Ankara architects to sue municipality over restoration of Turkey's first public housing project

The Ankara Architects Chamber will sue the Çankaya District Municipality for the destructive "restoration" of the first public housing project in Turkey's history, the Saraçoğlu Neighborhood. The chamber obtained the power of attorney from the project designer's heir, and they are accusing the restoration of violating the legal rights of the architect's original design.

Tuesday December 15 2020 04:20 pm

Duvar English

The Ankara Architects Chamber has obtained the power of attorney from the heir to the project designer of the Turkish Republic's first public housing project and will sue the local Çankaya District Municipality for violating the legal rights of the architect's original design.

While Paul Bonatz designed Ankara's Saraçoğlu Neighborhood in the early days of the Turkish Republic, his heir, Brigitte Dübers, owns the rights to the project until 2020 and gave the power of attorney to the architects' chamber on Nov. 18.

Although Environment and Urbanization Minister Murat Kurum said no approval was needed for the "surveying project," as it didn't hinder with the fabric of the structure, the architects chamber believes they can press charges on behalf Dübers.

"This is not a surveying project. This is a restoration," said chamber Chair Tezcan Karakuş Candan said.

The project does in fact hinder with the project's authenticity, and therefore violates trademark rights, Candan said, adding that they are seeking to halt work on the site immediately.