studiolog

arch 401-402
Architectural Design Studios [2012-2013]
FALL // FRAGMENTED URBANISM Ankara
SPRING // DOHA exploring artistic landscapes
Middle East Technical University
Faculty of Architecture
Department of Architecture
Middle East Technical University
Faculty of Architecture
Department of Architecture

arch 401-402
Architectural Design Studios [2012-2013]
FALL // FRAGMENTED URBANISM
SPRING // DOHA exploring artistic landscapes

edited and designed by

Prof. Dr. Ayşen Savaş
Inst. Agnes van der Meij
RA Seray Türkay
RA Melek Pınar Uz

proof-reading
Colin Sutcliffe

cover photograph
Esatcan Coşkun

graphic design
Seray Türkay
studiolog
arch 401-402
Architectural Design Studios [2012-2013]
FALL // FRAGMENTED URBANISM Ankara
SPRING // DOHA exploring artistic landscapes
Middle East Technical University
Faculty of Architecture
Department of Architecture
 005

007 preface

009 introduction


011 chapter I FRAGMENTED URBANISM Ankara
site Çukurambar / Ankara
lectures in chronological order
Baykan Günay – Ankara Spatial History

contents

Güliz Bilgin Altınöz – Stratification: Time Memory Space
Bahar Beşlioğlu – Architectural Programming
Agnes van der Meij – Mapping: Figure-Ground
Türel Saranlı – System Theory
Ayşen Savaş – "Transcoding" A Productive Urban Mediator
Onat Öktem – Contemporary Architecture
Ali Osman Öztürk – Thoughts on the Selected Site
Güven Arif Sargın – Alla Turca Urbanization
Kerem Yazgan – Designography
Gülru Mutlu – Dissolution Destruction Disintegration
Begüm Yazgan – Comperative Landscapes
Alper Semih Alkan – Cinematic Urban Landscapes
Orhan Uludağ – Architect and Client: Iron Cage

401 projects in alphabetical order

137 chapter II DOHA exploring artistic landscapes

site Lusail / Doha

lectures in chronological order

Baykan Günay – Doha in Making | Ayşen Savaş – History
and It’s Representation | Agnes van der Meij – Case Studies
Museum Architecture | Işıl Sencar – From Concept to Detail |
Emin Mahir Balcıoğlu - Art in Doha | Tim Makower – Stitching
as a Design Method for Doha | Rem Koolhaas – Hybrid Making
(in Tasmeem Conference) | Djamel Boussaa – Architectural
History of Doha | Prof. Dr. Attillio Petruccioli – Learning from
the Landscape in the Middle Eastern Countries

402 projects in alphabetical order

193 epilogue
 029

STRATIFICATION: MATERIALIZATION OF TIME,

MEMORY AND SPACE
Assist. Prof. Dr. Güliz Bilgin Altınöz

Stratification can be defined as the materialization of time and memory in space

through the act of ‘layering'. Layer is one thickness of matter or substance. Stratum,
slightly different than layer, refers to a distinct horizontal division, differentiable from
others through its content and character. Thus stratification should be interpreted as
the superimposition of many strata. Another term, ‘interface’, has to be included in this
vocabulary, which indicates the demarcation surface in-between different strata.

These terms have been in use not only in archeological discourse but also in various
other disciplines, especially in those dealing with stratification. The stratification of
natural debris related with the sedimentation of earth’s crust, calls for ‘geological
stratification’. In that case, the materially available sedimentations become visible to
represent time, which is actually millions of years. Stratification can also be understood
as ‘archeological stratification’, that is the stratification of natural and cultural debris of
mankind, where time is rather limited when compared to geological stratification, which
is hundreds or perhaps thousands of years. There is also ‘urban stratification’, especially
related to the urban landscapes which have been continuously inhabited. Although
the range of continuity is subject to change from one settlement to another, there are
always traces of different periods and cultures reflecting the continuous inhabitation
in time and creating unique urban tissues. Even buildings have stratification, such as
the stratification of different architectural styles, components, structural elements,
functions and spatial uses of different periods in a building. One other example is ‘social
stratification’, related to different groups of people, sharing common socio-economic
conditions, living in the same place and establishing relations with the place.

Talking about stratification means talking about the traces and remains of time. Changes
in events, conditions, meanings, usages and users in time are reflected as changes in
the physical space. Hence, different time intervals physically correspond to different
strata. Besides its absolute meaning, time is also a relative concept (Evans 2004; de
Vries, Goudsblom 2003). Time intervals culminating in the formation of different strata
can change from one study to another according to its scope and aim. Time intervals
generating stratification can be thousands or hundreds of years as well as hours or
030

minutes. Thus, stratified contexts are not necessarily historic but they can also be
contemporary.

