Benchmarking the Challenge of 15-minute Cities in Europe

by Muhammed Raşit Çevikalp | Dec 14, 2023

Project Title: Benchmarking the Challenge of 15-minute Cities in Europe
Funding Agency: International - EELISA
Project Coordinator : Prof. Dr. Hande Demirel (Istanbul Technical University)

Project Topic: 
The study was carried out as a part of the EELISA on-the-MOVE research activities, which is the urban transportation sub-working group of the European Engineering Learning Innovation and Science Alliance (EELISA), that includes Istanbul Technical University. The research aims to benchmark the “15-minute city” concept with local decision-makers, conduct knowledge-based analyses of the districts, and determine the travel time for selected modes of transportation. Three international workshops were held in Budapest, Madrid, and Istanbul simultaneously. The workshops discussed the results obtained and the research plan for each city, which includes three steps. The first step involves exploring, analyzing, and providing solutions for local districts following the co-creation approach with local policy-makers.  The second step is to examine the Paris case study, which is the first example of a “15-minute city” . All local solutions was shared and discussed with international experts.  The third step is for each university to present their “15-minute city” proposals to local decision-makers again and co-design and co-implement the developed proposals.

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İTÜ Faculty of Civil Engineering

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It can be accepted that the history of ITU Civil Engineering Faculty was commenced in 1727 by the establishment of Humbarahane during the era of Damat İbrahim Paşa. However, this attempt was to no avail due to the martyrization of the studwents of this school by the Janissaries.


In 1734, during the grand viziership of Topal Osman Paşa, classes related to Civil Engineering was being taught in Hendesehane, which was founded in Üsküdar. Similarly, this school was also closed after three years due to the opposition of the Janissaries. The reasons of the tragedy that occured in Battle of Chesma, 1770 were inadequacy of the ships and the ignorance of the Ottoman Navy.


Although the Atlantic Map (1513) and the Map of Europe and the Mediterranean Sea (1523) by Piri Reis were the leading pieces of the era, Ottoman viziers were so ignorant that they claimed it was impossible for the Russian Baltic Fleet to reach the Mediterranean Sea assuming that there were no sea connection. With the proposal from Gazi Hasan Paşa and Baron de Tott, Mühendishane-i Bahri-i Humayun was established during the time of Sultan Mustafa III, aiming to train naval construction engineers. Since Ottoman Empire did not have any engineering schools at the time, military engineering classes were taught by French engineers beginning from 1784. French lecturers had to return to their country in 1788 with the increasing suppression from Austria and Russia, which were unwilling for the development and thriving of Ottoman Empire. In 1759, during the Grand Viziership of Koca Ragıp Paşa, Humbarahane was reopened in Karaağaç, Haliç (Golden Horn) and continued to teach even though it was incompetent. In 1792, Lağımcı Ocağı and Humbaracı Ocağı (Guild of Sappers) were established.