Analysis of an urban design competition: The case of Edirne/Selimiye and the discussion of “vehicular road in a historic core”

A contentious urban design competition for Edirne’s Selimiye Mosque, a UNESCO-listed masterpiece by Mimar Sinan, revealed deep divisions over integrating vehicular roads in historic cores. The debate, sparked by the 2010 competition, challenged conventional practices and exposed tensions between preservation, mobility, and modern urban planning. Analyzing jury-architect interactions, the study highlights how such competitions can serve as platforms for critical discourse on conservation ethics and disciplinary institutionalization. This case suggests that process-oriented evaluations of design contests could strengthen urban planning standards in heritage contexts.

Erten, S. (2016). Analysis of an urban design competition: The case of Edirne/Selimiye and the discussion of “vehicular road in a historic core”. Journal of Planning. https://doi.org/10.5505/planlama.2016.53824