LACUNAE
During the continuous formation process of a stratified context, there can occur some
disruptions causing losses in different parts of different strata. These result in anomalies,
irregularities or faults in stratification. In geological stratification these are materialized
as ‘fault lines’ within the earth’s crust. In a settlement or building these are gaps named
as ‘lacunae’.

The traces of different time intervals -i.e. periods- pile on top of each other to create
the recent or long-term history of a stratified context. When there are parts missing or
traces diminished from different strata causing lacunae, than it becomes problematical
to understand and interpret the past times of the stratified context. In this regard, Fig. 1. a fence diagram for analysing the
it is possible to imply a resemblance between a historic building or a historic urban geological stratification
landscape and a historic text. When there are missing parts in a building or an urban Prothero, 1989: 214
landscape or a text, it is very possible to lose the meaning; fragments no longer have
the power to decipher meaning. Created by past cultures or written by past authors, a
building or an urban landscape or a text can have losses, additions and changes in time.
All these losses, additions and changes intrude their initial integrity and meaning, while
each intervention in time re-creates and re-contextualizes them with new meanings
introduced by new cultures or authors.

MEMORY
Stratification is not only correlated with its physical outcomes or constituents. Besides
being the materialization of time, stratification is also the materialization of memories in
a physical context. Memory is a complex term relating the space with person, the process
of recalling past events occurring in space and time (Halbwachs, 1992). Remembrance
Fig. 2. The representation and analysis of the
occurs in the present, but its subject is related with the past. Memory is used to refer stratification and stratigraphic sequences in an
to different conditions such as ‘personal memory’ or ‘collective memory’ (Boyer, 1994). Iron Age Ditch at Winchester, by Harris Matrix
Personal memory is limited with human life-span and personal experiences; whereas, Harris, 1989: 136 (fig.56)
collective memory is about society’s common experiences and events, persisting through
generations depending to the extent which they can be transmitted. In a stratified
context, there are stratified memories. As stratified contexts, urban landscapes display
complexities of the juxtapositions of various strata with various personal and collective
memories (Lamunière, VenturiI and Leatherbarrow, 1995).

Memories, as well as their traces in the physical space, are inevitably ‘selective’ in
action. It is always possible to exaggerate the pleasant memories or to erase the traces
of undesirable memories from minds. Similar to personal memories, depending on the
decisions as what to be remembered and what to be forgotten, the traces reflecting
collective memories in physical space can also be intervened. Accordingly, while [re]
shaping the collective memories of a society, their existing physical reflections can
be demolished or highlighted; lost physical reflections can either be totally obscured,
or reminded by some indicators, or they can be made re-visible by reconstructions.
Even sometimes, never existed memories can be created with the construction of their
never existed physical reflections. Therefore, in connection with the ‘selectiveness of
memory’, it is possible to talk about the ‘politics of memory’ (King 1993; Bathel 1996;
Huyssen 2003) as well as the ‘economics of memory’. In the contemporary society,
memory has more political and economic grounds than historical and traditional
bounds. This, sometimes, leads to the ‘re-invention of traditions’ (Hobsbawm, 1983) Fig. 3. stratigraphic section and matrix for
representing and analyzing the stratification
as well as the ‘re-invention of memories’ through erasure, exposure, reconstruction in a historic building
or creation of memory spaces in relation to different past strata based on political Mannoni, 1994: 76
 031

grounds or economical benefits. Just like the erasures of past strata leading to lacunae;
intervening the lacunae through the reconstruction of lost, or creation of never-existing
traces in relation to past strata causes another kind of ‘fault’ in stratification.

STRATIGRAPHIC ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION

While dealing with a stratified context, understanding, assessing and re-presenting the
strata and stratification are the basis for many future studies or interventions. This calls
for an analytical and interpretative process of searching back the physical traces of time
and memory in space. Although, in different disciplines, there are different methods
and tools of searching and representing back the traces hidden within the layers of
stratifications, there are also common principles and procedures while dealing with
a stratified context, be it a geological context, an archeological site, a historic urban
landscape or a historical building (Weller 1960; Harris 1989; Carver 1992; Langran
1993; Wood 1994; Doyle, Bennett 1998). The basic principle in stratigraphic studies is
collecting data by tracing back the layers one by one from top to bottom. Then comes,
the determination of the time intervals generating the formation of each stratum.
Following this, the collected data are re-compiled and re-presented from bottom to top,
stratum by stratum, with a chronological sequence in order to identify the stratification.

