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HomeAcademic staffMs Yelda Gin
Ms Yelda Gin

Ms Yelda Gin

e410614@lsbu.ac.uk

Construction, Property and Surveying

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6002-6398

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I am an architect, educator and researcher. I joined LSBU in January 2024 as a lecturer in Architectural Technology and Digital Construction at the School of the Built Environment and Architecture.

I am a fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA), and a licenced architect/member of the Chamber of Architects of Turkey (CAT)since 2006.

Since 2013, I have engaged in various academic capacities at several HEIs, including Cambridge University, Cardiff University, Westminister University, Chelsea College of Art, Istanbul Bilgi University, Kadir Has and MEF University.

I started my career in 2008 in London, practising as an architect for renowned international offices such as Zaha Hadid Architects and Cecil Balmond Studio. Over a decade of practice in London and Istanbul, I have worked on designing and realising projects of diverse scales and programs, including the award-winning Heydar Aliyev Centre.

My enthusiasm for being part of the global effort to confront the climate crisis and mitigate the effects of the construction industry on the environment has shifted my career journey from practice to research. My main research themes are regenerative and sustainable design, structural, material, and environmental research, design research, additive manufacturing, digital and robotic fabrication, embodied carbon, zero-carbon construction, and building with low-carbon materials.

My PhD research at the University of Cambridge, was awarded a full scholarship by The Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) and Cambridge Trust. My PhD research focused on how digital fabrication methods, mainly 3D printing with earth, could support the uptake of earthen architecture in high-income countries.

Within the Centre for Natural Material Innovation at the University of Cambridge, I worked on collaborative design and research projects about the innovative use of prefabricated engineered timber for schools and housing. Our research and research-based design projects have been exhibited internationally, including the London Design Biennale in 2021 and 2023.

I have published research on designing and building with natural materials using advanced technology. I have been invited to present my individual and collaborative research on digital design and fabrication with natural materials at several reputed international conferences, events, and exhibitions, such as IASS, eCAADe, Woodlife Symposium by the Swedish Institute, Istanbul Festival of Architecture, and the London Design Biennale.

I have taught and developed courses and design studios in various roles, including Architectural Design Technology and Construction Practice modules (London South Bank University), Year 2 Design Studio, Fundamental Principles of Construction and Architectural Engineering (University of Cambridge), First Year Design Studio (Istanbul MEF University), Undergraduate Modules (Kadirhas University) and Course Lead (Istanbul Bilgi University). Between 2020-2023 I acted as an admissions interviewer for Architecture Part 1-2 at the University of Cambridge, where I continue to engage as an assessor, critic and guest lecturer.

I am interested in the intersection of research, teaching, and practice, focusing on using advanced technology with natural materials in the built environment to address environmental challenges.

Courses taught

Architectural Technology 2022/23

Architectural Technology (Design and Construction Management Degree Apprenticeship)

Construction (Design and Build Apprenticeship) - HNC

PhD in Architecture (expected in 2024)

University of Cambridge, Department of Architecture

2019
Master in Architecture (March)

Istanbul Bilgi University

2005
2007
Bachelor of Architecture (BArch)

Istanbul Technical University

2000
2005
Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA)

Advanced HE

2023
Licenced Architect, The Chamber of Architects of Turkey (CAT)

The Chamber of Architects of Turkey (CAT)

2006
Design Fellow
University of Cambridge

I tutored year 2 (part 1B) architecture studio between 2022 and 2024. I developed program, scale, context and deliverables for project briefs for each term, prepared presentations and curated discussion sessions to introduce students to various design thinking processes and approaches. In addition, I organised site trips, community meetings and studio crits. I developed the studio brief with a hands-on and problem-based design approach, which is essential for confronting complex design challenges today. Participation in design, including stakeholders and communities in the design and construction process, is a powerful approach to promoting EDI. We emphasise this during studio sessions and encourage students to create design briefs by liaising with the community. I give personalised written feedback to each student based on their process, output, skill development, commitment and level of engagement. I also organise critique sessions where students present their projects and get feedback from external critics who are practising architects or academics. To familiarise students with the nature and practice of design, I embed seminars and sessions into the course schedule, with guest practitioners explaining the design and construction phases of a built project, illustrating all the challenges encountered.

