Who is Prof. Dr. Sadettin Ökten?
He was born in Istanbul on September 1, 1942. His father was Mahmut Celalettin Okten, known as the founder of Imam Hatip schools. His mother is Misses Emine Mahmude. Dr. Ayse Humeyra Okten is his elder sister.
He is known as Gurcuzadeler on his father’s side. He spent his childhood and youth in Fatih district of Istanbul. He attended and graduated from Vefa High School between 1956 and 1960. He graduated from the Faculty of Civil Engineering at Istanbul Technical University in 1964 as a Master of Civil Engineering. Sadettin Okten married Mrs. Meric in 1969 and had four children.
In 1969, he joined the Faculty of Architecture of Istanbul Technical University as an assistant in the Reinforced Concrete Department. In 1971 – 1973, he was a visiting Ph.D. student in the USA. He completed his military service in 1974 – 1975 at the General Staff Data Processing Department. He was awarded the title of Doctor of Science in 1977. With the help of a scholarship, he completed his master’s degree in the USA. In the academic year 1979-1980 he conducted scientific research in Belgium. In 1982, he was promoted to associate professor. In 1985, he moved to Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University. In 1989, he was promoted to professor.
Prof. Sadettin Okten is known for his lectures and studies on city and civilization, especially Islamic civilization. He has taught history of science, history of civil engineering, urban culture and urban aesthetics at various universities. In addition to his teaching, training and research activities in the field of civil engineering, Sadettin Okten has also carried out professional practices at the project level. He is also interested in the history and philosophy of science, culture, civilization and art. He has evaluated his studies on this subject with the courses on History of Science, History of Building Technology, Urban Culture and Urban Aesthetics that he has given at different universities. He continues to work in the field of culture and art in addition to his professional activities.
In October 2020, Prof. Sadettin Okten was awarded the Presidential Culture and Art Grand Prize in the field of cultural history.
Since 2012, Esenler City Thinking Center, which continues its activities and provides important contributions to Turkiye’s urban studies, will continue its journey as Esenler Prof. Sadettin Okten City Thinking Center from August 2020.
Prof. Sadettin Okten’s books:
- From the Shattered Ottoman Empire to the Hope of Civilization (Interview: Ayse Cavdar, 2013)
- Coke in My Cup! (2014)
- There’s a Shopping Mall Inside Me! (2015)
- Istanbul from Yahya Kemal to the Present (2015)
- Thoughts and Feelings with Yahya Kemal’s Wind (2015)
- Portraits of My Life (2016)
- Tradition, Art and Civilization (2016)
- Actually There is Art – Art about Individual and Society (2018)
- I Came to Earth to Go – Reflections of the Voice of the Heart (1-2 volumes, with Kemal Sayar, 2019-2020)
- Observing the Moment with Love: Reflections of the Voice of the Heart (1-2 volumes, 2019-2020)
- Our Housing and Residential Architecture
