Res. Asst. Merve Karadaban Özen, from Istanbul Gelisim University (IGU), Department of Interior Architecture and Environmental Design, participated in the first Training School program organized by the European COST Action OBSERVISTA (Observatory of Innovative Strategies for Repurposing Terrain Vague) network. Held in a hybrid format (in-person/online) in Florence, Italy, on January 22–23, 2026, the training school focused on strengthening conceptual analysis in urban studies under the theme “Applied Ontology for Conceptual Analysis and Systematisation.”
The training program aimed to systematically address the concepts related to the repurposing of spaces defined as “terrain vague” (urban voids/abandoned areas) in urban literature. Within this scope, the applied ontology approach was introduced to the participants, and methods were shared to contribute to the OBSERVISTA “Terrain Vague” glossary study, which aims to develop a common conceptual language within an interdisciplinary framework.
The conceptual analysis and methodological expertise acquired by Karadaban-Özen during the training process are intended to contribute to international research collaborations as well as ongoing studies at IGU focused on urban space, transformation, and public areas.
