Architecture Competition Spirala Community Home Honorable mention – ISTANBUL TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY

We’d like to take the opportunity to introduce you to one of our Honorable mention winners for our “Spirala Community Home” competition – Berkay Öztürk, Merve Taşdelen and Ayça Metin from Turkey!

Honorable mention from Turkey

Berkay Öztürk

Current:
 Istanbul Technical University – Architectural Design Computing Master's Program with Thesis
2019–2014: 
İzmir Institute of Technology – Department of Architecture

Ayça Metin


Current: Istanbul Technical University – Architectural Design Computing Master's Program with Thesis
2020–2018: Istanbul Technical University – Architecture Master's Non-Thesis Program 
2017–2013: Yıldız Technical University – Department of Architecture

Merve Taşdelen

Current: Istanbul Technical University – Architectural Design Computing Master's Program with Thesis
2019–2014:
 Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University – Department 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?

Berkay Öztürk

He worked as a junior architect for a year after his graduation in an architectural design office, and during this time he focused on BIM and HBIM topics. He is currently working on a research project about developing computational methods for modeling building components using photogrammetry data for documenting historic buildings.

Ayça Metin

Over the past three years as an architect, she has gained experience by working on different types of projects, including houses, apartments and residential complexes, office and commercial buildings. During this time, she focused on computational design and sustainability. Currently, she is working as a level designer on an indie game. Besides that, she has focused on implementing Unreal Engine technology into architectural visualization, design, and simulation.

Merve Taşdelen

She has been working as an architectural designer since graduation. She has participated in local and international competitions since the first year of her design education. She is interested in performance spaces, body, and the experience to link computational design with analogue processes. She is currently studying machine learning to visualize the connection between performance places from past to present to create future performance spaces.

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

Architecture is not just a profession, it’s a melody of your project for a small detail of the mind, the colors of the harmony on the canvas reflect the facade. We wanted to choose an endless journey that would belong to our soul, development, and freedom. We really appreciate that being an architect has opened new doors and given us the courage to succeed.

We still pursue creativity, which is one of the reasons why we chose this profession. We are aware that, as designers, we can improve this world with our passion for change. As Will Aslop says, “Architects have the power to turn Monday mornings into Saturday.” We should imagine more to create a better environment and world. It is important to support it by learning different cultures, practices, and participating in architectural competitions.

Why do you participate in architecture competitions?

Considering competitions and publications we’ve interested in, we’ve started to inquire about future living and the world. In terms of the new lifestyle, we study the dimensions of technology and architecture, such as the common links between computer science and architecture, design principles of the new post-digital age, and connections between the modern material use and the contemporary construction methods. This gives us a chance to share our ideas and passions with prominent designers and responsible communities.

Architecture competitions are good opportunities to test ourselves and push our limits. Not only working as a group, but also time management skills – these are crucial achievements that architecture competitions contribute to a team.

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

We strongly advise them to participate, as eventually there is no losing team/individual. Because regardless of the results, every process and challenge has taught you something valuable during the competition process.