earlier periods at the Alaeddin Hill, which was occupied by the
Hittites, Greeks, Romans and the Seljuks throughout its long history, and visited by St Paul
during his missionary travels. Many of its artifacts were removed to the museum in Ankara, as
were those of Catalhuyuk.
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As noted above, the small number of visitors to all but the Mevlana Museum indicates the rich
history of Konya and its surrounding area is under appreciated or not readily accessible.
Festivals
The Mevlana Festival n December is Konya’s principal attraction. The whirling dervishes, for
which Konya is best known, do not appear to be performed year around, and are more likely
to be seen in Istanbul than in Konya. No other festivals were listed.
Hospitality: Dining Out & Night Life
Travel guides have found that Konya’s dining and nightlife culture is underdeveloped
compared to other destinations in Turkey. Although this has begun to change recently, few
restaurants serve alcoholic beverages and décor and service are considered “strictly
functional”. Its hotels, while recommended, are not listed as top choices by the guides. It was
noted that while fewer people speak English (or any other foreign language), the natural
hospitality of the people of Konya usually makes up for that – an important attribute.
The Living City
Very little is available in the guides or websites about Konya’s neighborhoods, universities,
and cultural communities that would attract visitors for longer stays. This lack of available
information, combined with observations above, further limits Konya’s ability to become
more than simply a venue for the Mevlana Festival and a one day stopover for tour groups.
3. Reflections to Improve Konya Visibility
This can be achieved through development of a comprehensive public-private tourism
program that builds on Konya’s strengths to make it a destination. Beginning fresh, Konya
can create a more thoughtful tourism in contrast to the hustle and bustle of traditional tourism
found elsewhere.
Promote Konya
Develop a state of the art website in multiple languages to appeal to the widest audience.
Promote Konya to travel publications and tour groups. Consider publication of its own guide
(by Lonely Planet or other publishers for placement in bookstores around the world.
Visitors Center / Konya City Museum
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Propose a new Municipal and regional Visitor’s Center with a state of the art presentation of
Konya’s story as the “cradle of civilization” – from the beginning to the present showing its
stages of urban, cultural, artistic, social, economic, political, and sustainable development
through exhibits, film, photographs and models. (An excellent model of a city museum can be
found in Dubai)
The Center would give visitors an overview of places to visit, provide a home base for tours,
and coordinate tourism activities in and around Konya.
Expand Accessibility
Work with airlines and rail to streamline service to Konya with package promotions. Ideas
include:
1) direct flights to Konya with brief stopover in Istanbul (if feasible for customs)
2) connect non-stop flights to Ankara with high speed rail to Konya (similar to the Charles de
Gaulle – TGV connection)
Make easy access from stations to the city center. Regulate taxis for user friendly service
(quality of vehicles, rates, language, and knowledge of city)
Encourage use of English as second language and other languages where feasible. Engage
university students in tourism program
Hospitality
Develop Konya as an affordable destination and base for exploration; including tour packages
that encourage longer stays
Enhance the lodging, dining and nightlife experience to appeal to visitors that build on Konya
traditions, including venues with music, dance and poetry within the historic center and other
neighborhoods
Consider inns in traditional buildings and historic settings, such as the Paradores in Spain, that
may attract visitors and tour groups for longer stays.
Invite visitors to stay with families to experience local culture.
Tours and Local Culture
Identify potential tour themes with guided tours and lectures (one week or more), such as
Cradle of Civilization: Catalhoyuk, Hittite and early Christian sites
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Spiritual: Sufism and early Christianity
Modern and historic Anatolia: Fly non-stop to Ankara, travel by high speed train (not
available in the U.S).and experience Konya and the cradle of civilization
Could Konya become a base with side trips to Cappadocia and Antalya?
Organize tour plans that appeal to different interests: historic buildings, archaeological sites,
the bazaar and neighborhoods, cultural (music, poetry, university lectures), traditional dining,
nature, etc.
Develop more intense interactive visitor programs with Catalhoyuk and other archaeological
sites.
Consider specialized tours to traditional Turkish villages. Sponsor private tours by car and
driver.
Festivals
Continue the Whirling Dervishes programs year around (if feasible) as Konya’s most visible
attraction
Identify potential festivals or celebrations for different months of the year, such as
reenactments of historic events, Christmas and Easter at early Christian sites, shopping in the
bazaar, Turkish kilims, auto and trade shows, and sporting events. Identify programs that
adapt to Konya’s colder winters and warm summers.
The Living City
Konya has the potential to attract visitors for more than the Mevlana Festival and its historic
sites. Visitors often return to cities to enjoy the local culture.
Identify and promote Konya’s neighborhoods, including its university and cultural
communities. Cities have given visibility to neighborhoods through branding of areas that
now appear in tourist guides. As a result, we are sometimes astonished to see tourists walking
around with guidebooks or tour buses passing through places have been taken for granted.
Promote Konya's local and regional sustainable plans that balance smart growth with
preservation of its historic fabric and landscapes.
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References
Travel Guidebooks
1. Lonely Planet Turkey (Australia, UK, USA, 2011)
2. Fodor’s Turkey (US, CAN, UK, 2009)
3. Rough Guide to Turkey (UK, 2010)
4. Frommer’s Turkey (USA, 2010)
5. A Traveller’s History of Turkey (USA, 2009)
Internet Sources
1. Turkey Travel Planner www.turkeytravelplanner.com
2. Turkey Travel Company www.turkeytravelcompany.com/tours
3. Exclusive Travel Turkey www.exclusivetravelturkey.com
4. Sille, Lystra, Catalhoyuk Archaeological Tour
www.happytourturkey.com/turkey_travel/tour_detail/218/
5. Wikitravel http://wikitravel.org/en/Konya
6. Konya Pictures - Turkey Photo Gallery by Dick Osserman
Konya Sept 2008 3880.jpg www.pbase.com/dosserman/image/103943182
“At the Mevlana Museum. I have the feeling that the crowds it draws are bussed to the
museum, pushed through, and then leave for the next town, which is a shame, because they
miss a lot in this great town. I have been walking the Konya streets for days and never saw a
bus at any of the other sights”.