Dealing with stratified contexts means dealing with ‘spatio-temporal data’. Different
than simple spatial data, due to its time component, spatio-temporal data cannot
be properly analyzed through and represented by conventional tools and methods.
Therefore, different disciplines dealing with the analysis and representation of stratified
contexts, such as cartography, geology, archaeology, urban archaeology and buildings’
archaeology, have developed different tools and methods to interpret and communicate
this information according to their aim, scope and the characteristics of the subject
of their interests. Although named differently by different disciplines, these analysis,
assessment, and representation tools and methods also pose similarities. ‘Diachronic
plans’ -named also as sequence snap-shots model or single context plans- represent
the plan showing the components of the physical space at the interface in-between
each changing stratum. These diachronic plans can also include intangible aspects
such as users, uses and memories in relation with the tangible space. Overlaying the
diachronic plans ends up with ‘3D plano-volumetric view’ of the stratified context
-named also as space-time cube model in cartography-, which allows the analysis of the
interrelation between different components of different strata. ‘Stratigraphic sections’
are important tools to understand and represent stratification (Fig. 1). However, neither
plans nor sections are sufficient by themselves; thus they are generally complemented
by ‘relational diagrams and matrixes’ defining the complex relation between the
components and sequences of the stratified context in time (Fig. 2 & Fig. 3). Associating
the spatio-temporal data with the attribute data about each spatial component of
each stratum, proceeds through ‘Spatial Information Systems (SIS)’ or ‘Geographical
Information Systems (GIS)’ as media for storing, structuring, querying, analyzing complex
spatio-temporal data and assessing complex and multi-dimensional relations among
them (Fig. 4). Correlating the spatial information systems and matrices with 3D space
ends up with ‘3D cyber maps’ as a cutting-edge tools for analyzing and representing the
stratified contexts (Fig. 5).

When the stratified context is a time-deep built environment, be a city or a building, the
first layer -the ‘zero point’ or the ‘base line’- of analysis is its geographical and natural
context including the topography as the main factor shaping it all through time. Then,
based on the important events causing changes in its physical context, components of
the building or urban form are presented in different layers. These components are not
Fig. 4. The diachronic analysis of Bergama by GIS limited to physical components, but can also include the social, cultural, economical,
Bilgin Altınöz, 2002: 184-187 functional, visual, administrative and legal components generating the physical form
032

of the building or urban landscape in different periods. At this point, memories, as an

integral constituent of ‘place’, also have a prominent role.

In the case of historic urban landscapes, diachronic, plano-volumetric, stratigraphic

sectional and diagrammatic analysis, SIS, GIS and 3D cyber maps provide the analytical
and interpretative medium which juxtaposes the layers and their components:
topography, territory, boundaries, entrances, settled area, periphery, main axis and
street networks, built up and open areas, land uses, users, memories and so on. Along
with this, it becomes possible to analyze the stratified urban form in different scales
with different resolutions: looking from a distance it is represented as a stain within its
natural and geographical context as a part of a network of other stains representing
other settlements in the territory; coming close by, the general layout of the settlement Fig. 5. 3D Cyber Map of Srcrovegni Chapel
the figure is reproduced by overlapping the
becomes visible; and more closer, the intra-settlement properties such as streets, original figures
buildings, walls and even stones and bricks can be distinguished. Through stratigraphic Forte, Pietroni, Rufa, 2002: fig.3 & fig. 6
analysis, assessment and interpretation, starting from the topography as the baseline
till today, it becomes possible to re-constitute the development of an urban landscape,
to identify continuities, discontinuities and changes occurring in time, as well as to find
out their fragments and traces existing in the contemporary urban form (Altınöz, 2002).

Contemporary urban landscape consists of fragments belonging to different strata. In

some cases these fragments can be incorporated within their contemporary contexts
and become an integral component of the contemporary whole, instead of being just a
fragmented piece from the past. However, in some others, they just exist physically in the
contemporary context as fragmented ‘aliens’ from the past. Besides, there are lacunae
concerning different strata which effect the meaning and integrity of the contemporary
urban landscape. When there are a lot of lacunae, in other words, when the selected site
is highly fragmented, then tracing back the reminiscence of the historical fabric regarding
the stratified contexts becomes a challenge.

In any case, in historic urban landscapes as stratified contexts, stratigraphic analysis,

assessment and interpretations provide a basis. Their outcomes can be used as
guidelines for future decisions and interventions, all of which will be prominent in
shaping the contemporary and even future strata of that urban landscape. The final
decision, as how to intervene the existing fragments of the past as well as the lacunae,
is a spatial decision-making and design issue, in which certainly there are many other
inputs, such as contemporary functional requirements, social and political demands,
economy as well as the decision makers’ and designers’ ambition to produce a new
stratum. (Altınöz, 2010)

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