Kadir Topbaş

Architect, President of UCLG, President of the Union of Municipalities of Turkey and the Metropolitan Municipality Mayor of Istanbul (b. 8 January 1945, Artvin - d. 13 February 2021, Istanbul). He graduated from the Religious Studies Department of Marmara University and graduated from the Department of Architecture of Mimar Sinan University. He made his doctoral thesis on “Hidiv Kasrı ve Boğaziçi Sivil Mimarisindeki Yeri” (T. N. Hidiv Pavilion and its Place in Civil Architecture of the Bosphorus) in the Art History and Archeology Department of Istanbul University.

He worked as a self-employed architect for a long time. Between 1994 and 1998 during the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Mayor of Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, he served as his consultant. Throughout his consultancy, he contributed to the restoration works of palaces, pavilions and other historical buildings covered by the Metropolitan Municipality. He was appointed to the Vice-Presidency of the General Directorate of Primary Cultural Heritages and Monuments of Istanbul.

In 1999, he was elected as the Mayor of Beyoğlu Municipality. During his duty, he proliferated the project of ‘Beautiful Beyoğlu’, which is also a model for Istanbul. Under the scope of the project of ‘Urban Transformation and Social Rehabilitation’, which was prepared by him, he put into various social facilities into service in Kasımpaşa.

On the date of 28 March 2004, he stood as a candidate from the AK Party in the local elections, and was elected as the Mayor of Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality. Following a very remarkable term of office, he was re-elected for the mayor on 29^th March 2009 and passed into the history of Istanbul being elected as the Mayor of Istanbul Metropolitan for the second time.

Then, on 28^th May 2009, he was appointed to the Presidency of the Union of Municipalities of Turkey. Between 2004 and 2007, he served as the president of UCLG MEWA. He conducted the duumvirate of the World’s United Cities and Local Administration’s Organization, which is considered as the United Nations of the world cities between 2007 and 2010. He became the UCLG president on 20^th November 2010.

Kadir Topbaş also serves as the vice-president of Istanbul Development Agency, as the member of Istanbul 2010 European Capital of Culture Agency Executive Board and İstanbul Modern Executive Board as well as the Turkish Foundation for the Protection of Tourism Assets of Monuments and Nature and as the member of Turkish Foundation for the Handicapped Board of Trustees.

He published three books titled Beyoğlu: Kültürleri Buluşturan Kent with Bilgi University, and Geçmişten Günümüze Beyoğlu I-II and Anılarda Beyoğlu with TAÇ Foundation He is married with three children.

REFERENCE: İBB Başkanı Kadir Topbaş istifa etti (cumhuriyet.com.tr, 22 Eylül 2017), Kadir Topbaş hayatını kaybetti  (haberglobal.com.tr, 13.02.2021).