Reflections of urban design paradigms in design competitions: The case of Türkiye 1980 - 2025

Urban design has been a discipline that constantly renews itself by providing solutions to problems that have arisen throughout history. First highlighted in Luis Sert's speech at Harvard in 1954, came to the fore by demonstrating that the problems created by the Industrial Revolution could not be solved solely by technical planning or architectural aesthetics. In the early 20th century, the modernist approach aimed to plan cities systematically, functionally, and geometrically. However, after the 1950s, the human scale became prominent, emphasizing the need for urban spaces to be designed in harmony with social life and centered on people. In the 21st century, concepts such as sustainability, ecological sensitivity, participation, and smart cities became central to discussions. Thus, urban design went beyond simply producing physical forms; it became a dynamic field reflecting the knowledge, values, and priorities of each era. Urban design competitions also played a critical role in the development of the discipline. Park competitions following the Industrial Revolution, Urban-scale competitions held in Europe after the World Wars are concrete examples of this process. The history of competitions in Turkey dates back to the proclamation of the Republic. The first competition, titled "Urban Design," opened in 1980, contributed to the advancement of literature and practice. This study examines competition specifications in Turkey, revealing design approaches and priorities, and questions any synchronicity or lag with global discourses. Thus, it offers an analytical perspective on the relationship between the Turkish context and global debates.