BULENT TURAN - ARCHITECT & URBAN DESIGNER - RESTORATION
From AI :
Bülent Turan, an architect from Izmir, is a well-known name, particularly in the Aegean Region (Izmir, Çeşme, Alaçatı), for his restoration projects, luxury residential designs, and urban design work. He is a professional with a multifaceted career in architecture and art. Bülent Turan's architectural approach and prominent works are as follows:
1. Areas of Expertise and Style
Restoration and Conservation: He specializes in restoration projects that combine traditional textures with modern functions. He has played an active role in the restoration of stone houses in Alaçatı and Çeşme, as well as the renovation of historical mosques and inns (e.g., Manisa Sarı Ahmet Paşa Inn, İzmir Ertuğrul Mosque,...).
Urban Design and Public Spaces: He is known for his city square and park projects. He won first prize for his Izmir Atatürk Peace Monument and Park project. Tourism and Modern Buildings: He also has projects in hotels (such as Double Tree by Hilton Alsancak) and high-rise buildings.
2. Featured Projects
Turan's portfolio includes many iconic buildings in and around İzmir:
Çeşme and Alaçatı: Turan Houses, Mamurbaba Summer Houses, and Alaçatı Stone Houses.
İzmir Center: IKSEV (Historical Counter Workshop) restoration, Çeşme Cumhuriyet Square project.
Cultural Heritage: Kula Historical Streets restoration and Kuşadası Kaleiçi Mosque restoration projects.
3. Artist Identity and Vision
Bülent Turan is not only an architect but also an internationally recognized painter. He is a member of the Pastel Society of America and blends architectural perspective with art in his works. His office in İzmir also functions as an art gallery (Bulvar Art Project), bringing together art and design.
Dokuz Eylül Üniversitesi Fen Bilimleri Enstitüsü Şehir ve Bölge Planlama Anabilim dalı Kentsel Tasarım programında Master yaptı,
Doktora yeterliğini aldı. 1998 de; “AIA, Amerikan Mimarlık Enstütüsü”nün üyeliğine kabul edildi.
Award-winning architect
BULENT TURAN. The elephant and him
He is an urban planner, architect, and coordinator for the Aegean region of the Cekül (Plumb Line) Foundation, a highly influential organization in the protection and development of architectural heritage. Although he has successfully completed several exemplary projects, the order book of 45-year-old Bulent Turan remains rather empty, as his daily columns in the newspaper Ege Ekspres irritate more than a few. His pen spares neither the region's municipal councils nor the major contractors who might entrust him with projects… if he would turn a blind eye to the defacement of natural landscapes. But that's not his style. This stubborn man is also a unique case in Turkey due to his tireless activism for animal rights, particularly for an elderly elephant confined to a small enclosure in the Izmir Zoo. To draw attention to his plight, Turan called on the public to come and “share Pak Bahadur’s [the animal’s name] 58th birthday cake in front of his enclosure” one Sunday in October 2005. It was the second birthday party he had organized in this way, paying for the park entrance tickets out of his own pocket. The mayor of Izmir eventually promised to relocate the zoo to a larger site, but Bulent Turan’s ultimate goal is to achieve “the complete disappearance of this archaic and barbaric practice of zoos.”