Konya Museum Annual Attendance
Source: Konya Report, Chart 39
Mevlana
1,644,426
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Karatay
71,558
Ince Minare
5,669
Arkeoloji Muzesi
6,758
Ataturk Muzesi
574
Etnografya Muzesi
8,298
List of most visited art museums in the world
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
This article lists the most visited art museums in the world (i.e. all museums with any form of
art on display, some museums such as the Natural History Museum are excluded). This list of
100 is based on "2010 worldwide museum attendance numbers" compiled by The Art
Newspaper published in April 2011.[1] The country with the highest number of visitors in the
top 100 is the United Kingdom. The country with the most museums appearing in the top 100
is the United States. Several major art museums, such as the Palace Museum in Beijing,
which annually draws 7 million visitors,[2][3] the Musée d'Histoire de France in the Palace of
Versailles with 5,659,606 annual visitors in 2009,[4] the Vatican Museums of Rome, with
5,078,004 visitors in 2011,[5] and the National Palace Museum in Taipei, with 3,441,238
visitors in 2010,[6] were not included.
Rank
Museum
City
Country
Visitor Count
1
Musée du Louvre
Paris
France
8,500,000
2
British Museum
London
United Kingdom 5,842,138
3
Metropolitan Museum of Art
New York
United States
4
Tate Modern
London
United Kingdom 5,061,172
5
National Gallery
London
United Kingdom 4,954,914
6
National Gallery of Art
Washington
United States
4,775,114
7
Museum of Modern Art
New York
United States
3,131,238
8
Centre Pompidou
Paris
France
3,130,000
9
National Museum of Korea
Seoul
South Korea
3,067,909
5,216,988
19
Rank
Museum
City
Country
Visitor Count
10 Musée d’Orsay
Paris
France
2,985,510
11 Museo del Prado
Madrid
Spain
2,732,000
12 Victoria and Albert Museum
London
United Kingdom 2,629,065
13 State Hermitage Museum
St. Petersburg
Russia
2,490,387
14 Centro Cultural Banco do Brasil Rio de Janeiro
Brazil
2,317,772
15 Museo Reina Sofía
Madrid
Spain
2,313,532
16 De Young Museum
San Francisco
United States
2,043,854
17 The National Art Center, Tokyo Tokyo
Japan
2,027,980
18 National Portrait Gallery
London
United Kingdom 1,819,442
19 Tate Britain
London
United Kingdom 1,665,291
20 Galleria degli Uffizi
Florence
Italy
1,651,210
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International Tourism
Sarbuland Khan, Tourism World Tourism Organization Senior Adviser, WTO, Past Director,
UNECOSOC
The tourism industry has a significant contribution towards economic growth. Around 5% of
the global GNP is generated by tourism and it is one of the sectors which has shown strong
resilience in the context of the economic crisis. While there are strong positive aspects of
tourism, there are also negative ones which were meant to be addressed by the Global Code of
Ethics. The Global Code of Ethics was developed in 1971 by the World Tourism
Organization and promotes ten principles intended to build sensitivity for the local culture,
biodiversity, as well as for the economic and environmental dimension pertaining to the local
community.
Moreover, in the present context, the tourism industry should take into account the importance
of the ICT sector and the applications dedicated to cities, as well as innovative ways for
public-private partnerships.
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The Challenge and Potential of Sustainable Urbanization
Aliye Pekin Celik, Ph.D. Co-Chair, Consortium for Sustainable Urbanization
Sustainable Urbanization includes environmental, economic and social sustainability. Global
challenges of rapid urbanization and its impact on global warming and the natural
environment, from poverty and inequality to natural and human made disasters have to be
addressed by all cities. The city of Konya is trying to address these issues and continue to
flourish by being a sustainable city in every meaning of the word.
Its rich history, its Sufi tradition of transparency, tolerance, love for the human kind, makes it
easier for it to embrace the universal, United Nations values and development goals. Its past
reaches prehistoric times to Hitites in Cataltroyuk and reminds us of the first written peace
treaty between the Hitities and the Egyptians. Konya’s objective of being a world city,
bringing people of all nations to enjoy its rich heritage is challenging but achievable.
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Resilient Urban Design
Jeffrey Raven, AIA LEED AP, Principal, Raven A+U
Once an ideal “state” of urban sustainability has been defined by stakeholders, an integrated
planning process needs to be undertaken. Considering sustainability and resilience as main
challenges, there are two core factors which should be taken into account: Integrated Systems
and Management and Governance.
Integrated Systems
Sustainable outcomes require integrated strategies across:
 Spatial scales
 Urban systems
 Physical networks
Management and Governance
Sustainable outcomes require integrated strategies across:








City complexity:
Scale, climate, urban form, socio-economics, economic drivers
Limited institutional capacity
Legal barriers
Expertise focused w/in technical silos
“Black box” vs. accountability and transparency
Collaboration across jurisdictional boundaries
Long-term investment vs. short electoral cycles
Strategies Available for Cities
Green and Blue “Fingers” through Compact City
Passive Strategies for the Built Environment
 Sustainable Urban Drainage System (SUDS)
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 Stormwater retention ponds as design amenity
 Natural Cooling from canals and connected green corridors aligned with prevailing
summer
 breezes
 Development pulled back from riverbank flood zone
 Energy-efficiency and dynamic public realm:
 Pedestrian-friendly neighborhoods of cool streets and urban squares lower building
cooling loads
 Stormwater retention as urban design amenity
 Multi-modal transportation opportunities
 Enhanced pedestrian connectivity along canals
 Built environment: Passive strategies to lower energy loads
Low-Energy Passive Strategies
“Locking-in” free, passive benefits from natural systems to ensure long-term resilience:
Drawing integrated expertise from energy, urban design, infrastructure planning, climate
science and green building design
The case study of Masdar, Abu Dhabi showcases the “Smart City”: Integrated Systems
Model, which may contain valuable lessons for the future urban development of Konya.
24
New Mindsets
Professor Dianne Davis, President ICCC
There is a need to look at the anthropological aspect in planning through the “out of the box”
innovations for all members of the society including the aging populations. This can be done
by:
•
Innovative use of Cultural Institutions: to add life to years by getting the elderly
involved.
