2023 Ytong Architectural Idea Competition Concludes

2023 Ytong Architectural Ideas Competition Concluded

Türk Ytong concluded the 21st edition of the Architectural Ideas Competition. Four projects were deemed worthy of awards in the competition, which was organized under the theme "AGAIN: Architecture as a Tool for Transformation and Reassessment," and invited participants to discuss concepts such as reassessment and repurposing.

The 2023 Architectural Ideas Competition, organized by Türk Ytong, a supporter of contemporary construction and architectural culture for 60 years in Turkey, has concluded. The winners of the Ytong Architectural Ideas Competition, which serves as a participatory and collaborative platform for architectural thought and design and is one of the longest-running competitions in its field, have been announced.

In the 21st edition of this year's competition, participants were invited to reflect on concepts such as reassessment, repurposing, culture, nature-friendly design approaches, climate crisis, protection of cultural heritage, minimalism, and downsizing; and to "reassess" a built environment of their choosing, with specific building or buildings they selected.

Following the announcement of the competition and the Kahramanmaraş-centered earthquakes that occurred, the competition calendar and specifications were updated, and participants were encouraged to contribute to the sensitivity that had emerged.

Four projects were deemed worthy of equal awards in the competition where 72 idea projects were evaluated. The winning teams, as competition prizes, will travel to Athens, the capital of Greece, together with jury members to visit architectural and cultural routes spanning from ancient times to the present.

PLUG Office Founder Architect Buşra Al, Yeditepe University Architecture Faculty Dean Prof. Dr. Ece Ceylan Baba, FIELDS Co-Founder Architect Eren Çıracı, Middle East Technical University Architecture Department Faculty Member Prof. Dr. Celal Abdi Güzer, NSMH Founder Architect Nevzat Sayın served as jury members in the competition, while Istanbul Technical University Civil Engineering Faculty Faculty Member Prof. Dr. Alper İlki, Middle East Technical University City and Regional Planning Department Faculty Member Prof. Dr. Osman Balaban, and Türk Ytong General Manager Tolga Öztoprak also served as Advisory Jury Members. As a result of the jury's evaluation, the teams and projects awarded with the Athens Architecture Tour are as follows:

Project Name: Pera [Para]digma

Aykan Aras, Architect (TED University)

Can Kayaaslan, Architect (TED University)

Kutay Kaynak, Architect (TED University)

Project Name: The Pleasure of Touch

Oğul Can Öztunç, Architect (Istanbul Technical University)

Ece Duran, Architect (İzmir Ekonomi University)

Project Name: Les Lieux de Mémoire

Şeyma Aksu, Architect (Anadolu University)

Beyza Özbek, Architect (Anadolu University)

Project Name: Kaleidoscope

İbrahim Emre Karadelioğlu, Architecture Department Student (Karadeniz Technical University)

Ümit Karadeniz, Architecture Department Student (Karadeniz Technical University)Özkütükcü /