WHAT_ are we doing trying to design for seismic risk In Istanbul?

Istanbul houses about 20% of the total Turkish population and 50% of it’s industrial potential. And note: Turkey was the world’s second fastest growing economy after China recording 11.7% growth in Q1 of 2010. Besides a very high earthquake hazard, the earthquake risk in the city has increased due to overcrowding, faulty land-use planning and construction, inadequate infrastructure and services and environmental degradation. Following the losses suffered during the two major earthquakes that struck Turkey in 1999, there has been a broad recognition of the need for extensive earthquake preparedness and response planning based on detailed earthquake risk analysis in Istanbul… furthermore the average return period for ‘stress fracture’ related earthquakes (i.e. the occurrence of an earthquake on one fault has an impact on the probability of occurrence on another fault) in this region is 50 years.

Today its 2012 so a sizeable earthquake is likely to occur within the next 37 years. We don’t know how old you are but I hope to be alive at that time watching grandchildren kick balls for, or against, Fenerbahçe. This project seeks to use the creative latitude of architecture to engage in what is ordinarily considered an engineering problem for societal gain.