Babar Mumtaz says Ozkan established the Bodrum Architecture Library – very important collection around which lectures and events are held – cultural space
Suha Özkan, born in Ankara, Republic of Türkiye, studied architecture at the Middle East Technical University (METU), graduating in 1969. Upon graduation, joined the Architectural Association (AA), for a 1 year post-graduate course in the School of Graduate Studies, electing also to also in the Department of Development and Tropical Studies, where he was tutored by Michael Safier. His ‘Theory of Design’ graduate thesis, entitled ‘General Conceptual Framework for Methodology for Design’, is still held within the AA Library. His studies in the UK were supported by the British Council. Since 1972, Ozkan has been teaching at METU, where he held the position of vice president from 1979 to 1982. He earned his PhD in 1980 from METU, with a dissertation entitled ‘A Categoric Structure for the Theory of Design’. From 1983 to 1990, he was the Deputy Secretary General of the Aga Khan Award for Architecture, and from 1990 to 2007, he held the position of Secretary General, contributing significantly to the Aga Khan Award's status as one of the leading architectural institutions globally. During this time, he participated in organising several architectural competitions on behalf of the Aga Khan Trust for Culture, including the Samarkand International Urban Design Ideas Competition in 1991, the New Museum of Islamic Arts in Doha, Qatar, in 1997 and the Doha Corniche Urban Design Competition in 2002. Since 2007, he has been the Founding Chairman of the World Architecture Community (WAC). Moreover, throughout his career, he has been involved on several international bodies, universities and institutions, such as the METU, the International Union of Architects (UIA) and the American Institution of Architects (Hon. FAIA 2004). Özran’s publications include Faith and the Built Environment: Architecture and Behaviour in Islamic Cultures (1996) and A Vision in Architecture: Projects for the Istanbul Zorlu Center (2012). Additionally, his writings feature in edited volumes such as Space for Freedom, edited by Ismaill Serageldin (1989), Vernacular Architecture in the 21st Century: Theory, Education and Practice, edited by Lindsay Asquith and Marcel Vellinga (2006) and Architectural Regionalism: Collected Writings on Place, Identity, Modernity, and Tradition, edited by Vincent B. Canizaro (2012).
Education:
Middle East Technical University, Ankara [39.891389, 32.784722} (1969);
Architectural Association School of Architecture, [51.518264, -0.130779] (1969-1971);
PhD, Middle East Technical University, Ankara [39.891389, 32.784722} (1980);
Practice/Academic:
Lecturer, Middle East Technical University (META), Ankara [39.891389, 32.784722} (c1972-1978);
Associate Dean, Faculty of Architecture, META, Ankara [39.891389, 32.784722] (1978);
Vice-President, META, Ankara [39.891389, 32.784722] (1979-1982);
Other Institutional:
Deputy Secretary General, Aga Khan Award for Architecture (1983-1990);
Secretary General, Aga Khan Award for Architecture (1990-2007);
Hon. FAIA, American Institute of Architects (2004);
Publications (selection)
Asquith, Lindsay, and Marcel Vellinga. Vernacular Architecture in the 21st Century: Theory, Education and Practice. Taylor & Francis, 2006.
Bozdoğan, Sibel, Sedad Hakkı Eldem, Suha Özkan, and Engin Yenal. Sedad Eldem: Architect in Turkey. Butterworth Architecture, 1989.
Canizaro, Vincent B. Architectural Regionalism: Collected Writings on Place, Identity, Modernity, and Tradition. Chronicle Books, 2012.
Özkan, Süha. A Vision in Architecture: Projects for the Istanbul Zorlu Center. Rizzoli International Publications, Incorporated, 2012.
Özkan, Süha. Faith and the Built Environment: Architecture and Behaviour in Islamic Cultures. Architecture & comportement, 1996.
Sources
