Architectural historian Doğan Kuban loses his life

* Photo: Tarih Vakfı Twitter account

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Prof. Doğan Kuban, a prominent architectural historian from Turkey, lost his life at the age of 95 yesterday (September 22).

The İstanbul Technical University (İTÜ) has announced the passing of the academic on its social media account. The university has tweeted:

"We are deeply sorry to lose Prof. Doğan Kuban, an esteemed faculty member of our university and a legendary professor of our Republican history of architecture. May our esteemed professor rest in peace; we extend our condolences to his relatives, loved ones and the İTÜ family."

Ensuring that "Modern Architectural History" became a detailed part of the curriculum, Prof. Kuban also pioneered the foundation of the Faculty of Architectural History and Institute of Restoration at the İTÜ.

Prof. Doğan Kuban's urban history of Istanbul—one of the more complete diachronic histories of the city—is available in English as Istanbul: An Urban History. Byzantion, Constantinopolis, Istanbul.

About Doğan Kuban

Dr. Doğan Kuban was a Professor of Ottoman Architecture and History at Istanbul Technical University. After graduating from the Department of Architecture at Istanbul Technical University in 1949, he went to Italy and studied Renaissance Architecture. In 1962, Dr.Kuban received the Fulbright Fellowship and went to Michigan University as a tutor.

Between 1964 and 1979, he was a research fellow of Harvard at Dumbarton Oaks. Kuban gained professorship in 1965, and served as Dean of the Faculty of Architecture at Istanbul Technical University between 1974 and 1977. Prof. Kuban founded the Institute of Architectural History and Restoration at the Faculty of Architecture in 1974, and served as its director.

He is the author of over 70 acclaimed books, including Ottoman′s Istanbul (2013), Domes: A Journey Through European Architectural History (Istanbul, 2012), Sinan′s Art and Selimiye (Istanbul, 2011), Istanbul: An Urban History (Istanbul, 2011), Ottoman Architecture (Istanbul, 2010), Ottoman Palaces (Istanbul, 2010), The Miracle Of Divriği: Am Essay on the Art of Islamic Ornamentation In Seljuk Times (Istanbul, 2001), and Vanished Urban visions: Wooden Palaces of the Ottomans (Istanbul, 2001).

He has also published numerous articles on Turkish, Islamic and Anatolian Architecture and Arts. Prof. Dr. Kuban also served as a member of the executive committee for the Aga Khan Award for Architecture. (Source: Turkish Cultural Foundation) (KÖ/SD)