•
The Village of Happiness: “Multi-Generational Comprehensive Park” is a great
example of that.
•
The percentage of aging population is increasing so there is a need for benefiting from
the “Agequake “ by adjusting for senior tourism
•
Stimulating “out of the box” Solutions is important to find solutions of doing it. An
architectural student competition creates awareness about the needs of the aging
population among young architects and designers.
Now there is a new approach in trying to serve all the population including the aged, those
who have dementia, handicapped , the children. Designing according to certain principles can
provide people with dementia in all cultures a life worth living. It takes “only” commitment
and creativity to look at cultural venues through a “new lens”, so that they can serve
everyone.
Examples of Community Venues are:
•
Museums
•
Theatres
•
Movies
•
Entertainment Centers
•
Book Stores
•
Cultural Centers
•
Religious Centers
25
World Health Organization’s : Aging-friendly Cities Guide Check List Released in 2007
No city is too far behind to make some significant improvements based on the Guide
Checklist.
These good practices provide ideas that other cities can adopt. WHO and its partners in 33
cities from 22 countries asked 2000 older people to describe the advantages and barriers they
experiences in eight areas of City living:
1-outdoor spaces and buildings,
2-transportation,
3-housing,
4-social participation,
5-respect and social inclusion,
6-civic participation and employment,
7-communicaiton and information; and
26
8-community support and health services.
Within the concept of “Imagining the Possible”, a multi-generational well-being park was
designed. The so called “Village of Harmony” is a well-being park with integrated facilities
from sports to healthcare. Facilities and programs are culturally designed for local residents
and to attract tourists.
•
Respite resort hotel + Special Gift Shop
•
Job training center
•
Silver College = 60+ learning center
•
Athletic & recreation fields, gardens, etc.
The international Council of Caring Communities is working on the next generation of “New
Mindset Solutions” by organizing the 2012 International Student Design Competition, in
addition to all the competitions it organized between 1994 and 2005. This new event is
currently organized in support of the United Nations World Urban Forum which will take
place in Naples, Italy 1-7 September 2012.
A Sleeping Giant: The “AgeQuake” is Here! There are challenges and opportunities:
•
What “blueprint” is needed?
•
What new mindsets and paradigms are essential?
•
How will public policies enhance this population change?
•
Will populating shifts such as gender and immigration influence design issues?
•
What role does technology play?
•
Can tourism instigate environmental changes benefiting all?
•
What new visions are required for building a society for all ages?
•
What factors need to be considered for intergenerational relationships?
Urban Futures - Imagining the Possible: A Society for All Generations is explained well with
the quote :“We need a new awareness that ability, not chronology, is the measure of how
much people can contribute to society” from H.E. Julia Alvarez, Former Ambassador for the
Dominican Republic to the United Nations.
27
Ideas for Improving Tourism in Konya
Professor Jukka M. Laitamaki, Preston Robert Tisch Center for Hospitality, Tourism and
Sports Management New York University
Rumi’s beautiful words “Come, come, whoever you are,” should be the heart and soul of
sustainable development in the Konya Metropolitan Municipality. For the Konya tourism
industry this Rumi’s beautiful poem can be the essence of the Konya hospitality when he
writes
“Wanderer, worshipper, lover of leaving — it doesn't matter,
Ours is not a caravan of despair.
Come, even if you have broken your vow a hundred times,
Come, come again, come.”
My ideas for improving tourism in Konya are developed in the spirit of these beautiful words
by Rumi. Based on the combination of rich cultural heritage and diverse modern municipality,
Konya has a lot to offer for international and domestic tourists. Konya has an opportunity to
become the new gold standard of tourism when locals and tourists share human experiences
and happiness together. These shared experiences have to be the “Bucket List” or Once-in-aLifetime authentic and memorable experiences that every tourist should have before they
leave this earth. In order to make this happen, the Konya Metropolitan Municipality needs to
have a strategic tourism development plan that makes Konya’s tourism industry sustainable
and globally competitive based on the Six Alpha Criteria™ of world class Awareness,
Associations, Attractions, Activities, Access and Affordability. I hope that my Ideas for
Improving Tourism in Konya can offer some seeds for this Konya tourism strategic plan in
the form of the following agenda:
1.
U.S. Traveler Key Concerns
2.
U.S. Traveler Growth Segments
3.
Konya Memorable Travel Experiences
4.
Konya Tourism Sustainability Issues
5.
Six Alpha Competitiveness Criteria
6.
Konya Six Alpha Applications
7.
Conclusions
28
1.
U.S. Traveler Key Concerns
Spending more on vacation than budgeted
Germs, bacteria, and viruses in planes, public transportation and hotels
Fuel costs
Being able to check emails on daily basis
Flight frustrations when booking & at the airport
Exchange rates – limits travel to Europe
Source: Trip Advisor Survey 2009
57% confident they will take a holiday trip 2011 (50% in 2010)
$980 average budgeted expenditure (down from $1040 in 2010)
Travel by car (56%) and by plane (34%)
49% book travel at least two months ahead (42% in 2010)
32% of men and 21% of women book within a month
Vacation Deficit Index: 21% (32% in 2010)
“Those who believe that it is important to take an annual holiday trip but are not confident
they will take one.”
Source: Mondial Assistance: Access America Vacation Confidence Index 11/16/11
2.
U.S. Traveler Growth Segments
Go to the nature (change from 2008)
75% visit national park (+13%)
53% go hiking (+3%)
47% engage in an adventure activity (+7)
33% go cycling & biking (+5%)
11% participate in extreme sports (+3%)
29
Become cultural & educated (change from 2008)
87% visit a historical site (+3%)
66% go to theater (+8%)
36% engage in an educational activity (+2%)
Source: Trip Advisor Survey 2009
According to UNWTO’s Tourism 2020 Vision Experiential Tourism will grow fastest:
Rural tourism
Nature tourism
Cultural tourism
Soft adventure tourism
Heritage tourism
Wellbeing holidays
3.
Konya Memorable Travel Experiences
4.
Konya Tourism Sustainability Issues
1.
Effects of tourism on Konya communities
2.
Sustaining tourist satisfaction with Konya
3.
Economic benefits of tourism for Konya
4.
