Epic Story of Transformation of Suriçi
“The Story of Suriçi” documentary, which tells the 22-year journey of the Suriçi Bazaar Urban Transformation Project implemented by Meram Municipality, met the audience for the first time with a gala program. The film, which reveals the behind-the-scenes story of the transformation carrying Konya’s historical memory into the future, received great appreciation and applause from the guests.
The gala screening of “The Story of Suriçi” documentary film, which tells the entire construction process of the Suriçi Bazaar Urban Transformation Project, one of Meram Municipality’s vision projects and one that has revived Konya’s historical centre, was held with intense participation. The program began with the screening of “The Story of Suriçi” documentary film. The film, which tells the revival of the historical region located in the heart of Konya and reveals exactly 22 years of labour, received long applause from the audience. The screening, where emotional moments were experienced, brought to the screen not only an urban transformation project, but also the memory, patience and hopes for the future of a city.
THE GALA ATTRACTED GREAT INTEREST
AK Party Konya Deputy Mustafa Hakan Özer, Konya Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Uğur İbrahim Altay, Rector of Konya Food and Agriculture University Prof. Dr. Erol Turan, Konya Deputy Governor Yavuz Güner, Meram District Governor Dr. Bayram Yılmaz, AK Party Konya Provincial Chairman Fatih Özgökçen, MHP Konya Provincial Chairman Sedat Göncü, Selçuklu Mayor Ahmet Pekyatırmacı, Meram Mayor Mustafa Kavuş, Karatay Mayor Hasan Kılca, provincial directors, AK Party and MHP provincial and district organizations, municipal council members, executives of public institutions and non-governmental organizations, mukhtars and members of the press attended the gala program, which witnessed colourful scenes. The guests entered the hall through the symbolic historical Larende Gate and again through the symbolic historical Roman Road tunnel. The screens in the tunnel, where the chronology of the Suriçi Project was told, added a different ambiance to the night.
MAYOR KAVUŞ; “THE LOST LIFE AND MEMORY HAVE COME TO LIGHT AGAIN”
Speaking after the film screening, Meram Mayor Mustafa Kavuş stated that Suriçi Bazaar was not an ordinary transformation project and said that with this film, they told the story of a great dream that revealed Konya’s spirit again turning into reality. Reminding that Şükran Neighbourhood and its surroundings had lost the values they possessed over the years, Mayor Kavuş emphasized that the Suriçi Bazaar Urban Transformation Project brought this lost memory back to light and revived social life. Stating that every frame of the documentary contained 22 years of sweat, patience, struggle and determination, Mayor Kavuş said that at the end of difficult processes, a permanent work that adds value to Konya’s silhouette and will be left as a legacy to the future emerged.
MAYOR KAVUŞ DID NOT FORGET THOSE WHO CONTRIBUTED TO AND SUPPORTED THE PROJECT
In the continuation of his speech, Mayor Kavuş thanked those who supported the project and expressed his gratitude, especially to President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Minister of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change Murat Kurum and Konya Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Uğur İbrahim Altay, as well as to ministers, deputies, mayors, bureaucrats, technical teams, contractor companies, field workers, tradesmen and citizens who contributed from past to present. Stating that Suriçi Bazaar was not the success of one person, but the common success of a team and a city, Kavuş concluded his words by thanking everyone who contributed.
CHAIRMAN GÖNCÜ; “SURİÇİ WILL ADD VALUE TO THE IDENTITY AND LIFE OF THE CITY”
MHP Konya Provincial Chairman Sedat Göncü, in his speech, stated that the Suriçi Bazaar Urban Transformation Project was a very valuable work brought to Konya and thanked everyone who contributed to the project. Expressing that Suriçi serves as a strong bridge bringing together the deep-rooted past and the future, Chairman Göncü said that the work revealed the historical and cultural texture of the region once again. Emphasizing that the project did not only provide a physical transformation but would also make important contributions to the commercial life of the region, Chairman Göncü stated that the area, which has once again become a centre of attraction, would add value to Konya’s quality of life and city identity.
CHAIRMAN ÖZGÖKÇEN; “SURİÇİ HAS BECOME ONE OF THE BEST EXAMPLES OF MAYOR KAVUŞ’S EXCITEMENT FOR SERVICE”
AK Party Konya Provincial Chairman Fatih Özgökçen began his speech by saying “Mashallah”. Stating that they witnessed the excitement that Meram Mayor Mustafa Kavuş displayed in every project, Chairman Özgökçen said that Suriçi Bazaar was one of the most special examples of this excitement. Expressing that there was great labour extending from past periods to the present in the emergence of the project, Chairman Özgökçen noted that Meram Municipality had carried out important works that changed the face of the district. Emphasizing that Suriçi Bazaar is a very valuable work that preserves the historical heritage and carries it into the future, Chairman Özgökçen said that the project strengthened Konya’s cultural identity and became an important centre of attraction for visitors coming to the city.
DEPUTY GOVERNOR GÜNER; “THE DOCUMENTARY REVEALED A GREAT EFFORT”
Konya Deputy Governor Yavuz Güner said that the works carried out in Suriçi Bazaar were extremely important in terms of preserving historical and cultural values. Stating that the documentary once again revealed the great effort behind the Suriçi Bazaar Project, Deputy Governor Güner noted that while the region was reorganized with an urban transformation approach, its historical identity was also carefully preserved. Stating that with the works carried out, the area was brought into the service of both citizens and guests visiting the city, Deputy Governor Güner thanked all individuals and institutions who contributed to the project and wished that the work would be beneficial for Meram, Konya and the country.
MAYOR ALTAY; “WE ARE REALIZING KONYA’S DREAMS ONE BY ONE”
Konya Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Uğur İbrahim Altay stated that Suriçi Bazaar is one of the finest examples of Konya Model Municipality. Expressing that the project, which is the result of strong cooperation between the central government, local administrations and institutions, is one of the important links of the Darülmülk Project, Mayor Altay said that the transformation works extending from Mevlana Bazaar to Larende revived Konya’s historical centre. Emphasizing that Suriçi is an important part of this great vision, Mayor Altay stated that they were turning Konya’s dreams into reality one by one. Thanking Meram Mayor Mustafa Kavuş and his team for bringing such a valuable work to the city, Mayor Altay said, “There is great effort behind this magnificent work. This work has become one of the finest examples of inter-institutional cooperation. We will realize Konya’s dreams one by one and when all projects are completed, a result that we are proud of will emerge.”
DEPUTY HAKAN ÖZER; “THIS MAGNIFICENT WORK IS OF A NATURE THAT WILL SET AN EXAMPLE FOR ALL OF TÜRKİYE”
AK Party Konya Deputy Mustafa Hakan Özer also said that the Suriçi Bazaar Urban Transformation Project is one of the most important investments shaping Konya’s future. Stating that the process they watched in the documentary was carried out with great patience, meticulousness and effort, Deputy Özer said that the result that emerged was extremely impressive. Emphasizing that the project was not only an urban transformation work, Deputy Özer noted that it was also the product of a strong vision carrying Konya’s historical, cultural and civilizational heritage into the future. Expressing that the project, which reduces the density of the city, expands living spaces and highlights the understanding of horizontal architecture, is of a quality that will set an example for Türkiye, Deputy Özer said that bringing the historical texture to light added a separate value to the project. Deputy Özer stated that he believed Suriçi Bazaar would serve the people of Konya for many years as an important work bringing together the past and the future and thanked everyone who contributed.
Following the speeches, the guests had a commemorative photo taken in memory of this meaningful night that kept alive the story of Suriçi, which came back to life in the heart of Konya.
