Turgut Cansever

Born in Antalya, in 1920, Cansever studied high school at Galatasaray High School and completed his undergraduate studies at İDGSA (İstanbul State Academy of Fine Arts). In 1951, Cansever founded his own office. In parallel to his professional career, he also received his PhD in Art History from İstanbul University Faculty of Letters with a thesis titled “Stylistic Analysis of Ottoman and Seljuk Column Heads”. Further, he assumed his title of associate professor with a thesis titled “Problems of Modern Architecture”. Having taken part in its founding, between 1959 and ‘60, Cansever served as the head of the Marmara Region Planning Organization. In 1961, he served as the head of the İstanbul Municipality Planning Authority. Between 1974-75, Cansever served as the head of the World Bank Istanbul Metropolitan Planning Project. Between 1974-76, he was a member of the Turkish Delegation of the European Council. He worked for İstanbul Municipality between 1975 and 1980, and for Ankara Municipality in 1979, as a consultant on metropolitan planning, new settlements, urban centers and preservation. Cansever, an Honorary Member of İstanbulSMD, passed away on February 22nd, 2009.