Energy management in Konya
5.
Water availability & conservation in Konya
6.
Solid waste management in Konya
7.
Developmental control in Konya
8.
Control of tourist use intensity in Konya
9.
Triple Bottom Line of Konya tourism
30
10.
Competitive benchmarking of Konya
SMART: Sustainable Model for Arctic Tourism
Support of local economies
Operating in an environmentally friendly manner
Supporting the conservation of local nature
Respecting and involving local communities
Ensuring quality and safety of operations
Educating visitors about local nature and culture
5. Six-Alpha Competitiveness Criteria™
Awareness: Trade and consumers
Associations: Authentic and appealing
Attractions: Authentic and appealing “Bucket List Attractions”
Activities: Authentic and appealing “Bucket List Activities”
Access: Convenient and fast access
Affordability: Competitive value
6. Konya Six-Alpha Competitiveness Criteria™
Konya Awareness*
Strong among pilgrims and Turks
Weak among international tourists
31
Konya Associations*
“Turkey’s equivalent of the Bible Belt”
Whirling Dervishes
Seljuk culture
Alaaddin Tepesi and Mevlana
Ancient mosques and museums
Modern economic boom town
Konya Attractions*
Alaaddin, Aziziye, Iplikci, Kadi Mursel, Semsi Tebrizi and Selimiye Camiis
Archaeological Museum
Ethnographic Museum
Mevlana Museum
Karatay Tile Museum
Ince Minare Museum
Sircali Tombstone Museum
Sahib-I Ata Kulliyesi Mosque
Tarihi Mahkeme Hamami
Konya Activities*
Mevlana Festival and Semas
Bazaars
Ikonium
Sightseeing trips to Catalhoyuk, Gokyurt, Sille, Karaman, Binbirkilise and Sultanhani
*) Source: Lonely Planet Turkey 2010
Konya Access*
Istanbul (IST)- Konya (KYA): 3 daily flights 1h 15min
New York (JFK)-Konya (KYA): 19h 20min
Konya (KYA)-New York (JFK): 14h 30min
32
Helsinki (HEL)-Konya (KYA): 9h 25min
Konya (KYA)-Helsinki (HEL): 6h 05min
75 minute fast train from Ankara
13.5 hour train from Istanbul
*) Source: Kayak.com 3/20-27 2012
Konya Affordability*
Istanbul (IST)- Konya (KYA)-Istanbul (IST): $593
New York (JFK)-Konya (KYA)-New York (JFK): $823
Helsinki (HEL)-Konya (KYA)-Helsinki (HEL): $415
25 hotels from $40 to $159 night
12 rated by Trip Advisor: Hilton Garden Inn highest rated ($ 71)
2 rated by Frommer: Hotel Rumi highest
*) Source: Kayak.com 3/20-27 2012
Cosmos: Grand Tour of Turkey
$ 999 (13 days/1 day in Konya)
Agzikarahan Caravanserai
Central Holidays: Wonders of Turkey
$1685 (15 days /1 day in Konya)
Museums & Mausoleum
Tauck: Turkey Land of Contrasts
$4595 (12 days/1 day in Konya)
Mevlana & Catal Huyuk
7. Conclusions: Ideas for Improving Tourism in Konya
In conclusion, the Konya Metropolitan Municipality should develop sustainable, authentic,
and memorable “Bucket List” tourism experiences. These experiences should be based on a
strategic tourism development plan that makes Konya’s tourism industry sustainable and
globally competitive based on the Six Alpha Criteria™ of world class Awareness,
Associations, Attractions, Activities, Access and Affordability.
33
Thank you for this opportunity to share my ideas for improving tourism in Konya. Please let
me know if I can help making Konya the new gold standard of authentic and memorable
tourism experiences driven by the shared human experiences of locals and tourists.
34
Closing Remarks
Ms. Yamina Djacta, Deputy Director, UN-HABITAT New York Office
It is a great pleasure for UN-Habitat to host this meeting dedicated to the city of Konya. Many
positive aspects link our agency with Turkey. Mr. Joan Clos, UN-Habitat Executive Director,
is a former Ambassador of Spain to Turkey. Moreover, one of our main conferences – Habitat
II was held in1996 in Istanbul and discussion are now taking place for the upcoming Habitat
III conference in 2016 to take place again in Istanbul.
The discussion pertaining to the sustainable urbanization of Konya is taking place at a most
convenient time – when the preparations for the Word Urban Forum 6 which will be held
from 1-7 September 2012 in Naples, Italy are just ongoing. There are many challenges to be
addressed by the current urban agenda: rapid urbanization, urban sprawl and an aging
population in some parts of the world, are just some examples. Also, it is crucial to identify
the real opportunities offered by cities in order to mitigate the risks posed by climate change.
If urban densities and urban planning are to be addressed correctly, the urban future will
indeed be sustainable for the present and future generations.
UN-Habitat is committed to providing a voice for the local and national authorities. The
upcoming conference on sustainable development Rio+20 is going to provide an essential
framework for good governance models. It is cities such as Konya that provide a vibrant
urban landscape and visionary city leadership – and we look forward to seeing good practice
models emerging from this city so rich in history and culture.
35
Annex 1 : Program
AGENDA
Friday, 9 March, 2012
High-Level Meeting on Sustainable Urbanization in Konya ,Turkey
Conference Room: 3 (NLB), United Nations Headquarters, New York
9:00 a.m.
Registration at the Visitor’s Entrance
10.00 a.m.
Welcome Remarks:
Yamina Djacta, Deputy Director, UN-HABITAT New York Office (5 min)
Opening Remarks:
H. E. Ertugrul Apakan, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Turkey to the
United Nations (5 min)
Keynote Address
H.E. Tahir Akyurek , Mayor of Konya (15 min)
Introduction: H.E.. Francis Lorenzo, President, South -South News (5 min)
10.30 a.m.
