What is this exhibition about? 

Ghost Stories: The Carrier Bag Theory of Architecture exhibition is about transforming the existing structures. It displays the outcome of a collaborative body of research gathered from an open call for abandoned buildings across Türkiye. It also demonstrates how our theory resonates with contemporary architectural practice.

Since construction in Türkiye is triggered by economic growth rather than spatial needs, we have a huge variety of unused buildings, from hospitals to airports. As we were writing this text, two earthquakes, with magnitudes of 7.7 and 7.6, struck South-eastern Türkiye, causing massive damage. In a country with an enormous building stock that has to be reinforced to resist earthquakes – since it is not possible to rebuild them all – we need to find ways to transform the existing and introduce novel tools and methods to nurture our collective dreams and discussions.

As Lesley Lokko puts it “hope is a powerful currency”. Even in the most devastating times, we need ideas that will keep hope alive. Here, abandoned buildings, as a resource and as the laboratory of the future, new tools of transformation, and theory come together to form a timely expression of optimism.