Emre Arolat on Sustainability in Architecture and the Challenges Turkey Faces

In this interview, Emre Arolat addresses the concept of sustainability in architecture and the obstacles this process faces in Turkey. He emphasizes that architectural sustainability is not limited to the environmental dimension alone, but forms a whole together with economic and social sustainability. Looking back at history, Arolat notes that, unlike modern building technologies, structures from antiquity were in some ways more sustainable in their methodology and use. He stresses that architects add something new to the world with every structure they build, which comes with a serious sense of responsibility. Among the barriers to sustainability becoming part of the culture in Turkey, Arolat points to a broader societal tendency to live day-to-day rather than cultivate a sense of settlement and belonging. He also argues that expecting a sustainable architectural culture to emerge from consumer behavior alone is unrealistic, underlining the need for stronger regulation on the matter.

You can watch the video here.