2022
2024
Education
Supervisor, Admissions interviewer, Assessor
University of Cambridge

I have taken several roles at the Department of Architecture in Cambridge, such as teaching assistant for Part II Architectural Engineering, supervisor for Part IA Principles of Construction and Part IB Principles of Structure. I gave lectures about architectural practice, design as research, earthen architecture, and digital fabrication, and I shared my practice and research experience with undergraduate and graduate students. I have supervised one and assessed two part II dissertations, was an invited lecturer and crit for Year 1 Design Studio and MSt in Architecture Apprenticeship. I interviewed over sixty students for Cambridge Architecture Tripos as a member of St John College's admissions interview team between 2020-2023.

2019
2023
Education
Lecturer in Architecture
Istanbul Mef University

I tutored Year 1 Architectural Design Studio at the Faculty of Arts, Design and Architecture (FADA), MEF University in Istanbul, running a unit of 14-16 students between 2015-2017. In addition to studio teaching, my duties included attending departmental meetings to plan and deliver the teaching programme, developing the studio content with other team members, planning tutorials, organising lectures, design crits with external reviewers, field trips and workshops. I was also responsible for the weekly reviews, termly crits, and assessment of students' projects and portfolios for my unit. In addition, the Design-Build studio allowed students to work on real-life design problems, designing and building a project every year in collaboration with local NGOs, with a human-centred and inclusive design approach by designing and constructing with local communities. My enthusiasm and efforts in teaching at MEF University were awarded a FADA Award for Excellence in Teaching in 2016. My students since have been admitted to reputed graduate programs at MIT, Berlin Technical University and Lund University.

2015
2017
Education
Lecturer in Interior Design
Kadir Has University

In 2015, I designed and developed the "Understanding Space" course for Istanbul KadirHas University, which included readings, films, discussion sessions, field trips and guest lectures by various design professionals with diverse backgrounds, such as architects, designers and art directors.

2015
2016
Education
Senior Architect/Design Director
Self-Employed

Collaborations with Architecture & Interior Design offices in Istanbul, Turkey, acting as the design director of various projects with different scales and programs, such as schools, universities, and residential and office buildings. Selected collaborations: Atolye İstanbul, Bakırkure Architects, Dome+Partners.

2015
2017
Commercial/industry
Lead Architect
Cecil Balmond Studio London, UK

Waterfront is the first project of its kind in the capital city of Colombo. Situated in a premier city location, the $650 M worth scheme includes a 5 star hotel, apartment blocks, large retail centre, office buildings and car parks covering a 275 000 sqm built area. Reporting to the principal, Cecil Balmond, I led the spatial design and coordination of the 5 star hotel through concept design, schematic design and early design development stages coordinating with a team of various international expert consultants and executive architects across 3 countries (UK / Portugal / Sri Lanka). My tasks also included client meetings and site visits.

2012
2014
Commercial/industry
Architect
ARUP London, UK

Developed interiors for a confidential hospitality/mixed use project in the Middle East, coordinating with a multidisciplinary engineering team.

2011
2012
Commercial/industry
Architect
Zaha Hadid Architects London, UK

Heydar Aliyev Cultural Centre is an internationally praised cultural centre, opened in 2012, which was awarded as one of the top five building sites by Wallpaper and design of the year by London Design Museum. The building covers a 101.802 m2 built area including a 2000 seat auditorium, museum, library, multi purpose hall, two restaurants and other services such as underground parking garage, landscape-plaza area and a separate pond cafe-restaurant. I have designed and developed various packages for a variety of the building components and landscape within the project from concept design to completion. I have coordinated with a diverse range of international expert consultants and executive architects across 3 countries (UK/Germany/Turkey) and have been to the project site in Baku several times for construction supervision, preparing observation reports and attending meetings with contractor, client and the consultants.

2008
2011
Commercial/industry
ProposalProjectRoleFunderStatusStatus last updated
Digital Earth Building Network (DEBN) - Industrial Earth-based 3D Printing for Low-Carbon ConstructionDigital Earth Building Network (DEBN) - Industrial Earth-based 3D Printing for Low-Carbon ConstructionPrincipal InvestigatorEngineering & Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC)OPEN SubmittedOct 2024
University of Cambridge, Department of Architecture
External examiner

Architecture

University of Cambridge, Department of Architecture
Supervisor

Architecture

Prizes, awards, and accolades

People`s Choice Award (Aug 2023)

London Design Biennale

Exhibition, “Ephemeral: Natural Flexible Living”

with the Centre for Natural Material Innovation, University of Cambridge and PLP Architecture


Cambridge Trust PhD Scholarship (Oct 2019)

Cambridge Trust


EPSRC DTP PhD Studentship (Oct 2019)

EPSRC


Kettle's Yard Travel Award (Jun 2022)

Department of Architecture, University of Cambridge


Pilman Conference Fund (Jun 2023)

Girton College, University of Cambridge


Design of the year (Jul 2014)

Design Museum

The Design Museum awarded the Heydar Aliyev Cultural Centre by Zaha Hadid Architects the Design of the Year title.

