INTBAU, the Turkish Design Council and the Humane Urbanism Foundation have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to collaborate on the restoration and reconstruction of an earthquake-damaged traditional guesthouse in the Historic Centre of Antakya in Hatay, Türkiye. The two-storey historic building, with a built area of 488.52 m², was rendered unusable by severe damage in the 2023 earthquakes. The collaboration aims to demonstrate an approach to post-disaster reconstruction that honours local character and identity, sustains local architectural traditions and generates social benefit for the community.
The MoU formalises the start of the project following months of preparatory talks and site visits exploring needs, objectives and the strengths each party brings to the collaboration. The project will draw on both local and international craft skills, grounding the work in local building traditions and creating an example the community can be proud of.
“Antakya has always been a place where different cultures, traditions and ways of life come together,” said Mehmet Kalyoncu, founder of the Humane Urbanism Foundation. “As we rebuild, we want to make sure that its character and spirit continue to shape the city for generations to come. INTBAU is a natural partner for us because it understands how heritage can become a part of how communities live now, and how they might live in future. This project focuses on a single building, but we hope it can be the seed for future work together that shows how reconstruction can be rooted in identity, craftsmanship and a long-term vision for the city’s future.”
Rooted in Antakya’s history and traditions
Sitting at the crossroads of cultures and civilisations for millennia, Antakya has weathered several catastrophic earthquakes throughout recorded history — and its people have shown remarkable resilience in preserving the diverse cultures that define the place. For instance, the very neighbourhood where the guesthouse is located is home to Orthodox and Catholic churches, a mosque, and a synagogue, standing side by side.
The guesthouse was one of three historic buildings surveyed in June 2025 following the devastating 2023 earthquakes in Türkiye. The survey was conducted by a joint team from INTBAU Türkiye, INTBAU Cyprus, the Turkish Design Council, Hatay Mustafa Kemal University, Yıldız Technical University and Eastern Mediterranean University, with support from Hatay Municipality and the INTBAU Secretariat. The team assessed the condition of the three buildings and explored their potential for restoration and reconstruction.
The MoU was signed on 20 July at The King’s Charities Building, 19–22 Charlotte Road, Shoreditch, London, the headquarters of the INTBAU Secretariat. The event was attended by representatives from all three organisations.
Alireza Sagharchi, Chair of the Board of INTBAU, emphasised the importance of responding to the needs and character of the place:
“Especially in the current geopolitical climate, this is a crucial moment to join forces for international cooperation, to rebuild and bring hope to communities — they deserve decent places to live. One of our objectives is to be guided by the genius loci, or the spirit of the place. INTBAU is a global family of localities. We need to listen to what a community needs, and we are here to support that in any way we can. We are thrilled to be partnering with The Turkish Design Council and the Humane Urbanism Foundation.”
Next steps
With the Memorandum of Understanding now signed, the partners turn to the practical work ahead. In the coming months, they will establish a technical committee to guide the project and begin planning site visits to Antakya. Engagement with the local community will be central to this process, alongside meetings with local partners to chart the path toward completed architectural designs. The project will also look beyond the building itself, developing programmatic and outward-facing components, including education programmes, so that its impact extends into the life of the neighbourhood it serves.
About the partners
Turkish Design Council
The Turkish Design Council is an Istanbul-based non-governmental organisation founded in 2016 to advance Türkiye’s social, cultural and economic development through design.
Humane Urbanism Foundation
The Humane Urbanism Foundation is a global non-profit organisation and collaborative platform working to transform how cities prepare for and recover from extreme conditions such as hazards, conflict and climate-related crises.
INTBAU
The International Network for Traditional Building, Architecture and Urbanism brings together practitioners, academics, organisations and communities around the world to support locally rooted approaches to the built environment through Education, Research, Advocacy, and Grants for grassroots projects.
Learn more