Summer 2024 Istanbul Student Trip

About

In the early summer of 2024, students in Professor Gül Kale‘s course Early Summer 2024, Istanbul Trip – Art and Architecture on Site, went to Istanbul to get a glimpse of Turkish art, architecture and experience Turkish culture.

Students from the History and Theory of Architecture Society (HTAS) shared their first-hand experience about the trip.

Student Experiences/Testimonies

Dylan’s Photos

I found it somewhat difficult to separate the features of “study” and “fun” in a city as
culturally rich as Istanbul. The privilege of being so physically and mentally engaged with the
built environment makes for a learning environment like no other. At the same time,
professor Gül Kale’s network of connections, lived experience in the city, and overall
knowledge leaves a remarkably personalised and valuable touch. Studying abroad in
Istanbul is honestly the highlight of my undergraduate academic career, and I would
recommend an opportunity like this to everybody and anybody. – Dylan Chatelier

Zaid’s Photos

Having the opportunity to take a course in Istanbul has been an incredibly enriching
experience for me. The intertwining of history, culture and modernity was brought to life
through site visits, workshops and city exploration. Visiting iconic landmarks straight out of
course textbooks, like the Hagia Sophia, was truly spectacular. Witnessing the unique layers
of history unfold before me through monumental architecture and intricate artwork was
unforgettable. Professor Kale kept our class engaged and entertained with her deep,
embodied knowledge of the city, every day felt like a new adventure. Outside of class, I
formed stronger bonds with my peers, met and befriended some locals, and enjoyed the
vibrant nightlife. The weekends and most evenings free from class time provided ample
opportunities for exploration, getting a little lost, and creating lifelong memories. My passions
for travel and photography flourished during this experience, and I would highly recommend
it to anyone. This has truly been the highlight of my years at Carleton. – Zaid Hashim

Laura’s Photos

The whole trip felt like a fantastic, educational scenic hike! – Laura Chen

Samantha’s Photos

In Istanbul I was able to experience so much culture. The city has beautiful nature,
architecture, and people. The best part of my experience was the food. I tried so many
different foods. The street foods were simple but delicious. Also, in the bazaars and local
markets there were small restaurants that gave an insight on what the non-tourist, traditional
meals were. There were many local 24-hour bakeries that we went to many times to talk
over tea and snacks which is an experience I miss so much. The locals were very happy to
share their culture through their foods. Istanbul is a colourful place and lovely city with a
unique culture that I had the wonderful opportunity to dive into. – Samantha Koroma

Klariza’s Photos

As part of my three-week HTA course in Istanbul, I created a website that explores the significance of public squares in the city. I focused on Sultanahmet Square and Taksim Square, examining how they reflect different historical periods and political dynamics.

Without the embodied experience of walking through these public squares, it would have
been very difficult to analyze them. Although both squares are used as tools to demonstrate
power, Sultanahmet represents an empirical power beginning in the Ottoman-era and
Taksim Square is from an era that is looking to establish a national identity that distances
itself from the Ottoman past. This project showcases how public squares shape urban life,
politics, and identity within the context of Istanbul’s rich architectural heritage.

During my three-week architectural history course in Istanbul, I explored the city’s
unique blend of livability and history. Istanbul offers countless “third spaces”—areas where
both humans and animals coexist—creating a parallel world for its animal residents. Despite
being a tourist hub, these informal and formal seating areas allow people to experience the
city without spending money, which allowed me to take the time to sketch outside without
having to purchase something. Every corner of Istanbul’s urban fabric holds layers of history,
with buildings, streets, and even simple doors showcasing materials and craftsmanship from
past eras.

The city’s accessibility is remarkable, although some neighbourhoods are more
accessible than others, with at least three public transportation options available at all times,
making walking and commuting easy. I enjoyed walking and exploring new neighbourhoods
with ease because of their public transportation infrastructure. – Klariza Juntilla, B.Arch.

Charlene’s Photos

Is Tin Boli – To the City!
Istanbul owes its name (or so the medieval legend goes) to the response of a Greek
peasant to a typical question posed by a stranger looking for food or lodging anywhere near
Constantinople. The answer was inevitably is tin boli, “to the City”. Centuries later, it was still
referred to in this way. And to the City we went, in the summer of 2024, for Carleton’s HTA
Architecture on Site course with Professor Gül Kale, herself a native of Istanbul. For myself, I
was curious to know more about what it means to have a civilization, through a city that had
welcomed the breadth and mix of the human experiences of three great empires: Greek,
Byzantine and Ottoman. What I found were layers of visual culture infused with the genius
loci of the place. This spirit was intimately connected to the polis’ natural qualities as a site:
three great waterways that meet in a profusion of changing currents—the Bosphorus Strait,
the Sea of Marmara and the Black Sea.

These currents drew people from far and wide to Istanbul, something reflected in its
hybrid forms of art and architecture. Sophisticated forms that mirror change and re-invention,
such as the Hagia Sophia as archetype and inspiration for later mosques, the Sultan Ahmet
Camii, being an example. Sometimes the historical fragments live in an uneasy tension with
the future ambitions of its people, as can be seen in the recent conservation and renovation
of the Kariye Camii (known in Byzantine times as the Chora Monastery) that re-opened the
week before our arrival in Istanbul. Even after several visits there, I felt that there were still
layers of meaning to be uncovered.

Wind and sea, water and spirit. These were ever-present themes during our class
trips, whether we were riding the ferry to Kadiköy on the Asian side, navigating the hilly
streets of Beyoğlu with their ornately fashioned Ottoman fountains, or seeing the faithful
undergo ritual ablutions before entering the mosques. Trekking up and down the seven hills
(and more!) of the city was usually rewarded by some unusual vantage point from which to
feel the sea breezes blowing. These carried with them a felt sense of time passing, marked
as they were by the sonic presence of the Muslim calls to prayer at different hours of the day.
They were a rhythmic reminder to remember where we are and where we wish to be. This
was the City’s gift to me.

Study Abroad Opportunities

The next Art and Architectual History 2025 trip is to Rome. If you are interested, please visit this page and fill out the form.