Since ancient times, cities have been spaces where philosophy came alive. Philosophers who asked questions about the meaning of being conveyed their answers to the society in agoras.

This, in a way, encouraged individuals to leave their private spheres and move to public areas. Such role of urban areas which transfers information for thousands of years still continues today. Although the means has diversified in terms of technique and design, public areas still serve to meet the need for social communication.

Considering the effect of technological transformation extending from individual to collective life, it becomes clear that urban design is a highly technical, artistic and philosophical field. In this sense, the most important thing to do is to ask the right questions so that urban needs may be satisfied. Therefore, the most significant question appears to be ‘what urban citizens need?’

Indeed, the most fundamental responsibility is to satisfy needs if you are in public service. These needs may be applications that facilitate daily life or projects that have long-term contributions to the socio-cultural development of urban citizens. In this regard, it bears great significance for the administrators of a city to approach to issues in micro and macro levels.

In today’s cities, high mobility intensifies individual’s contact with urban means. Therefore, all the urban production and designs should be shaped based on human nature and needs. In addition to conformance with human nature, it is necessary for urban elements to bear characteristics that integrate with the history, culture and geography of a city. Urban innovations should also be regarded as the conformance between structure and texture.

As a municipal organization which operates to meet the needs for urban infrastructure and superstructure elements, we shape our activities according to this basic approach. Our goal is not to fill a gap but to satisfy a need with a long-term and inclusive solution. As we all know, rapid changes in technology brought a ‘new generation’ mode of life and perception. The differentiation among generations is in sync with the differentiation in technology. However, conventional and digital generations subsist together which is unique and specific to our age. Therefore, thinking, designing and producing with a hybrid approach will render urban elements a natural part of cities. This will also bring out a new functionality which ensures and integrates communication and enhances cooperation and conformance among urban elements and, in particular, urban furniture.

Considering a city as an organism, we see that humans and every detail that surrounds humans are deeply bound up with life. As ISTON, we want to be a significant part of the urban network consisting of these bonds.

Ziya Gokmen TOGAY
Director General