Onur Tumturk

PhD Details

My PhD aims to understand how cities evolve under different material conditions and analyses long term physical and functional transformation patterns in a diachronic manner. Considering that existing preconditions of urban spaces prepared by plots, buildings, streets and open spaces are important determinants for future interventions, the study measures the character of urban form and develops a method of classification by relying on an extensive geospatial database generated from cartographic and historical resources. Investigation of the relationship between identified urban form typologies and rate of spatial change and persistence improves our understanding of adaptable and resilient built environment characteristics.

Q & A

Why did you decide to do a PhD?
After I finished my undergraduate study in urban planning, I started to be more interested in how our way of designing cities either generate new potentials or hinder the opportunities for future design interventions. Following a master study focusing the theoretical extents of this issue, I have become more motivated to research this topic further in an empirical manner and decided to pursue an academic career.

What do you enjoy reading?
I mostly read philosophy and history of scientific thought.

What do you enjoy doing when you're not working on your PhD?
Taking long walks on the laneways of Melbourne

Name one fun fact about you.
I have a huge beer coaster collection including more than four-hundred unique pieces and that’s a great motivation for me to try new bars and pubs.