Effects of Architectural and Urban Design Project Competitions on Built Environment and New Discourses Brought Thereby

Competition system is considered to be the most objective project selection method in a country's architectural and urbanism organization and is a mechanism which promotes professional creativity. Both national and international competitions have a significant potential in terms of providing knowledge and accumulation to contemporary architecture history. It is stated by the studies conducted on design competitions that while competitions contribute to the architecture environment of the country where they are held, they also provide opportunity for monitoring the architecture and accordingly changing discourse of the environment. The aim of competitions is to obtain "the best project" for a building or building group or a specific area, designs of which are predetermined. Furthermore, it has been stated that competitions are one of the methods to obtain qualified buildings and environments in Turkey, there are problems in their being sufficiently developing, leading and raising awareness. The reasons why there are still a few qualified buildings (besides exceptions) have been stressed. Recommendations as to institutions organizing design competitions, creation of specifications for design competitions and establishment of jury in design competitions have been offered for eliminating issues in design competitions.