Sıla Akalp

Sıla Akalp is a Strategic Design Manager and partner at Kentsel Strateji, with over 19 years of experience in large-scale urban, rural, and community projects. 

She holds a Bachelor’s degree in City and Regional Planning from Middle East Technical University (METU) and completed her Strategic Planning education at KU Leuven in Belgium.

Throughout her career, she has led vision plans, regeneration models, social impact analyses, and thematic design guides both in Turkey and internationally. Her expertise lies in participatory planning and negotiation processes between public, private, and civil sectors. She played a key role in establishing TAK Kadıköy and TAK Kartal, creative hubs that connect designers with decision-makers, fostering inclusive urban innovation.

Akalp has collaborated with international institutions such as the World Bank, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and the European Investment Bank, focusing on sustainable development, rural-urban balance, and socially driven design. She has also contributed to flagship projects like Anadoludakiler and Villages of Tomorrow, where she designed strategies to highlight local production, women’s labor, and creative economies.

In addition to her project work, she has lectured at universities, provided training for the real estate sector, and spoken at national and international conferences. Her practice emphasizes storytelling, social impact, and design as tools for resilience and inclusivity.