ASCF 14: Resonance of the Past, Spirit of the Future

Architecture, Spirituality, and Culture Forum'un düzenlediği ASCF 14: Resonance of the Past, Spirit of the Future, 5 Haziran 2024 tarihinde İstanbul'da düzenlenecek.

Sempozyum Hakkında Genel Bilgiler

Doğu ve Batı’nın harmanını içeren İstanbul şehri, araştırılması amaçlanan temaları tam anlamıyla yansıtmaktadır: Geçmişin yankısı ve geleceğin ruhu ile çeşitliliğin olduğu bir dünyada aşılayıcı bir birliği keşfetme. Sempozyum mekânı; İstanbul’un mimari harikaları ile çevrili olarak teori ve pratiğin bir araya geldiği canlı bir laboratuvar olarak hizmet verecek.

14. uluslararası sempozyum, 5-9 Haziran 2024 tarihleri arasında gerçekleşecektir. Etkinliklerin tamamı (İstanbul’un keşfi hariç), yemekler ve konaklama dahil olmak üzere; Kalyon Hotel’de düzenlenecektir. İstanbul’un Sultanahmet bölgesinde yer alan otel, kalabalık turist gruplarından uzakta bir kaçış sunuyor. Sultanahmet’in daha turistik bölgelerinin aksine, bu otel; konuklara bölgenin otantik cazibesini yaşama fırsatı tanıyor. Semtin sembolik yapıları olan Ayasofya ve Sultanahmet Camii’ne yakınlığı ile İstanbul’un kalbinde manevi bir yolculuğa çıkma imkanı sağlayacak, mistik düşüncenin yüzyıllar boyunca yankılandığı bir ortam sunacaktır. 8 ila 10 kişilik küçük gruplar, bir uzman rehber eşliğinde, antik şehrin tarihini ve kültürünü keşfederken yönlendirilecektir.

Hava durumu açısından da haziran ayının ilk yarısı, şehri gezmek için elverişli bir dönem. Gündüzleri hava sıcaklığı 22-24°C arasında seyrederken bu sıcaklıklar gece saatlerinde 15-17°C’lere kadar düşmektedir.

ACSF 14 için ana tema (“Geçmişin Yankısı, Geleceğin Ruhu”) etrafında şekillendirilecek, ancak aynı zamanda Forum’un ilgi alanlarına uygun fikirler, eserler ve öneriler için açık olacaktır. Samimi ve diyalog odaklı bir atmosferi yaratabilmek adına katılımcı sayısı 75’in altında tutulacaktır. Geleneksel olarak, ACSF, sempozyum temasıyla uyumlu çalışmalara imza atmış seçkin konuşmacılardan oluşan bir paneli bir araya getirme çabasındadır. Bu yıl, tarihî temelleri çağdaş düşüncelerle birleştirme amacı taşıyan Türk mimarlar ve bilim adamlarının katılımını beklenen sempozyumun konuşmacı listesi ilerleyen zamanlarda güncellenecektir. Geçmiş sempozyumlarda olduğu gibi, son akşam ACSF Olağanüstü Başarı Ödülü’nün sunulmasına ayrılacak ve ardından ödül sahibinin konuşması ile devam edilecektir.

2007 yılında kurulan Architecture, Spirituality, and Culture Forum (Mimarlık, Kültür ve Spiritüellik Forumu); yapı çevresinin kültürel ve manevi önemine dair araştırma, eğitim, uygulama ve savunma için uluslararası bir platform sağlamaktadır. ACSF, yapı çevresi tasarımı ve deneyiminin, insanlığın ruhsal gelişimine hizmet ederek dünyaya en temel sorunlarla başa çıkma konusunda yardımcı olabileceğine inanmaktadır.

Theme

Resonance of the Past, Spirit of the Future: Exploring transcendent unity in a world of multiplicity

In an era where digital technologies are reshaping the very essence of architecture, the fusion of tangible and intangible cultural heritage with spirituality offers a rich tapestry of exploration. The proposed symposium seeks to delve into the captivating nexus between architecture, culture, and spirituality, with an emphasis on the transformative role of digital technologies in both education and practice. Set against the majestic backdrop of Istanbul, a city straddling the crossroads of civilizations, this symposium aims to unravel the profound interplay of tradition and innovation.

Within the larger Symposium Theme, we see four lines of inquiry or discussion:

1- Understanding Tradition through Technology: The symposium will explore how architects are employing digital tools to reinterpret historic architecture, learning from the past to envision new futures. As I.M Pei eloquently stated, “Architecture is the very mirror of life. You only have to cast your eyes on buildings to feel the presence of the past, the spirit of a place; they are the reflection of society”. Presentations will highlight projects that celebrate innovative practice or pedagogical strategies, historic preservation, adaptive reuse, and the symbiotic relationship between technology and tradition.

2- Cultural Confluence and Architectural Expression: Culture is a dynamic force that shapes architecture’s identity and creation. The symposium will focus on the convergence of diverse cultures, religions, and ethnicities, like the example of the ones witnessed in our location Istanbul. As Steven Hall observed, “Architecture is bound to the situation.” Attendees will delve into how cultural fusion inspires architectural form and function, with Constantinople’s legacy serving as an enduring testament to this phenomenon.

3- Transcendent Unity and the Soul of Architecture: The spiritual dimension has always infused architecture with profound meaning. The symposium will illuminate the spiritual essence in architectural creation, drawing inspiration from different spiritual traditions like Sufism and Orthodox Christianity. Quoting Rumi, “The wound is the place where the Light enters you,” participants will discuss how architectural spaces can become conduits for spiritual experience independent of time.

