Hasan Kalyoncu University (HKU) Faculty of Fine Arts and Architecture (FFAA) brought together professionals, academics and students at the HKU Culture and Congress Center for the “Urban Resilience and Disasters” panel, an event combining student-led design work with practical responses to urban challenges. The day closed with an awards ceremony recognizing winning entries from the “Comfortable Living Spaces Workshop.”

Experts examined urban resilience from multiple perspectives. Attendees included HKU Rector Prof. Dr. Turkay Dereli, Vice Rectors Prof. Dr. Gul Rengin Kucukerdogan and Prof. Dr. Mehmet Lutfi Yola, FFAA Acting Dean Prof. Dr. Gulden Gumusburun Ayalp, Gaziantep Chamber of Architects President Mustafa Buyukuncu, Gaziantep Metropolitan Municipality City Council President Erdem Guzelbey, alongside subject-matter experts, academics and students.

Opening the program, HKU Rector Prof. Dr. Turkay Dereli emphasized that the panel had drawn together academics, architects and students focused on urban solutions: “Today, natural disasters, environmental change and social crises rank among the most serious threats facing our cities. Given Turkey’s geographic context, securing every citizen’s right to live in safe buildings, reinforcing existing structures and designing sustainable buildings is critical to public safety and well-being. We must reduce earthquake-related losses through the contributions of knowledge and science, build on solid educational foundations, rigorously test compliance with standards and ensure all stakeholders apply them. The ‘Comfortable Living Spaces’ workshop held as part of this event is a strong example. The innovative ideas emerging from it will inspire better cities and stronger communities.”

FFAA Acting Dean Prof. Dr. Gulden Gumusburun Ayalp underlined that cities must be resilient not only physically but also socially, economically and culturally in the face of disasters and crises: “Our aim is to discuss how urban resilience can be achieved, the impact of disasters and crises on cities, and innovative approaches to addressing them. Together, I believe we can produce solutions to make tomorrow’s cities more resilient, sustainable and livable.”

Following the opening remarks, the “Urban Resilience and Disasters” panel — moderated by HKU FFAA faculty member Asst. Prof. Dr. Mehmet Murat Ulug — explored how cities can be made more resilient to natural and human-induced crises, with participants exchanging views on urbanization and disaster management.

“Awards Find Their Owners at the Ceremony”

As part of the program, projects produced during the two-day “Comfortable Living Spaces” workshop — led by students from the FFAA Architecture and Interior Architecture departments — were evaluated by a jury, with the strongest entries receiving awards.