I worked on this project at ZHA between 2008 and 2011, designing and developing various packages for a variety of building components and landscapes within the project from concept design to completion.


Faculty Fieldwork Funding (Jun 2021)

Department of Architecture, University of Cambridge


Filter publications

An assembly-oriented novel low-carbon masonry building method with unfired 3D printed earthen blocks
Gin, Y., Shah, D. and Ramage, M. (2023). An assembly-oriented novel low-carbon masonry building method with unfired 3D printed earthen blocks. IASS Annual Symposium 2023 - Integration of Design and Fabrication. Melborne, Australia 10 - 14 Jul 2024 International Association for Shell and Spatial Structures (IASS).

Robotic 3D printing with earth: A case study for optimisation of 3D printing building blocks
Gin, Y., Haddad, K., Jabi, W., Shah, D. and Ramage, M. (2022). Robotic 3D printing with earth: A case study for optimisation of 3D printing building blocks. IASS/APCS 2022 Beijing Symposium: Advanced Manufacturing and Materials/ 3D-Printing and Molding. Beijing Friendship Hotel, Beijing, China. 19 - 22 Sep 2022 International Association for Shell and Spatial Structures (IASS).

Unfolding Timber - A future of design
Gatóo, A., Koronaki, A., Chaudary, A., Gin, Y., Shah, D.U., Wiegand, E., Hesselgren, L., Ainoura, M., Bakker, R. and Ramage, M.H. (2022). Unfolding Timber - A future of design. Education and research in Computer Aided Architectural Design in Europe. Ghent, Belgium 13 - 16 Sep 2022 Education and research in Computer Aided Architectural Design in Europe (eCAADe).

Robotic 3D printing with earthen materials as a novel sustainable construction method
Gin, Y., Saner, B. B. and Ramage, M. (2020). Robotic 3D printing with earthen materials as a novel sustainable construction method. IASS 2020/21 Surrey Symposium: Advanced manufacturing techniques. International Association for Shell and Spatial Structures (IASS).

Flexible and sustainable building components through kerf patterns
Gatóo, A., Koronaki, A., Al Asali, M.W., Bukauskas, A., Gin, Y., Shah, D.U., Wiegand, E. and Ramage, M.H. (2020). Flexible and sustainable building components through kerf patterns. IASS 2020/21 Surrey Symposium: Bio-based concepts inspiring the spatial structures and architecture of the next generation. International Association for Shell and Spatial Structures (IASS).

Environmental Audit Committee Call for Evidence: "Sustainability of the Built Environment"
Ramage, M.H., Shah, D.U., Bukauskas, A., Koronaki, A., Colman, T., Gatóo, A., Wiegand, E., Gin, Y. and Debnath, R. (2021). Environmental Audit Committee Call for Evidence: "Sustainability of the Built Environment". Cambridge University Press. https://doi.org/10.33774/coe-2021-bjtwz

Achieving zero carbon emissions in the construction sector: The role of timber in decarbonising building structures.
Reyes, N., Rodriguez, B., Wiegand, E., Ramage, M.H., Bukauskas, A., Debnath, R., Shah, D.U., Colman, T., De Wolf, C., Koronaki, A., Gatóo, A., Gin, Y., Ossio, F. and Ahumada, M. (2021). Achieving zero carbon emissions in the construction sector: The role of timber in decarbonising building structures. Cambridge University Press (CUP). https://doi.org/10.33774/coe-2021-hgd6q-v2

Climate repair through built environment: Decarbonising UK’s building sector through energy efficiency and natural materials
Debnath, R., Bardhan, R., Shah, D.U., Koronaki, A., Bukauskas, A., Colman, T., Gatóo, A., Wiegand, E., Gin, Y. and Ramage, M.H. (2021). Climate repair through built environment: Decarbonising UK’s building sector through energy efficiency and natural materials. Cambridge University Press (CUP). https://doi.org/10.33774/coe-2021-30w2x