Architecture competition Abu Dhabi Flamingo Observation Tower Green prize winners - Emrah Kuşener, Kadir Öztürk and Gamze Sümer

We’d like to take the opportunity to introduce you to the winner of the Green prize of our “Abu Dhabi Flamingo Observation Tower” competition - Emrah Kuşener, Kadir Öztürk and Gamze Sümer from Turkey!

Emrah Kuşener, Kadir Öztürk and Gamze Sümer from Turkey

We (Emrah Kuşener and Kadir Öztürk) studied Architecture in Akdeniz University. After our graduation in 2017, we started to work in DG ACADEMIA Okan Koloğlu Architecture and we are still working there together. As to our other team mate Gamze Sümer, she was an intern in our office when Abu Dhabi Flamingo Observation Tower came out. She was studying Architecture in Istanbul Bilgi University and she graduated in 2019.

We took part in a lot of national and international architectural projects on different scales such as museums, hotels, monuments, houses, showrooms, and convention centers during our working period. We enjoy taking part in different projects because all of them contain different details inside. We carried out Astana Nazarbayev Center 2. Stage (Presidency Museum Architecture and Interior Architecture), Antalya Mercedes Showroom (Architecture and Interior Architecture), Konya Convention Center (Interior Architecture), Istanbul Ece Marble Showroom (Interior Architecture).

What does architecture mean to you and what is the role of an architect in your society?

First of all, architecture is the art of building. It is a discipline that forms an environment for occupants of it (people,animals etc.) to make a comfortable living. Besides that, it is an important factor that brings a character to a country, a city, a district or a square. It creates a vision and helps to plan a strategy for the future. The architects who follow architectural principles by preserving his ethic values, always seems as a person who enriches the region. 

Why do you participate in architecture vision competitions?

In real projects, there are a lot of factors that limit the designer, such as municipal plans, governmental procedures, clientele’s budget, etc. You have little chance to implement what you imagine. In this respect, competitions are a platform which set the designers free. In this ambiance, the designer could show his own style easily and force his limitations.

What advice would you give to individuals who struggle to decide whether it would be beneficial for them to participate in architecture vision competitions?

Competitions are a platform which broadens a designer’s horizons. It is a proper atmosphere for the designers to develop his architectural style. We think it is always exciting to encounter a new concept and area. Thanks to that, you gain an idea in every matter and we think this is a requirement of being architecture.