Asli Germirli ’16
Asli Germirli came to Syracuse University from Istanbul, Turkey. She is very concerned about finding the right combination of historic preservation and contemporary design in her homeland, and hopes to use her School of Architecture degree to achieve that balance.
What has appealed to you about Syracuse University?
While at Syracuse Architecture, I have found the learning environment to include a mix of inspiration, academic and creative challenge by faculty, as well as travel opportunity. I was able to explore cross-cultural dynamics through coursework at SU Abroad’s Istanbul center in summer 2013; and I studied design in the school’s London program in spring 2014. Two summer internships in Turkey brought additional opportunity.
How has studying at Syracuse Architecture helped you to deal with your own heritage?
As developing countries struggle with rapid urban population growth and the negative effects of globalization, many cities have unique historical heritages that are being compromised. We need to be willing to recognize preservation needs while responding intelligently to the pressures of urban growth. Change is inevitable, but doesn’t require the sacrifice of history. For the past year, I have focused my senior research efforts on the Hans District in the historic peninsula of Istanbul, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. I argue that efforts to preserve the district insure the conservation of the Ottoman han typology, along with its unique architectural, socio-economic and commercial identity.
What else has that research led to?
I was selected to do a poster presentation on my research at the ACC Meeting of the Minds, an annual conference that focuses on undergraduate research and scholarship at the 15 ACC member schools. Only three students are selected by each school to do a poster presentation. As an international student, it was a great honor for me to be selected to represent my school and share my ideas with other inspiring peers.
In late April, I will present my thesis, “The Ottoman Han: Recovery of a Lost Typology” at Syracuse Architecture.
What would you like to do after graduation?
Upon graduation, I plan to return to Istanbul, where I can utilize the skills I developed through my education at SU to create impact on the architecture field. In the long term, I would like to work on increasing the awareness around conservation of cultural heritage. I am really interested in exploring continuity in architecture; reviving and passing onto the future generations a mutually beneficial relationship between old and new.
Story by Elaine Wackerow