Conference report: Urban Transformation: Controversies, Contrasts and Challenges The IPHS Fourteenth Biennial Conference, Istanbul, 2010

Abstract

Planning history is sometimes looked down on as a minority interest, tangential to the dynamism and focus of the major issues facing contemporary society and those responsible for its planning. However, the message emerging from the International Planning History Society (IPHS) Fourteenth Biennial Conference held in Istanbul from 12-15 July 2010 is clear: planning history is alive and kicking, vibrant and relevant. For there were no less than ten 'invited papers' and about 325 other submitted papers listed in the conference programme (and these represented a quality control that winnowed down from the 510 abstracts proposed). Not only was IPHS 2010 a large conference, but its theme - 'Urban transformation: controversies, contrasts and challenges' - was both wide-ranging and a challenge to the contributors. Conference participants and Istanbul The different origins of participants in the conference were interesting and reflected the relevance of the subject. No less than 42 countries were represented, although only nine generated participant numbers in double figures. Unsurprisingly, the host country produced the most (115 participants), a reflection not only of the nature and scope of relevant research in Turkey, but of that country's significant efforts in recent years to develop a high-performing, research-driven university sector. There were 51 participants from Brazil, apparently a response to changing funding arrangements; yet the academic profile of Brazil, too, is fast developing and the 2012 IPHS Conference will be held in Sao Paulo. China (3 participants) and India (2) represent places with fascinating planning histories, but whose academics have thus far had less engagement with IPHS and its conferences. Africa as a whole is even more difficult of access. The venue may also have attracted many participants. Accepting Istanbul's bid in its year as European Capital of Culture was a carefully considered decision by the IPHS, and the organisers and sponsors delivered a memorable experience. There was a welcoming evening cruise on the Bosphorus, the conference dinner at a major museum, a special evening opening of a major exhibition of artefacts from across the world relating to Istanbul's 8,000-year heritage held at the Sak?p Sabanc? Museum and tours of the remarkable city centre among other destinations. Lunch in the neighbouring Hyatt Hotel was also quite an experience. The conference programme, papers and sessions The quality of many conference papers was high, although in an event of this size it would be invidious to single out individuals. Nevertheless, it was good to see the number of papers singly or jointly authored by new researchers, among which the IPHS awarded the prize for best paper to Frederick Omolo-Okalebo (KTH, Stockholm) for a paper on Kampala that explored not only an unfamiliar topic, but an underresearched part of the world (at least in planning history terms). Also memorable was the plenary paper by Baykan Gunay (Middle East Technical University) on 'Ankara: duality of the core and the fringe' that was informative and entertaining, bringing the personality and history of the researcher to the fore (many of those attending the presentation conduct research about places and issues closely linked to their own backgrounds, and so it was well received). I spent most time in the 'heritage sites' theme sessions, where Muge Akkar Ercan (Middle East Technical University) gave a salutary reminder that we should consider the sustainability dimension of conservation, which is sometimes problematic in historic housing districts. The conference programme delivered some familiar themes, which included 'planning culture', 'heritage sites', 'planning models', 'public space and landscape', 'emerging concepts under urban transformation', 'public space and landscape', 'the economy and urban development', 'industrial and commercial districts', 'urban form and architecture', 'urban space', 'urban management, strategies policies and tools' and 'social justice'. …