MICROHOME Kingspan edition 2024/25 Honorable mention winners - Gökalp Kalfa, Denizhan Salli, Göktuğ ünlü and Zehra çeli̇k

We’d like to take the opportunity to introduce you to the Honorable mention winners of our "MICROHOME Kingspan edition 2024/25" competition – Gökalp Kalfa, Denizhan Salli, Göktuğ ünlü and Zehra çeli̇k from Turkey!

Gökalp Kalfa, Denizhan Salli, Göktuğ ünlü and Zehra çeli̇k

Please tell us about your company (when it was founded, where it is based, how many employees, etc) Alternatively, if you do not have a company, please give us some insights on your own professional/academia background.

We are a collective of young designers and architects based in Turkey, including both recent graduates and current students from architectural schools. While we do not operate as a formal company, we regularly come together to participate in design competitions, research projects, and collaborative experiments. This dynamic structure allows us to combine academic curiosity with practical design thinking, fostering a cross-generational exchange of ideas and skills. Our team is built on mutual support, open dialogue, and a shared belief in the social and spatial potential of architecture.

Brief information about the projects that you/your company have been involved with. For instance, what scale have you focused on/preferred, any significant projects where the company/ individuals have been Involved?

Our team focuses on design projects that address contemporary social, spatial, and ecological challenges. We often work on competitions and conceptual studies, especially those that explore themes such as micro-living, adaptive reuse, public space design, and off-grid systems. Our approach blends research with storytelling, and we aim to create proposals that are both context-sensitive and future-oriented. While the scale and typology of our projects vary—from small housing units to urban interventions—they are always grounded in a strong narrative and a desire to question conventional architectural boundaries.

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

To us, architecture is not only about designing buildings—it is about designing meaning. We believe that every project tells a story, and it is our role to find the balance between narrative, place, and human experience. As a team, we align with the philosophy that architects—like the Renaissance thinkers—should be versatile, inquisitive, and deeply engaged with their communities. In our society, we see the architect as a connector of people, disciplines, and systems. Through our projects, we aim to shift the perception of architecture from a luxury to a necessity—something that can respond to crises, foster well-being, and strengthen the cultural fabric. Our goal is to contribute to a more conscious, inclusive, and resilient built environment.

Why do you participate in architecture competitions?

We see competitions as intellectual playgrounds—platforms where ideas can be freely explored, challenged, and refined. They allow us to collaborate with diverse minds, reflect on shared global issues, and produce work that is unbound by conventional limitations. For us, it’s less about competition and more about dialogue. We use competitions to grow, question our assumptions, and test our architectural voice in an open, ever-evolving field. They also offer an opportunity to position ourselves within a broader professional network and to learn from the diverse approaches of others.

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

Treat competitions as a chance to sharpen your thinking and discover your unique design identity. You don't have to win to gain something meaningful—what matters is the process. It's a format that allows you to experiment, fail safely, and learn deeply. Think of it as an ongoing dialogue with the architectural world. Whether you end up with a prize or not, you leave with insights, sketches, and stories that shape your next step. Competitions give you a reason to ask “what if?”—and that's where architecture begins.