Müge AKKAR ERCAN

Prof. Müge AKKAR ERCAN is a Professor in the Department of City and Regional Planning at Middle East Technical University (METU), Ankara. She holds a PhD in Urban Design from the University of Newcastle, UK, alongside B.Sc. and M.Sc. degrees in City and Regional Planning from METU. Her academic roles include teaching courses on urban design studios, planning strategies, and thesis supervision. She specializes in urban design, public space analysis, urban regeneration, and sustainable community development with a focus on historic neighborhoods in Turkey and post-industrial cities.

**Education:**

• B.Sc., City and Regional Planning (METU, 1994)
• M.Sc., Urban Policy Planning and Local Governments (METU, 1997)
• Ph.D., Urban Design (University of Newcastle, 2003)

**Research Interests:**

Her work investigates evolving roles of public spaces in post-industrial cities, challenges in balancing community needs with conservation policies, and sustainable urban regeneration strategies. Notable projects include studies on Ankara’s Gençlik Park, Istanbul’s historic neighborhoods, and walkability models for urban revitalization. She contributes to international journals like Journal of Urban Design and Urban Design International, and co-edits books on heritage valuation and urban planning discourses.

**Recent Research Trends:**

Her publications (2010–2020) emphasize spatial inclusivity in public spaces, heritage-led regeneration, and micro-scale urban interventions. Recent work explores place-making roles in China’s heritage contexts and EU-funded projects on underground cultural heritage and middle-class housing.

**Grants & Projects:**

Currently involved in EU-funded projects CA18110 (underground heritage valorization) and CA18137 (European middle-class housing analysis). Her work bridges academic research with policy implementation in Turkey and globally.

**Labs/Teams:**

Leads METU’s urban design research through her department’s studios and collaborates internationally on heritage conservation and urban dynamics initiatives.