MPDU - Maps and Plans Documentation Unit

The MPDU archive holds a comprehensive collection related to the history of urban and regional planning in Türkiye. These collections constitute primary sources documenting the evolution of planning practice in the country and serve as an important reference for both national and international research.

The main materials included in the archive are:

• Approximately 750 documents
• Around 2,500 plans and sheets associated with these documents
• Planning documents from various cities, with a particular focus on Ankara
• Plans, sketches, and drawings by Hermann Jansen
• Student projects from planning studios
• Maps, photographs, and technical drawings
• Academic research materials and datasets
• The Gönül Tankut Ankara Library collection

The archive also includes unique documents and document sets that are not available in many other institutions. For instance, comprehensive documentation on the Batıkent projects of Kent-Koop, analytical studies and project drawings related to the transformation process of Dikmen Valley, and original examples from Türkiye's planning history—such as plans by Bülent Berksan—form significant parts of this collection.

In this respect, the archive is not merely a repository that compiles existing knowledge; it also provides an informational infrastructure that makes rare and limited-access sources visible, thereby laying the groundwork for new research.

• History and Objectives
• Archieve Premises
• Contributors

• Maps and Plan Archieve
• City Library
• Studio Projects

Postal address: Orta Doğu Teknik Üniversitesi (ODTÜ), Mimarlık Fakültesi, Şehir ve Bölge Planlama Bölümü, Harita ve Plan Belgeleme Birimi, Dumlupınar Blv. No 1. 06800 Ankara, Türkiye.

Email: metucrp.hpbb@gmail.com

Use of the Archive: Users who wish to benefit from the archive are advised to first review the inventory list to check whether the materials they need are available. Afterwards, they should contact the unit via email to arrange an appointment for a suitable date and time. Visitors are kindly requested to bring a USB flash drive in order to obtain digital copies during their visit. As some materials are available only in hard copy, these can be consulted on-site within the archive space. For information regarding borrowing options, users should consult the responsible staff member they are in contact with.