Digging for an excavator
Ülgür Önen was born in 1938 in Istanbul, Turkey. He was an architect, academic, and author known for his work in architectural education and for his publications on the historical and archaeological regions of Turkey.
During the early 1960s, Önen studied in Germany. In the winter semester of 1961/1962, he enrolled in architecture at the Hochschule für Bildende Künste Hamburg (HFBK) with professor Godber Nissen. Nissen was a German architect and educator who played an important role in post-war reconstruction and in the development of architectural education in West-Germany during the mid-twentieth century.
According to the biographical note published on the back cover of one of his books,1 after completing his architectural studies, Önen continued his education at the University of Hamburg, where he studied sociology, art history, and archaeology. He later earned a Magister Artium (M.A.) degree and subsequently completed a Doctor of Philosophy (Dr. phil.) at the same university. These interdisciplinary studies are reflected in his later publications, which combine architecture, archaeology, history, and visual documentation. After finishing his studies in Germany, although the exact date remains unclear, Önen returned to Turkey, where he worked as an architect and later pursued an academic career. In the 1980s, he was serving as a lecturer at the Faculty of Engineering and Architecture of Dokuz Eylül University in Izmir. He later continued contributing to architectural education and architectural theory in Turkey.
Önen is particularly known for his publications focusing on the archaeology and historical landscapes of Turkey. His works combine architectural research, archaeological documentation, and historical reconstruction. His known publications include:
Lycia: Western Section of the Southern Coast of Turkey. Istanbul: Net Turistik Yayınlar (1984, later edition 1992).
Ephesos wie es damals war. Die Stadt in Rekonstruktionen. Istanbul: Net Turistik Yayınlar, 1985.
Caria: Southern Section of the Western Coast of Turkey. Istanbul: Net Turistik Yayınlar, 1986.
Kommagene mit dem Götterberg Nemrut: Ein Königreich in Südost-Anatolien. Istanbul: Net Turistik Yayınlar, 1987.
These instances demonstrate Önen’s long-term engagement with archaeological sites and historical regions of Turkey. During my own research on Ülgür Önen, I discovered that there is very limited information about his life and professional career which is publicly available. While looking for more details, I was fortunately able to contact one of his former students, Necdet Şenoğlu. Şenoğlu studied architecture under Önen and contributed drawings and sketches for several of Önen’s publications that date from the years between 1979 and 1986.
Necdet Şenoğlu kindly sent me an original sketch he had prepared for one of Önen’s publications and provided valuable information about Önen’s teaching and academic work. He also shared a handwritten note in which Önen expressed his gratitude for Şenoğlu’s assistance with the illustrations which is also included below. Unfortunately, Şenoğlu informed me that Ülgür Önen passed away several years ago, although the exact date of his death could not be confirmed.2
As an artist who also studied in Turkey, I found it particularly meaningful to research Önen’s life and work. Although I never had the opportunity to meet him, learning about his career through his publications and through conversations with one of his former students provided a unique insight into his academic and artistic legacy.
It is also suggested that Önen had family connections in Germany, although further details could not be verified. Because of the limited archival documentation available, much of what is known about him today is preserved through his books, publications, and the memories of his students.