High Level Structured Discussion:
Moderator; Aliye Pekin Celik, Ph.D. Co-Chair, Consortium for Sustainable
Urbanization (2 min)
Identity: Professor Urs Gauchat, Dean, College of Architecture & Design, NJIT (12
min )
Principles for change and sustainability: Professor Lance Jay Brown, FAIA, ACSA
Distinguished Professor, (12 min)
User Friendliness; James McCullar, FAIA, Past President AIA New York Chapter,
Co-Chair, Consortium for Sustainable Urbanization (12 min)
International Tourism: Sarbuland Khan, Tourism World Tourism Organization
Senior Adviser, WTO, Past Director, UNECOSOC (12 min)
Resilient Urban Design: Jeffrey Raven, AIA LEED AP, Principal, Raven A+U,(12
min)
New Mindsets: Professor Dianne Davis, President ICCC (12 min)
Respondent.: Prof Birol Akgun (5 min)
36
Discussion
1.00 pm
Lunch Break
3.00 pm
Continuation
Prof. Onder Kutlu (5 min)
Mustafa Sen Director Genar (5 min)
"Ideas for Improving Tourism in Konya.. Professor Jukka M. Laitamaki,
Preston Robert Tisch Center for Hospitality, Tourism and Sports Management
New York University
Discussion, Brain Storming
5.00 pm
Forward looking Strategies,
5.20 pm
Closing Remarks, Yamina Djacta, Deputy Director, UN-HABITAT New York Office
(5 min)
37
Annex 2 : Additional websites
http://www.pbase.com/dosseman/konya_turkey&page=all
Excellent photographs, mapped..Dick Osseman
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Konya
history, wiki style
http://www.turkeytravelplanner.com/go/CentralAnatolia/Konya/
Tom Bosnahan’s travel page…good travel site
http://www.tripadvisor.in/Attractions-g298014-Activities-Konya.html
8 traveler recommended sites
http://www.bookturkeytours.com/travel-guide/Konya.html
38
Annex 3: Speakers Biographies
Birol Akgun, PhD is Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, Konya
University, and Professor in its Department of International Relations. Prof. Akgun received
his Ph.D. in 2000 and his MA in 1996 from the Department of Political Science, Case
Western Reserve University, USA, and his BA from the Department Public Administration,
Ankara University, Faculty of Political Science, Ankara, Turkey. Prior to joining Konya
University, he was Associate Professor in the Department of International Relations, Selcuk
University, and the Program Coordinator, International Relations Research, Institute of
Strategic Thinking (SDE), Ankara, (www.sde.org.tr). From April 2004 to 2011, he served as
Board Member, Strategic Research Center, Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) and
member of editorial board of Perceptions: Journal of International Affairs published by
MFA. He has published numerous books and articles in Turkish and English
Tahir Akyurek, the Mayor of Konya was born in Derebucak in 1959.After finishing Law
School at Ankara University, he took duties in the social security system and the Konta
Commerce Chamber as well as NGOs. He practiced Law. Since 2004 he is the Mayor of
Konya.
Ertuğrul Apakan (born 1947) is a Turkish diplomat. Apakan has been the permanent
representative of Turkey to the United Nations in New York since 2009. Apakan was born in
Bornova, Izmir, Turkey. He received a bachelor of arts degree in political science from
Ankara University and in 1970 graduated from Aegean University in Izmir with a masters
degree in economics. Apakan joined the Turkish foreign ministry in 1971. From 1996 to 2000
he was Turkey's ambassador to Northern Cyprus. He became the permanent representative of
Turkey to the United Nations in New York in August 2009. During the month of September
2010, Apakan was the President of the United Nations Security Council.
Lance Jay Brown, FAIA is a New York based Architect, Urban Designer, Educator, and
Author. He is the Principal of the award winning studio Lance Jay Brown, Architecture +
Urban Design founded in 1972. He has served as Assistant Director, Design Arts Program,
National Endowment for the Arts, as Professional Advisor to the WTC Site 9/11 International
Memorial Design Competition; co-Directed the 2003 NEA funded Upper Manhattan Heritage
Project; served as special advisor to Mostar 2004 Urban Reconstruction Workshop, Bosnia
Hercegovina and co-Directed the HUD funded “Crosstown 116: Bringing Habitat II Home
From Istanbul to Harlem” and urban design workshops in Tblisis, Georgia. He is a reelected member of The AIA NYC Board of Directors and Chair of the AIA/NYNV Design for
Risk Committee. He has received the New York State AIA President’s Award for Excellence
in Non-traditional Architecture. In 2003 Brown was simultaneously named ACSA
Distinguished Professor and Fellow, American Institute of Architects and in 2007, he was
39
awarded the prestigious AIA/ACSA Topaz Medallion for Excellence in Architectural
Education, the highest award for an educator in the United States. He has lectured nationally
and internationally and has numerous publications including the co-authored "Urban Design
for an Urban Century" (Wiley. 2009). In 2011 he was elected the inaugural Chancellor of the
ACSA College of Distinguished Professors.
Aliye Pekin Celik, PhD, Co-Chair of Consortium for Sustainable Urbanization was
instrumental in establishing innovative participatory mechanisms to build alliances to
influence momentum towards addressing some of the world’s most pressing concerns in
developing countries as the Chief of Economic and Social and Inter-organizational
Cooperation Branch, UNDESA. She started the book series on the High Level Segment of
Economic and Social Council, worked on the Ad Hoc Advisory Group on Countries
Emerging from Conflicts. As the Head of NY office of UN-HABITAT, she directed the
preparations for the World Conference HABITAT II, which was held in Istanbul, Turkey in
1996. She served UN-HABITAT Nairobi and New York, working on building materials,
construction technologies, and sustainable urbanization, energy and gender issues. As a
principal researcher in the Scientific and Technical Research Council of Turkey, Building
Research Institute, and the Ministry of Construction and Resettlement and adviser to the
State Planning Department, she worked on energy conservation and affordable adequate
housing. She has degrees in architecture from Middle East Technical University, Princeton
University, and a PhD from Istanbul Technical University. Celik was a Fulbright Scholar and
received numerous awards from OECD (1972), Princeton University (1979), AIA (2009,
1997, 1970) and Soroptimist International NYC (2005), where she served as President from
2008 to 2010.
