Academic staff

University of Cambridge, Department of Architecture

Istanbul Bilgi University

Istanbul Technical University

Advanced HE

The Chamber of Architects of Turkey (CAT)

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

Architecture

Architecture