Professor Dr. Metin Sözen passed away
Sözen's funeral prayer will be held at Zincirlikuyu Mosque following the afternoon prayer tomorrow (August 3) and he will be buried in Zincirlikuyu Cemetery.
Born in 1936 in the Harput district of Elazığ, Metin Sözen completed his undergraduate studies at Istanbul University's Department of Art History and continued his academic career at Istanbul Technical University's Faculty of Architecture. He became an associate professor in 1973 and a full professor in 1979. Sözen taught at Istanbul Technical University for many years, mentoring numerous students in the fields of art history and architectural history.
Sözen's efforts in the field are as remarkable as his academic work.
He pioneered the spread of conservation awareness throughout Türkiye through ÇEKÜL (Foundation for the Protection and Promotion of Environmental and Cultural Values), which he founded in 1990. He also initiated the establishment of the Historical Cities Union and served as its Honorary Advisory Board Chair. Sözen also held important positions, including Head of the Scientific Board of the National Palaces Department of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey, and was an influential figure in the process of inscribing Safranbolu on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
Prof. Dr. Metin Sözen has been honored with numerous prestigious awards for his work, including the TBMM Outstanding Service Award, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism's Conservation Honor Award, the Foundation's Human Resources Award, the TMMOB Special Jury Award, the Aga Khan Architecture Award, and the 2007 Culture and Arts Grand Prize. He was also awarded an honorary doctorate by Istanbul Kültür University.
Sözen's name is kept alive not only through awards but also in concrete terms. Parks, cultural centers, and streets in various cities across Türkiye have been named after him.
The "Metin Sözen Conservation Grand Award," given annually by the Historical Cities Union to municipalities, carries his legacy to future generations.
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