Diane Davis is an international consultant and public speaker, specializes in integrated
products and services for the hospitality, healthcare, built environment and educational
industries. Professor Dianne Davis is the founding president of the International Council for
Caring
Communities (ICCC), a non-profit organization established in 1994 that has Special
Consultative Status with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations. ICCC
mission is to stimulate and identify successful strategies, creative solutions and cross-sectorial
dialogues which bridge gatherings of non-traditional experts and decision-makers from
government, private sector, universities and NGOs, as well as United Nations agencies to
promote a Society for All Generations. The centerpiece of her work fosters connecting the
dots for a better urban future by imagining the possible! Professor Davis received her
graduate degrees from Columbia University and since 1966 has been cited in “Who’s Who of
American Women.” Currently, she serves as an Advisory Board member of the Digital
He@lth Initiative for Technology and Innovation for Equity and on various United Nations
NGO Committees. and on the Board of Trustees of New York University Medical Center.
40
Known as an industry catalyst, change agent, and futurist, her goal is to develop “cross over”
ventures and stimulate traditional “sleeping” organizations or programs to move into the
forefront of performance and impact.
Yamina Djacta has been working in the field of economic and social development for more
than twenty years. She also has been working with the United Nations for many years, at both
Headquarters and field level, in the areas of policy, planning, programme development,
management, capacity development, monitoring and evaluation. She joined UN-HABITAT in
January 1996, and is currently the Deputy Director of the New York Office of the United
Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-HABITAT).
Urs P. Gauchat is the Dean of the College of Architecture and Design and Professor of
Architecture, New Jersey Institute of Technology. Professor Gauchat transformed the School
into an internationally recognized leader in the area of CAD (Computer Aided Design) and
community development. Professor Gauchat is particularly interested in creating a bridge
between the considerable resources of universities and the needs of communities. As a
professional and academic he has a long standing interest and expertise in the field of housing
and community building worldwide. From 1978-1998, Professor Gauchat was the President
of Gauchat Architects, Inc. Professor Gauchat also served as a consultant to governmental and
non-governmental agencies. Professor Gauchat holds a Master in Architecture from the
Harvard Graduate school of Design.
Onder Kutlu,Ph.D. is a professor of Economy and Administrative scences in Selcuk
University in Konya. He got a Bachelor’s degree from Ankara University,Faculty of Political
Science,Public Administration and Masters in Administration from Exeter University
Jukka M. Laitamaki, Ph.D. is Clinical Professor at New York University Preston Robert
Tisch Center for Hospitality, Tourism and Sports Management. He has his Ph.D. from Cornell
University School of Hotel Administration (USA) and M.Sc from the Turku School of
Economics and Business Administration. Dr. Laitamaki is a global expert in strategy,
marketing, branding, sustainability and entrepreneurship with special focus on international
hospitality and tourism industries and higher education. He has 30 years of international
strategic consulting and executive education experience in over 20 countries and six
continents. He has worked as a strategic management consultant with Service Management
Group and McKinsey & Co. and as a professor at U.C. Berkeley, Fordham University and
New York University. Dr. Laitamaki’s research has been published in international
conferences and journals, including the European Management Journal, the California
Management Review and the Journal of Transnational Management. At Fordham University
Dr. Laitamaki built and directed the Global Professional MBA (GPMBA). He is a contributor
on tourism policy, crises management and global competitive strategies of tourism
destinations for the text book Travel and Tourism: An Industry Primer by Prentice Hall.
41
H. E. Francis Lorenzo is the Honorary President of South-South News, an initiative
launched during the Sixteenth Session of the High Level Committee on South-South
Cooperation at the United Nations in New York to advance the implementation of the
Millennium Development Goals. Ambassador Lorenzo leads the initiative through the sharing
of best practices in the area of South-South and triangular cooperation. South-South News is a
platform for showcasing programmes and building capacity in the field of e-governance,
education, health, transfer of technology, renewable energy, food security, climate change,
and sustainable development. Ambassador Lorenzo is also an alternate Ambassador of the
Dominican Republic to the United Nations, and worked with the UN Public-Private Alliance
for Rural Development and the UN Economic and Social Council .Ambassador Lorenzo was
the former Vice President of the Commission for Social Development and is the current vice
president of the United Nations Association of the Dominican Republic (UNA-DR), which
has brought together key stakeholders in the country. Under the leadership of President Dr.
Leonel Fernandez, the Dominican Republic is the only country using Model UN in its public
schools.
James McCullar, FAIA, is Co-Chair of the Consortium for Sustainable Urbanization and
principal of James McCullar Architecture in New York City. His work in community design
and affordable housing has been recognized through numerous awards, including a national
AIA Honor Award in urban design for the Jamaica Market and election to the AIA College of
Fellows. In 2008 he served as President of AIA New York, where he led the chapter’s
response to Mayor Bloomberg’s initiatives for PlaNYC which included collaborations for the
UN Forum on Sustainable Urbanization in the Information Age and the Greening the Iron
Ribbon Conference on the Northeast Megaregion. From 2003 to 2006 in response to the
Mayor’s housing initiatives, he led a forum that showcased housing design at the Center for
Architecture in New York. As a founding member of the Consortium for Sustainable
Urbanization, he has been engaged in developing collaborations for programs with UN
Habitat on emerging issues. He has taught at Kansas State University and the New Jersey
School Institute of Technology. He received a BA and BArch from Rice University, a
Fulbright scholarship for urban design in Paris, France, and a Masters in Architecture from
Columbia University where his thesis was on New York region.
Jeffrey Raven, AIA, LEED AP – RAVEN A+U - Jeffrey is an architect and urbanist with
over 20 years of US and international expertise in sustainable design, planning and policy.
Recent project work includes resilient urban design in India and Vietnam, Masdar carbonneutral development in Abu Dhabi, green airport design, and adaptive re-use of the built
environment. He is a technical advisor for the development of a sustainable framework for
cities throughout the US called STAR Community Index and the Clinton Climate Positive
Program for international developments. Jeffrey was educated at Cambridge University,
Trinity College, and the Rhode Island School of Design. He is Adjunct Assistant Professor of
Architecture and Urban Design at Columbia University and has been an instructor for The
New York Times Knowledge Network. Jeffrey lectures extensively, including The World
Bank, Asian Development Bank, UNEP, Cornell, and Cambridge University. He wrote
42
“Cooling the Public Realm: Climate-Resilient Urban Design”, Resilient Cities (Springer
2011) and is currently contributing to the US National Climate Assessment, with focus on
urban
design
and
the
built
environment.
