The "Revival of Hatay" refers to the design and project work carried out by a collaborative platform created by the Türkiye Design Council (TTV) in a pilot project area designated by the Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change, and the Ministry of Culture and Tourism. The initiative is working to rejuvenate the city center of Hatay, one of the cities most affected by the Kahramanmaraş earthquake on February 6, 2023, preserving its cultural heritage and city identity.
The Türkiye Design Council, in collaboration with the Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change, and the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, has volunteered to lead the TTV Hatay Design and Planning Collaborative Group. This group oversees the pilot areas identified in the Antakya, Kırıkhan, Defne, and Samandağ districts of Hatay, covering everything from urban planning to implementation and involving local, national, and international actors (architecture, urban planning, civil engineering, archaeology, geology, landscape architecture, history, earth sciences, and various engineering fields).
In the aftermath of the earthquake, the Türkiye Design Council also undertook the design and planning efforts for the reconstruction and revitalization of Adıyaman, as well as Hatay.
The stakeholders include Adeas Architecture, Apsis Project, Baka Architecture, BIG Architecture, Bilgin Architecture, Boran Ekinci Architecture, Çinici Architecture, DB Architecture, Dome Architecture, Elektra Engineering, Ethos Fire Consulting, Foster & Partners, the local authorities of Hatay, Prof. Dr. Hatice Pamir from Hatay Mustafa Kemal University's Department of Archaeology, I.N.D, Associate Prof. Dr. Mert Nezih Rifaioğlu from İskenderun Technical University's Restoration Department, Prof. Dr. Feridun Çılı from İTÜ, Kayabay Architecture, City Architects, KEYM (Urban Renewal Center), Kreatif Architects, Mado Engineering, M Design, MEK Atölye, MIC, Mustafa Kemal University's Faculty of Architecture Landscape Department in collaboration with GeoDynamic Consulting, NSMH, On Design, PMM-Parla Engineering, Rasa Studio, Saina Consulting, Statik İstanbul Academy, Studio For A, Studio NeoGe, Sour Studio, Tece Architecture, Tepaş Engineering, Tez Yapı Statik, TO Studio, Uğur Harita, Viva Architecture, Yalın Architecture, YBT-Construction Design Services, Associate Prof. Dr. Serhat Başdoğan from YTÜ, Prof. Dr. İbrahim Kutay Özaydın from YTÜ's Geotechnical Department, We're Architects.
The collaborative group conducts comprehensive studies from research on the history and archaeology of Hatay to the region's natural, sociological, and economic structure; sustainable urban architectural design to urbanism, ground evaluation and improvements in transportation and landscape; from lighting design and urban furniture to the city's vegetation. Since the start of the project, the group has organized meetings, workshops, and press gatherings with government agencies, local NGOs, local administrations, and the local community. The collaborative group has an office in Hatay where it conducts its operations and answers questions from the local residents.
The Türkiye Design Council started its voluntary activities in the Hatay region immediately after the earthquake on February 18, 2023. Protocols were signed with the Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change on September 21, 2023, and with the Ministry of Culture and Tourism on August 1, 2023. Their aim is to present the necessary design and planning work to the relevant ministries by April 2024.
By closing riverbanks and riverbeds to construction, the master plan aims to ensure that the total green area will be nearly double compared to the pre-earthquake time.
On November 14, 2023, an 8-neighborhood, 207-hectare area in the Antakya and Defne districts was designated as a 'Reserve Building Area' on request by the DG Infrastructure & Urban Transformation Services, with the approval of the Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change.
The demographic structure and ownership rights within the project boundaries are maintained, with no additional housing units being built, as decided by the Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change and the Ministry of Culture and Tourism. One of the project's fundamental goals is to preserve neighborhood relationships and refrain from introducing additional populations into the area. Within this context, all efforts are being made to return housing units to their owners at the locations closest to their pre-earthquake property positions. The 'reserve building area' announcement made on November 14, 2023 in Antakya aims to solve practical issues around planning processes during the implementation. Protecting local residents' property rights is a fundamental principle in this project.