4- Phenomenological Ruins, Restoration, and Reuse: The symposium can analyze this theme with the neighboring Hagia Sophia being a potent symbol of sacred architecture’s adaptive reuse. Building on the concept that reuse is the most sustainable form of architecture even with the hurdles of adaptation and discovery, discussions will delve into the multifaceted history of building transformation, serving as a model for reimagining sacred spaces for contemporary needs.

Contributions and Insights

Participants will enrich the symposium with their research and expertise. By bridging the realms of academia, architectural practice, and spirituality, participants will gain valuable insights into the intricate interplay of architectural heritage, culture, and digital innovation.

Cost

The cost of the Symposium will be as follows:

Basic Room – City View (Can fit 2-3 People) @ $105/night x 5 nights (breakfast included): US$ 525

Symposium Fee: US$ 425

This symposium fee will cover the following:

All meals: from dinner on June 5th to dinner on June 9th, you will receive 3 buffet service hot meals a day; snacks, coffee & soft drinks during the breaks. Wine will be served at receptions and dinners.

Dinner Night Outside the Hotel.

Gratuities for Dining Staff.

Access to all symposium activities

The Sunday Sacred Sites Tours

Total cost per person (single occupancy): US$ 950

Total cost per person (couple): US$ 750

Program

To view a draft of this year’s program, please click here.

Call for Submissions

We seek proposals for panels, projects, papers, and workshops, in order to foster a robust interdisciplinary dialogue among teachers, artists, scholars, designers, theoreticians, and all kinds of practitioners.

For ACSF14, we aim to cultivate a vibrant interdisciplinary dialogue among teachers, artists, scholars, designers, theoreticians, and practitioners. Topics of particular interest include: the interplay of tradition and technology, as architects harness digital means to reinterpret historic architecture; the confluence of cultures and their influence on architectural identity, especially as seen in the melting pot of Istanbul; the profound spiritual undertones in architectural design, inspired by traditions like Sufism and Orthodox Christianity; and finally, the nuances of architectural restoration and reuse emphasizing sustainable transformation and reimagining of sacred spaces. Join us in this exploration and contribute to shaping the architectural discourse for the future bridging tradition and innovation. For more on the theme, see “Resonance of the Past, Spirit of the Future: Exploring transcendent unity in a world of multiplicity.”

Submission Categories

Interested individuals are invited to submit proposals of 500 to 1,000 words for either the SYMPOSIUM TOPIC or an OPEN SESSION. Proposals may be submitted in one of three categories: paper, practice/research project, and/or workshop.

1- Paper: a traditional 500–1000-word paper abstract.

2- Project: three images + 250-500 words providing important background information and an indication of the project’s main ideas, intentions, purposes, theories, etc.

3- Workshop: a description up to 1000 words addressing the activity, rationale, main ideas, intentions, purposes, theories, and material and spatial requirements, etc.

Very important: Authors should indicate the category under which their proposal should be considered (paper, practice/research project, or workshop). A proposal should be treated like an expanded abstract and include a summary statement, topic, scope, method, case-study(ies) if appropriate, and intended conclusions/outcomes.

Individuals may submit up to two different proposal types (i.e., Paper and Project). Proposals should NOT reveal personal identity or institutional affiliation.

Review Process

The selection of proposals will follow a strict blind peer-review process with at least three ACSF scholars/professionals considering each submission. Their individual recommendations will be sent and reviewed by the ACSF 14 Symposium chairs who will make the final determination regarding accepting or rejecting a proposal. In the case of two different proposal types from one presenter that are of equally acceptable quality, the symposium co-chairs may consult with presenters in order to ensure the best possible symposium experience given the available schedule (i.e. we may elect to invite only one type of presentation). The Symposium chairs’ decision is final.

Note: Accepted presenters will be asked to revise proposals in response to reviewer feedback, to provide the proposal in a final format for publication. Proposals will be published on the symposium website prior to the meeting. Efforts may also be made to publish the accepted work in paper format at a later date.

Total Number of Works to be Accepted

Given the logistics of ACSF 14, we foresee accepting up to 30 proposals.

Selection Criteria

We will follow criteria of relevancy, argumentation, logic, quality, novelty, and relation to the ACSF 14 topic (or open session if stated). Proposals addressing historical, theoretical, professional, or other concerns that do not clearly respond to how culture and spirituality in particular relate to the built environment (see definitions in ACSF website) will be rejected.

Deadline: Proposals are due January 15, 2024

Interested authors should indicate intent to submit work. Questions may be addressed to: acsf14Istanbul@gmail.com

Format & Place of Submission

All proposals should be sent as an attached file saved in word “Doc” format only. If images are embedded in the document, make sure your file total size does NOT exceed 5 MB. Clearly specify the category under which your proposal should be evaluated (workshop, project, or paper) and whether it follows the Symposium TOPIC (“Resonance of the past…”) or goes into the OPEN session.

Send your submission to the 2024 Symposium co-chairs at acsf14Istanbul@gmail.com

IMPORTANT: All references to the author must be removed from the submission in order to guarantee strict blind-peer review. The symposium chairs, upon receiving your submission, will provide a key number to identify the proposal.

TIMELINE

Submission Deadline: January 15, 2024

Blind Peer Review Process: January 16 – February 12, 2024

Feedback to authors (acceptance/rejection): February 19, 2024

Deadline to confirm author participation: March 4, 2024

Room Reservation deadline for Authors (payment due): March 25, 2024 — Full information will be delivered along with February 19 feedback. (after this date, rooms will be open to non-author attendees)

Submission of revised proposal for online publication: April 22, 2024

Final symposium scheduling + e-publication available: May 24, 2024

ACSF14 Symposium starts: June 5, 2024, in Istanbul, Turkey