Kayiks of Izmir: An Extinct Design is Reborn

Abstract

Until the 1940s there were a lot of kayiks at the Izmir bay that were traditionally made in Izmir and used by most of the citizens of Izmir. As years passed, the kayiks of Izmir started to disappear slowly from the silhouette of Izmir. During the 1990s not even one specimen of the kayiks of Izmir was to be found. Many cities around the world have buildings, houses, gardens, castles, towers, or other objects that are part of their cultural identities, which helps foreigners/tourists remember that city. The kayik of Izmir was, and will be again, a cultural identity that will help people around the world remember the city of Izmir. Kayiks of Izmir were used for both cargo and passenger transportation for many decades. They moved by sail power or by row power. After the invention of combustion engines and diesel engines kayiks became a less used sea transport vehicle in Izmir. In 2004, the idea of rebuilding these beautiful kayiks emerged and "360 Degrees Research Group" conducted a project. The Municipality of Izmir, Dokuz Eylül University, and the Chamber of Turkish Naval Architects and Marine Engineers, Izmir Branch, supported the project and the kayiks are now back at their home in Izmir Bay, again sailing freely at Izmir bay with the help of Izmir citizens.