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www.zaman.com Architects have expressed support for Istanbul Provincial Cultural Director Dr. Ahmet Emre Bilgili's suggestion that the profession of architecture should be subordinated to the Ministry of Culture and Tourism.
Minister of Culture and Tourism Atilla Koc, noting the subject concerned their Ministry, has said the architecture profession could be subordinated to the Ministry of Culture in stages.
In a commentary he wrote for Zaman, Bilgili had maintained that the profession directly concerned Culture and Tourism Ministry since architecture was a cultural discipline.
Bilgili examined the profession of architecture from a sociological perspective and noticed our incapacity to distinguish the architect from the civil engineer.
"The profession of architecture with its cultural, artistic, aesthetical and urban dimensions belongs to the framework of Ministry of Culture and Tourism. However as far as we know the Ministry is not concerned with architects other than those who work in the restoration of the historical buildings" the article read.
The Chamber of Architects of Turkey Chairperson Oktay Ekinci expressed his concern at the overlooking of the artistic nature of the architecture and backed Bilgili's suggestion.
Ekinci suggests the formation of an architecture department within the framework of the Ministry of Culture.
Leading architect Professor Ahmet Vefik Alp complains that architecture is treated as a part of engineering.
Alp says: "Architecture and city planning show the level of culture and civilization that a country has reached. Most countries see architecture as a part of culture and arts."
He wishes the contribution of architecture to the country's culture and civilization will be realized before it is too late.
The Secretary-General of the Union of International Architects (UIA) Congress and a board member of Chamber of Architects Fatih Soyler says, "Even Malasysia has an architecture policy, there is no written policy in Turkey."
He said he would be very happy if the Culture and Toursim Ministry deals with the issue. Another architect Salih Zeki Pekin says that in most parts of the world, architecture is a part of the Culture Ministry as he adds, "The state's view of architecture is not clear. We are still seen as constructors. It will be very joyful to be under the protection of the Culture and Tourism Ministry."
Architect Mehmet Konuralp comments as follows, "Architecture is not a commercial profession, it has details. We have been striving for establishment of an institution for years. To make it a part of the Culture and Tourism Ministry is not a solution, either. There are political institutions under the ministry and as the government changes, the practices change for the institutions. There should be a full independent, directly constitutional institution."
Architect and poet Cengiz Bektas shares Konuralp's concerns, "Arcitecture is a professional occupation, it is not right to make it a part of a state institution," says Bektas, adding "If it is made a part of the Culture Ministry, the ministry might draw a preliminary road for architecture, which will lead single type of architecture."
Ministry of Culture and Tourism: We are concerned about architecture
A statement from Minister of Culture and Tourism Atilla Koc, says, "Architecture is an issue related to culture and art. There is creativity within architecture and where there is creativity, there is art, but architecture is also a task of engineering and therefore is related to the public works as well.
Considering these two pillars of the issue, architecture should be bound to a ministry and the most suitable ministry is the Ministry of Culture and Tourism.
A chamber under General Directorate of Cultural and Natural Assets may be formed for architecture. We will choose the project of the year in the branches of painting, music, theatre and cinema in 2005 for the first time. We plan to include architecture to these fields too.
Oktay Ekinci: Architecture is an activity of culture and art
Oktay Ekinci responds: "Architecture is primarily an activity of culture and art. Unfortunately, the issue is not understood in this way and people think that architecture is the municipalities' approval for the technical service of the projects. The reason is that the essence of architecture's artistic side in architects' policies since the fifties has been related to land speculations. Architecture operates under the Ministry of Culture in many of the countries in the world, but the relationship with the government occurs through the ministry of public works in Turkey. We as the Chamber of Architects have worked hard to determine architectural policies in conjunction with the ministry of culture over the last five years.†| 
