Analysis of an urban design competition: The case of Edirne/Selimiye and the discussion of “vehicular road in a historic core”

Abstract

This study examines the discourse driven by concepts of the relationship between pedestrians and vehicles, one of the most important components of the discipline of urban design. It also explores how and under what conditions the interface of competition affects the production processes of project and idea within urban design. Edirne-Selimiye Mosque, built by the architect Mimar Sinan between 1568-1574, is considered the architect's masterpiece, as well as one of the most important structures of Islamic architecture. The Ministry of Culture and Tourism decided to nominate the mosque for the United Nations Educational , Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage List in 2010, which created the foundation for a national urban design project competition announced by the Edirne Municipality. An unexpected debate developed among professionals who participated in the competition. Architects, planners, and landscape architects began to question not just the content of the competition, but also the practice of architectural and urban design in a conservation area. Discussion primarily focused on design and planning proposals for a specific vehicular road and the jury's attitude toward these proposals. While this article fo-cuses on a particular urban design competition, it is suggested that conducting process analyses of competitions will contribute to the institutionalization of the urban design discipline in the country.