International Symposium

 Background & Scope

From the very beginning, structural art has always been of prime importance in the culture of societies: Besides historical marvels such as the Ziggurats of Mesopotamia, the Pyramids of Ancient Egypt, Acropolises and Amphitheatres of Ancient Aegean Civilizations; Bridges, Aquaducts and Baths of the Romans; Churches and Cathedrals of Medieval Christianity, Mosques of Islamic Culture; Yurds of nomads and thatching techniques of the primitive cultures as well as wooden structures of Far Eastern Cultures can equally and easily be mentioned under this context.

After industrialization, structural art began changing in the 19th century following the introduction of iron and steel to everyday life in the form of high-rise buildings and suspension bridges, becoming the main feature of American Culture. Alongside these developments, European Structural Art also created monumental structures like the Severn Bridge, Crystal Palace and the Eiffel Tower. Consequently, steel became an unrivalled structural material throughout the world in the 20th century which will probably be remembered as the age of placing prime importance to steel in architecture.

This year, the Annual Meetings of the European Convention for Constructional Steelwork (ECCS) will be held in Istanbul which has been selected as the Cultural Capital of Europe for 2010. These important events give us both the opportunity and the mission to organize and announce an International Symposium for architects, structural engineers, designers, steel fabricators and builders as well as urban psychologists, social planners and environmentalists to discuss new horizons on steel structuring in relation to contemporary culture, giving way to a new European vision for a better and sustainable future.

Besides design issues and research related to steel structures, the Symposium will also cover social and cultural aspects in this field within the themes given below:

1. Historical and Cultural Aspects

2. Structural Design Concepts

3. Sustainability: Solutions in Relation to Society, Environment and Economy

4. Urban Context