We lost Doğan Kuban, an important name in the history of architecture

Prof. Dr. Doğan Kuban, who made significant contributions to the history of architecture in Turkey, passed away last month at the age of 95. Doğan Kuban, who conducted many important studies examining the architectural heritage of Turkey and Istanbul, was awarded the Presidential Architecture Award in 2019. In addition to being an architect, restorer, and historian, Prof. Dr. Doğan Kuban was a highly valued academic and a mentor to many professionals in the field.

Doğan Kuban was born in Paris in 1926. In the 1950s, he conducted studies on Renaissance architecture in Italy and taught as a visiting lecturer in the USA in 1962. He served as the dean of the ITU Faculty of Architecture between 1973 and 1976.

He was the first in Turkey to argue that the history of architecture should be treated as a field independent from art history and worked towards this goal. He worked for the establishment of the Institute of Architectural History and Restoration at ITU Faculty of Architecture. He chaired the institute, which was founded in 1974.

In 1981, he was appointed deputy chairman of the High Council of Monuments and served in this role until the council was dissolved in 1983. He worked on restoration, repair, and conservation. Together with his American colleague Cecil Striker, he led the restoration efforts of the Kalenderhane Mosque in Istanbul.

He argued that it was a mistaken approach for Western researchers to view Islamic art as a homogeneous whole, emphasizing that despite sharing the same religion, the arts of various Islamic countries show both historical and geographical differences. He stated that Turkish art is a system of phenomena that should be evaluated within its own developmental conditions, and he sought to spread these ideas through his works, lectures, and talks in various countries.

He published books and articles on Turkish, Ottoman, Anatolian, and Islamic architecture and art. His books were taught at universities. His works attracted great interest not only from academic circles but also from readers curious about the subject. His books, especially those focusing on Istanbul, found a place in the libraries of many individuals and institutions.

We deeply mourn the loss of Prof. Dr. Doğan Kuban, a valuable figure in the world of architecture who touched our lives through his research, works, and lectures throughout his life, and we extend our condolences to his family and the architectural community in Turkey.