Welcome Letters

Invitation for the Congress

This letter is written to obtain children awareness for the space, environment and city where they live, to bring together architectural culture and children's culture in life, to not only today's but also future spaces and our future which is devoted to create habitable healthy cities.

We have lots of things from creativity of children, the synergy which is created by the energy that appears from the moment when this creativity combines with the creativity of architecture causes definitely an important function and dynamism reshaping our cities.

Chambers of Architects of Turkey Ankara Branch has been generalized this energy with "Architecture and Children" works within the framework of principle of "meeting of architecture with society" since 2002. The works which were began with the theme of "1000 architectures at 1000 school" at primary and secondary schools with the support of Ankara Governorship and Ministry of Education are guiding us for the formation of environment from the profits taken from the freedom of creativity and productivity of children.

The works which are involving different themes those are executed with over 15.000 children in ateliers which are performed in 219 schools and out of schools between 2002 and 2009 are totally based on volunteering.

Well disciplined works with the scientific support of Ankara University Center for Research on Child Culture are continued in a polity that provides continuity where the experiences are collected with the cooperation of public offices, universities and chambers. Chamber of Architects of Turkey Ankara Branch shared the experiences those gained in architecture and children subject with the circle in national scale in November 2008. Now, Ankara Branch organizes "ARCHILD - International Congress Architecture and Children" between 18 - 21st November, 2009 in order to generalize and share these experiences and knowledge at international scale.

The congress is determined as "Good Practices" under the main theme "By the Children, For the Children, With the Children". It is supposed to activate the network of architecture and children under the scope of congress, to provide continuity of the congress in every 2 years in different country in different subject under the scope of UIA Architecture and Children Works.

ARCHILD - International Congress Architecture and Children which will be executed in Ankara will provide to enrich theoretical and practical experiences by sharing children city, architectural culture centered works in the world and Turkey with the support of UIA's foundations and organs.

ARCHILD Congress will be organized under the main subjects "Environment through Children Vision, Spaces For Children, Children Rights and Participation" and will continue for 2,5 days. Content of the congress will be constituted of invited speakers who are expert in their own fields, paper presentation, ateliers and exhibition with children, activities made by children, exhibition of children friendly designs and tours.

It excites us that after the congress, on 21st - 22nd November, 2009 Chamber of Architects of Turey Ankara Branch will host second annual meeting of UIA Architecture and Children Work Group.

 

We call you to attend ARCHILD - International Congress Architecture and Children which will be executed in Ankara in 18th - 21st November, 2009, to share this excitement, to build our future with children while we begin with children and learn with them and by this way discover architecture again and again.

Kind regards

 

Nimet ÖZGÖNÜL
ARCHILD Congress
Organization Committee Co-Chair
Chambers of Architects Ankara Branch
President of Administrative Board

 

 

Our Children will build the Future

Dear colleagues and friends,
"The UIA Built Environment network aims to help Architects and Teachers everywhere show young people what makes good Architecture and a sustainable environment. So that, as adult citizens, users, clients and decision-makers they may take an active part in shaping the world they live in, embracing both heritage and innovation in the creation of communities which provide a healthy and harmonious quality of life for all." (www.uiabee.riai.ie)

Architects, teachers and other committed people in Turkey work since years successful on the field of Built Environment education, to intensify the creativity and the fantasy of children and youth and to train the skills they need to form their future world in a good way. We know about extensive activities in "1000 schools". We could read an excellent programme of events and projects supported also by teachers and students of the universities and running through the last years. We have seen the exhibition on such projects and an impressive film on the daily life of children in small Turkish towns during the UIA Congress 2005 in Istanbul. All that demonstrates substantial efforts in Turkey and a remarkable enthusiasm for our responsible work with the children.

Now the Chamber of Architects of Turkey Ankara Branch invites to the "ARCHILD - International Congress Architecture and Children" November 2009 in Ankara. The congress offers under the slogan "By the Children, For the Children, With the Children" a very wide range of themes to share experiences in Built Environment Education on an international level.

The UIA Work Programme Architecture & Children supports the ARCHILD Congress 2009 and will contribute to an interesting programme and a fruitful discussion with our Turkish colleagues and their international guests. We underline the importance of educational activities and initiatives on the field of Architecture and the Environment as an essential part of citizen education. To combine the inspiration of the ARCHILD Congress with the current tasks of the UIA Work Programme Architecture & Children we agreed with our hosts to hold the second Work Programme meeting 2009 nearby Ankara on 21st and 22nd November, following the congress.

Expecting a successful course of both events and a constructive collaboration during the congress

 

 

Hannes HUBRICH
ARCHILD Congress
Organization Committee Co-Chair
Co-Director UIA Work Programme Architecture & Children