43
Annex 4: Information on the city of Konya
The districts of Selçuklu,Karatay and Meram of Konya are analyzed in this study. This study
reflects the spirit of the city and the city center of Konya is examined in detail.
Sources from different instituions have been used to process qualitative and quantitative datas.
Konya,located in the western Anatolian with Ankara and Karaman,creates Konya sub-region
with Karaman.İn the statistical studies,this region that contains Konya and Karaman usually is
entitled district level TR52 2. A lower level contains all districts of Konya and its name
district-level. This study analyzes Konya, together with the districts of Selcuklu, Meram,
Karatay
İn short,in this study ,the city center of Konya is regarded as level4.
First Level
Western Anatolia
Second Level
Konya –Karaman
Third Level
Konya
Fourth Level
The City Center of Konya
Selcuklu,Meram,Karatay
Within this framework, there are 8 important topics:
1) History
2) İmportant historical and cultural heritages
3) General geography and climate
4) Districts and administrative structure
5) Distribution of Population
6) Transportation
7) Health
8) Education
44
9) Housing and İnfrastructure status
10) Social life
11) Environmental
12) Agriculture and Livestock
13) Industry
14) Tourism
HİSTORY
The history of Konya is a projection of Anatolia,the cradle of many civilizations. Konya is at
the intersection of different cultures and its history dates back to B.C. VII.civilization of
Çatalhöyük. Many civilizations like Hittites,Lydians,Persians,Pergamon,Romans dominated
Konya in the past.
Chart 1.The civilizations that affect historical development of Konya
First States
Çatalhöyük
Hittites
Phrygians
Lydians
Persians
Macedonians
Romans
Sassanids
Umayyads
States between 1071-1923
Seljuks
Karamanoğulları
Ottomans
Until 5.century,Konya was a Byzantine province. In this period, it was attacked by Muslim
Arabs and Turks. In XI.centry,Turks who reached to Anatolia with the victory of
45
Manzikert,started a new era in Anatolia and in Konya. After this victory, with the
establishment of Anatolian Seljuk state under the leader of Suleyman Shah, Konya became
the capital city.
İn the period of Anatolian Seljuks, many statesmen, scholars and men of mysticism like
Mevlana Celaleddin, Şems-i Tebrizi, Sadreddin Konevi, Kadı Burhaneddin, Kadı Sıraceddin,
Muhyiddin İbni Arabi, Şahabeddin Sühreverdi lived in Konya.
In the XIII.century, Anatolıan Seljuks collapsed after the Mongol İnvasion and
Karamanoğulları state was established.
İn this period, there were important scholars and men of mysticism like Ahmet Eflaki, Sarı
Yakup, Ulu Arif Çelebi, Adil and Alim Çelebi who lived in Konya.
Ottomans ruled over Konya for a short time, but with the intervention of
Timur,Karamanoğulları redominated Konya.
Ottomans started to dominate Anatolia after the war of Ankara. Ottomans dominated Konya
in the period of Mehmet the Second after he won the title ‘Conqueror’ .Ottomans dominated
Konya for a half century. Konya won its independance in 1920.
Konya is the center of tolerance with its history and its diversity.
İmportant historical and cultural heritages
Konya,with its history,reflects traces of many different civilizations and has a lot of
interesting works.
Photo 1 The mosque of Alaaddin
The other important works in Konya reflect the features of Seljuks,Karamanoğulları and
Ottomans.So,ıt is possible to see a lot of mosques,madrasas,inns,baths,complexs belonging to
different period.
Chart 2 The monuments from Karamanogulları,Seljuks and Ottomans
The monuments belongng to Karamanogulları-The shrine of Kalenderhane,the mosque and
the shrine of Tursunoğlu,the shrine of Kadı Mürsel,the mosque of Meram Hasbey,the shrine
of Burhaneddin Fakıh,the bath of Mehmet Bey,The court bath
The monuments belonging to Seljuks-Slim Minaret,the madrasa of Karatay,the mosque of
Alaaddin,the shrine of Karatay,the shrine of Karaaslan,the mosque of Hodja Ahmet Fakih,the
mosque of Erdemşah,The madrasa with glass,the mosque of İplikçi
The monuments belonging to Ottomans-The mosque of Selimiye,the library of Yusuf Aga,the
mosque of Şerafeddin,the mosque of Hacı Fettah,the mosque of Aziziye,the kulliye of
Mevlana
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There are 673 historical monuments in the center of the city. 268 historical monuments are in
the district of Meram,these of 106 in the district of Selcuklu,these of 209 in the district of
Karatay.
Chart 3 .The registered historical monuments in the city center of Konya
The name of district
The number of monuments
Meram
268
Selcuklu
106
Karatay
299
Total
673
Map 1 The map of historical structures of Konya
Today, there are 52 historical monuments belonging to the period of Seljuks. The oldest work
is The mosque of Alaadin. The insription of the mosque of Alaadin belongs to the year of
1155. Also,450 historical monuments belong to Ottoman period. The oldest of these works
belongs to the end of the century of XV and the head of the century of XVI.
Photo 2 Madrasa
This study shows us the cultural prosperity of Konya.There are 49 archaeological sites,122
mosques,9 inns,6 baths,9 madrasas and 10 shrines.
Photo 3 The relic of the palace of Kılıçarslan
Chart 4 The cultural and natural assets of the central province of Konya
Photo 4 The museum of Mevlana
The most prominent work is the museum of Mevlana.Also,the library of Yusuf Aga,the
mosque of Selimiye in the district of Selçuklu,the Alaaddin Hill and the mosque of Alaaddin
attract attention with the relics of the palace of Kılıçarslan that is on the top of the peak of
Alaadin,Madrasa with slim minaret and Madrasa of Karatay.Also, we can say that the church
of Aya Eleni,the mosque of Hasbeyoğlu and the shrine of Tavusbaba are among these
important works.
