MPDU - Maps and Plans Documentation Unit

History

The institutionalization of modern urban and regional planning education in Türkiye began in 1960 with the establishment of the Department of City and Regional Planning at Middle East Technical University. Over time, plans, maps, and documents produced within this context were systematically collected, forming a significant archive within the department.

The HPBB archive contains original documents dating back to the late 1920s, particularly related to the planned development of Ankara. Key materials, such as the plans of Hermann Jansen for Ankara and his original hand-drawn sketches, constitute essential components of this archive.

Over the years, the archive has become an important resource for academic studies, exhibitions, symposiums, and publications. Furthermore, with the donation of the personal collection of Gönül Tankut, the archive has been further enriched and has evolved into a major reference center for the planning history of Ankara.

Objectives

The Map and Plan Documentation Unit (HPBB) of the Department of City and Regional Planning at Middle East Technical University operates with the aim of preserving, documenting, and providing access to original materials related to the development of urban and regional planning in Türkiye. The unit hosts a significant archive that includes plans, maps, drawings, photographs, and student works shedding light on the planning history of various cities in Türkiye, with a particular focus on Ankara.

HPBB contributes to the preservation of institutional memory while also serving as a reliable source of information for researchers, students, and the public. Through its unique materials, the unit stands as an important academic reference point documenting the evolution of planning thought in Türkiye.

The primary objective of the Map and Plan Documentation Unit is to preserve original materials related to urban and regional planning, systematically document them, and make them accessible for research purposes.

In line with this objective, the main goals of the unit are as follows:

• Preservation of original documents, maps, plans, and other materials related to planning history
• Sustainable storage of archival materials through digitization
• Contribution to academic research and educational processes
• Preservation of institutional memory concerning Türkiye's planning history
• Providing public access to information and documents in the field of planning
• These efforts ensure the documentation of planning history and enable past planning approaches to inform present and future work.