City of İzmir, Turkey

İzmir by night

Izmir is the third largest city in Turkey (Turkiye) with a population of 3.5 million inhabitants as well as its sparkling social and economic progress. The coastal city lies at the head of a long and narrow gulf (Izmir Bay) surrounded with a series of mountainous formations. A cosmopolitan and a lively city all year round, it burst with an added vibrancy during some international and national events.
The original city ‘Smyrna’ was established in the third millennium B.C. at which time it achieved the most advanced culture in Western Anatolia and was ranked as one of the most important cities of the Ionian Federation. Homer, the first and the greatest poet of history and the poet of the legendary works named Iliad and Odyssey, was born in Izmir. He affected all civilizations in the world.
Following the establishment of Turkish Republic, Izmir Localized Development Plan was prepared by French planner Rene Danger. Emphasis was then charged on the renewal of public squares, the creation of new green spaces, the reorganization of former burnt out areas, and the reestablishment of an integrated transport network. Thus, the growth of the city was being closely managed through some radial but interconnected major axes that encompassed almost the centre area. These axes resulted in great boulevards with lined-up palm tress and other local street trees to expose a typical Mediterranean city form. During 1930’s internationally well known architects and planners has been invited to the international competition for planning of some cities including Izmir. The commercial buildings were then orderly arranged to form a network of pedestrian shopping streets and centres in Izmir. This network included a zoning system of specialized markets.
Culture Park that is already called as the lungs of the city, cover an central area of 421.000 m2 with a wide variety of green spaces and recreational facilities. It has served to the social and cultural life with its fair ground, running court, open-air theatre, museums, sport and art centres, wedding hall, restaurants, tea houses, zoo, amusement park, and parachute tower ...
The Izmir International Fair (IIF), the only member of the Union of International Fairs in Turkey, was held on the park. In accordance with the rapid and dramatic development in Turkish economy, IFF has offered various national and international specialized fairs for years. It has as well made great contributions to the community life with some spesific amenities and public spaces.
International Izmir Festival, beginning in mid-June and continues to mid-July, has been organised since 1987. During the annual festival, many world-class performers-soloists and virtuosi, orchestras, dance companies, rock and jazz groups have presented recitals and performances at various venues in the city and surrounding areas, including the ancient theatres at Ephesus and Metropolis.
Izmir has as well achieved the organization of International University Games (UNIVERSIAD 2005) in late August, and at the moment it is an important nominee for hosting EXPO 2015. Thus, almost all related private and public sectors and NGOs in Izmir are working very hard to qualify the city as the winner of one of the most prestigious international events worldwide. This nomination process necessitates mainly to revitalize existing transportation pattern and to create some cohesive public space networks along the coastal strip as well as extending backward to terrestrial precincts.

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REGISTRATION

The following Institutions have been registered for the EULP Project. If you also want to be part of it please contact the EULP Assistant Katharina Erne:
eulp@landscape.tuwien.ac.at

• İzmir Metropolitan Municipality

• Chamber of Landscape Architects (UCTEA)
• Culture of Nature Association
• Nature Conservation Center
• Nature Conservation Center
• The Research Association of Rural Environment and Forestry (RAREF) [No URL available in database.]
• The Research Association of Rural Environment and Forestry (RAREF)

• Ege University