About

Beyond Istanbul is a cross-disciplinary, independent, demand-responsive urban institute, focused on issues of spatial justice in Istanbul and beyond. We are academics, artists, activists and urban researchers based in Istanbul. Their passion for the city and their urban praxis bring us together.

Beyond Istanbul works on the issues of spatial justice, aiming to bring together transnational knowledge and cross-disciplinary expertise with local communities, to help to (re-)produce spaces and practices of hope. Many urban communities (evicted/dispossessed/impoverished) are either excluded from / badly affected by the decisions on their city, or lack access to resources, including expertise, to overcome injustices.

Beyond Istanbul is rooted in their deep local knowledge of and passion to make positive change in Istanbul and beyond. They believe their professions (architecture, planning, designing, social sciences, etc.) need to be democratised and be socially engaged, as much as their cities need to be democratic and socially just. They believe that another professionalism as well as another city are possible.