Photo 5 The church of Aya Eleni
Photo 6 The madrasa of Karatay
GENERAL GEOGRAPHY AND CLİMATE
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Konya is located in the middle of Anatolian peninsula and in the South of the region of central
Anatolia, in the heart of the Anatolian province, is surrounded by the provinces of
Ankar,Isparta,Afyon,Eskişehir,Mersin,Karaman,Antalya,Niğde,Aksaray.
Generally, Konya is an flat area. Alaaddin Hill is the highest point of Konya.
There are mountains of Tekkeli and Loras in the west of the district of Seljuk.Also,on the way
to Aksaray is located the sequence of Bozdağ mountain.
There is a small lake near the village of Obruk.
Tepeköy and Kızılhan segments will be accepted as wooded areas.Also,there ara two dams
called Altınapa and Sille in the city center of Konya,located in the town of Seljuk.These
damsa re the sources of the river of Meram and Sille
The farmlands in Karatay has been irrigated by canals located in the lake of Beysehir,in the
dam of Apa.
The rainfall regime of Konya refşlcts the features of the region of central Anatolia.
There are much snow in winter,much rain in spring.
The river flows are higher in winters and in springs.
Chart 5 The observed values meteorological of the city center of Konya for the period
between 1975-2010 according to months
Districts and administrative building
There are 200 municipalities,584 villages in Konya.İn Karatay there are 5 municipalities,25
villages,in Meram 7 municipalities,22 villages,in Selcuklu 4 municipalities,20 villages.
The name of district
Total
The number of municipality
200
The number of village
584
Metropolitan
1
-
Karatay
5
25
Meram
7
22
Selçuklu
4
20
There are 31 districts in Konya.Meram,Selcukul and Karatay are central ditricts.The others
are off-center districts.
Chart7 Central and decentralized districts
DİSTRİCTS
Central districts
THE NUMBER
3
48
Decentralized districts
28
İt is seen that the Selcuk,Meram and Karatay together Konya have an area with 2,092,98km.
Meram has an area of 738,633 km,Karatay of 574,396 km,Sekcuklu of 779,955km.
chart 8 The values of area of central districts of Konya
DİSTRİCT
AREA
MERAM
738.633 km
KARATAY
574.396 km
SELCUKLU
779.955 km
TOPLAM
2.092.98 km
Distribution of population
The highest population of Konya is in Meram,Karatay and Selcuklu.Also,Karaman Ereğli and
Aksehir attract attention as the off-center crowdwe districts.
According to TUIK.Karatay embodies a population of 242 495, Meram 2980169,Seljuk
495363
Map 2 The distribution of population in the districts in Konya
Chart 9 –Konya in central disrticts population
The city
Districts
Population
Man
Woman
Konya
Karatay
242.495
121.261
121.234
Konya
Meram
298.169
148.779
149.390
Konya
Selcuklu
495.363
244.518
250.845
Konya
Total
1.036.027
514.558
521.469
Between 2008-2010,there is no reduction in the number of people in the central district.İn
2008,the number of people per km 426 in 2009.433; in 2010 445 in Karatay.
İn Meram ,in,2008 the number of people pre km 393,in 2010 405;in Seljuk,in 2008 and in
2009 480 and in 2010 507.İn total,this number rose to 507 in 2008 in the center city of Konya.
Chart 10 The population density of city center and central districts of Konya
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Chart 11The population growth rate in the districts of the city center of Konya
Transportation
Konya,located in the middle of the Anatolian province,in many respects is a part of advanced
transportation network.İt is easy access to other cities from Konya by plane,by railway,by
highway.
There is no problem of public transport in the city.
Road transport
Chart 12 The lenght of roads of state,city and village
The feature of road
The road of state The road of city
Asphalt
1397
The road of village Total
1529
4627
7553
Stabilize
0
2
1597
1599
Leveling
0
0
509
509
Raw
0
0
63
63
Total
1.397
1.531
6796
9.724
The highway transportation is provided from bus station.
2.Railway transportation
The railway transportation of Konya goes back.
Chart 13The railway timetable and routes
3.Air transportation
Konya air transportation is provided by two companies fort he moment.Turkısh Airline and
Pegasus Airlines.Konya-İstanbul Atatürk Airport flights every weekday.
Chart 14 Konya Airport Aircraft Traffic
Urban transportation
Urban transportation in Konya is provided by the mınicipality via bus and tram lines.Buses
are divided among themselves according to ther passenger carrying capacity as
Otokar,Körüklü,Solo.
50
The number of Solo buses is the highest 60 units operating within the municipal trams in
urban transport vehicles ranks second.
Chart 15 Konya Metropolitan Municipality 2011 public transport information(vehicle
numbers)
The source-Konya Metropolitan Municipality
Konya Metropolitan Municipality has made an important step in local transportation.The
number of passengers carried by the Konya Metropolitan Municipality reach to about 67
millon.On the other hand,the number of passengers daily is estimated at 183600.
Chart 16 Total number of passanger transported annual and daily in urban transport
Annual
Daily
67 000 0000
183.600
The source- Konya Metropolitan Municipality 2012
Lines in the remotest parts of the city,dating back to the minibus public transport operations
carried out by the municipality fort he residents of Konya is an alternative.
Map 3 The density of population and minibus line
Health
Chart 17 The number of health institutions in the city center of Konya
General health services
Dental health
Laboratorys
State hospital
3
State
2
Bacteriology 5
University hospital
4
Surgery
100
Biochemistry 2
Birth house
1
Private dental clinic 5
Private hospital
7
Private dental prosthetic laboratory 51 Radiology
Private ployclinic
2
Oral and dental health center 2
FTR
2
6
Radiotherapy 1
Chart 18 The number of students for classroom in the central districts of Konya
Selcuklu
Meram
Karatay
Primary education
38
33
36
General secondary education
33
28
24
Vocational and technical education
37
51
35
51
Chart 19 The number of schools in the central districts of Konya
Selcuklu
Meram
Karatay
Preschool
15
9
Primary education
91
103
79
General secondary education 22
13
13
Vocational and tecnical education 14
5
8
130
103
Total
142
3
Four institutions of higher education in Konya city center can be mentioned that the level of
service. University of Selcuk University, Konya of the institutions and government agencies,
universities and Mevlana Karatay had the characteristics of the private university.
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