Editorial

Dr. Derya Oktay, a professional in the fields of architecture, urban design, research, and education, holds a PhD from YTU and Oxford Brookes University, a PgDipUD from Oxford Brookes University, an MArch from Middle East Technical University, and a BArch from Gazi University. She is currently serving as a professor of architecture and urban design at Maltepe University in Istanbul. Prior to this, she held key administrative positions such as the founding Dean of the Faculty of Architecture and Chair of the Department of Architecture at Ondokuz Mayis University. Her academic journey also includes being a Professor at the Faculty of Architecture of the Eastern Mediterranean University in N. Cyprus, where she established the MS in Urban Design Program and the Urban Research & Development Center (URDC). Dr. Oktay played a vital role as the (elected) President of the Society for International Development (SID) Lefkosa Chapter in Cyprus and was elected as a member of the World Renewable Energy Network Management Board (WREN).

With a research focus on sustainable urbanism and architecture, architectural design in urban contexts, social-spatial aspects of housing environments, urban identity, public spaces, and quality of urban life, Dr. Oktay has conducted qualitative and empirical research funded by prestigious entities such as the EU, USAID, TUBITAK, and EMU. Her contributions extend to numerous publications, including scholarly books, chapters in international refereed books, refereed journal articles, conference papers, and popular press articles. As a sought-after speaker, she has participated in various platforms as an invited or keynote speaker. Dr. Oktay has designed and taught courses at both undergraduate and graduate levels, focusing on architectural design, urban design theory, contemporary approaches in urban design, sustainable urbanism and architecture, and public spaces. She has also established new academic programs at the institutions she has been associated with.

Dr. Oktay's global academic engagements include visiting professor/scholar positions at the University of California-Berkeley (1996), Politecnico di Milano (2002), University of Michigan (2005), Oxford Brookes University (2009), and Pratt Institute, NY (2019). She holds the (elected) position of Editor-in-Chief of Ekistics and the New Habitat journal, and actively contributes to the editorial boards of leading international journals in the fields of architecture and urbanism. Recognized for her outstanding contributions, Dr. Oktay received the 'WREN PIONEER AWARD 2021' and was ranked among the World’s Top 2% scientists (overall) and Top 1% scientists in the field of Built Environment and Design in 2020 and 2021, based on research conducted at Stanford University. She also serves as a juror in awards programs and architectural design competitions organized by major international organizations.