The 8th annual Eastern Mediterranean University (EMU) Faculty of Architecture International Design Week took place between the 2nd and 4th of May 2018.
The opening ceremony of the 8th EMU International Design Week took place at the Faculty of Architecture yard on Wednesday, the 2nd of May 2018 at 10:00. Speaking at the opening ceremony, EMU Rector Prof. Dr. Necdet Osam drew attention to the “existHence” theme of the event stating that all people should be happy about diversity and live together in solidarity. Indicating that EMU values diversity Prof. Dr. Osam stated that the EMU family is comprised of people from 106 different countries. Prof. Dr. Osam concluded by stating “We are an international university recognized by institutions such as Times Higher Education and QSTAR ”
“We Can Only Exist Together”
EMU Faculty of Architecture Dean Prof. Dr. Özgür Dinçyürek thanked all participants from the TRNC and abroad. Providing information about the 8th EMU International Design Week Prof. Dr. Dinçyürek stated that the goal of the event which will be bringing together many architecture professionals, artists, academicians and design students is to encourage the exchange of ideas and production at an international platform. Prof. Dr. Dinçyürek stated that the “existHence” themed event emphasizes that everyone is special, unique and important whilst underlining that we can only exist together. Prof. Dr. Dinçyürek continued to highlight that design uses liveliness and ontology as tools for a better world, indicating that people’s differences can be abolished via design.
Different Universities Participated in the Event
Students and academic staff members from over 15 Architecture Schools (Yıldız Technical University, Middle East Technical University, TOBB University of Economics and Technology, İstanbul Technical University, Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University, Başkent University, Polytechnic University of Tirana, Holy Spirit University of Kaslik-Lebanon, Özyeğin University, Final International University, Cyprus International University, Bilecik Şeyh Edibali University, Mustafa Kemal University, Medipol University and Near East University) attended the 8th EMU International Design Week. In addition to approximately 20 workshops, important designers from Turkey and Europe delivered seminars and participated as speakers at panels.
After workshops that commenced following the opening speeches, prominent and successful Turkish architect Gürhan Bakırküre delivered the opening speech of the event taking place at 14:30 at the Rauf Raif Denktaş Culture and Congress Hall, sponsored by Kalebodur group.
Presentations Delivered by Important Architects
On Thursday, the 3rd of May 2018, the second day of the 8th International Design Week Dana Behrman from Europe’s respected and successful architecture office UN STUDIO delivered a presentation at the Rauf Raif Denktaş Culture and Congress Hall. The week then continued with a range of workshops and presentations by successful academicians and award winning architects Dr. Kerem Yazgan and Dr. Devrim Çimen. The presentations that took place at the Rauf Raif Denktaş Culture and Congress Hall on Friday, the 4th of May 2018 were moderated by Prof. Dr. Güven Arif Sargın.
