Dear Members,

As you know, architecture, our profession, has a very broad scope as it is one of the rare practices that combines art and science. Due to this important characteristic, it differs both from engineering disciplines that deal solely with science and from branches of art that focus solely on emotion. Our professional practice, which combines art with function and brings this union to life through science, has remained the only profession carrying this unique characteristic for centuries. Because of this quality, which may be defined as “Functional Art,” it has always been wrong to confine our profession within rigid boundaries or to assume that architecture can only be practiced in a single way.

Owing to this unique characteristic, our profession has encompassed many different fields of practice throughout history. Our Chamber, in turn, has taken on the mission of bringing together this broad spectrum and ensuring the unity of colleagues who speak the same language — the language of architecture. Contrary to some assumptions, our Chamber is not only the chamber of practicing architects. Our Chamber also belongs to academic architects, contractor architects, architects serving in public institutions, architects specialized in restoration projects, architects specialized in building materials, architects working as occupational health and safety experts, and all our members practicing the profession in many other fields.

In addition, under the UCCTEA Law No. 21/2005, our Chamber is defined as a “public institution” and a “professional organization serving the public interest.” Due to this definition, maintaining unity among all members of our Chamber is of great importance for the scientific struggle we carry out on behalf of both our profession and the public.

Aware of this responsibility, our Chamber continues its efforts to preserve, develop, and advance Turkish Cypriot Architecture. During the 55th term of the architectural struggle, our Executive Board is fully aware of the importance of the duty entrusted to it by the members and strives to be worthy of this responsibility.

In this struggle to advance architecture, we, as the Chamber of Architects, know that we can only succeed together with our members.

With the hope that we will continue our struggle together for Turkish Cypriot Architecture,

Respectfully,

Onur Olguner
President
UCCTEA Chamber of Turkish Cypriot Architects