Kerem Yazgan
Biography
ABOUT
Kerem Yazgan obtained his B. Arch degree from the Middle East Technical University Department of Architecture in 1993. He worked in a diversity of architectural offices and participated in various architectural design competitions until 1996. He opened his first architectural office in 1996 after being awarded the first prize in a national architectural design competition. He received his M. Arch degree from the METU Department of Architecture in 1997. He received awards in various architectural design competitions.
Kerem Yazgan opened his second architectural office with his wife Begüm Yazgan, PhD. Architect in 2003, the same year he received his PhD from METU Department of Architecture. His doctoral dissertation, “Designography in Architecture” is about his research on the ‘systems and acts’ in architectural design. His design approach is based on the direct association of theory and practice and the systematization of the design process.
AWARDS
• 2020: OIZ Office- Architizer A+ Awards 2020 – ‘Unbuilt Commercial’ Category – Winner
• 2019: Middle East Technical University Co-working & Cafeteria – The Plan Award 2019 – ‘Education/ Future’- Winner
• 2018: YDA Center – The Plan Award 2018- ‘Office & Business’ – Winner
SHORT DESCRIPTION OF THE OFFICE
Founded in 2003 by Kerem Yazgan and Begüm Yazgan, both PhD. Architects, Yazgan Design Architecture Inc. is an architectural, interior, landscape and graphic design firm based in Ankara, Turkey. With an experienced staff of architects, landscape designers, technical draftsmen, graphic designers and IT experts, the company has signed on to many architectural, interior design and landscape projects. In the past 22 years, Yazgan Design Architecture has been published in 19 countries and has been awarded with 154 national and international design awards. With over 9.000.000 square meters in total projects which was constructed located in both Turkey and a number of other countries, the portfolio of Yazgan Design Architecture continues to grow and diversify. The company has the capacity to create projects of different programs and scales that cover conceptual, design development and construction phases. Mixed-use buildings, retail, hotel, residential, office, educational buildings, hospitals, cultural centers, airports, and sport complexes are some of the building typologies that comprise the company portfolio. Yazgan Design Architecture also achieves interior and landscape design construction works alongside its project repertoire.
AWARDS OF THE OFFICE
• 2020: OIZ Office- Architizer A+ Awards 2020 – ‘Unbuilt Commercial’ Category – Winner
• 2019: Middle East Technical University Co-working & Cafeteria – The Plan Award 2019 – ‘Education/ Future’- Winner
• 2018: YDA Center – The Plan Award 2018- ‘Office & Business’ – Winner
• 2017: Hamamyolu Urban Deck – LEAF Awards 2017 – ‘Urban Design Project of the Year’ Award
• 2015: ONS Incek Showroom & Sales Office – World Architecture Festival (WAF) 2015 – Innovative Use of Color Award
PROJECTS TO BE PRESENTED DURING THE EVENT
Project #1: Middle East Technical University Coworking and Cafeteria
Project #1 Category: Education
Start year: 16.07.2018
The project is a cafeteria and co-working space designed for Middle East Technical University in Ankara, Turkey. Located near the university’s research development areas, it aims to foster interaction and collaboration among students and academics, serving as a platform and potential incubator for research activities. The design features two separate volumes—one for the cafeteria and one for the co-working space—divided by a central plaza that connects different site levels and serves as a multifunctional event space. The idea of integrating nature represents itself architecturally in the form of greenhouses and courtyards that penetrate into the two volumes and blurs the distinction between inside and outside. As one of the most important aspects of the project, these inner gardens allow as much natural light as possible in, aiming to illuminate all the workspaces instead of illuminating the ones next to the windows and leaving the rest for artificial lighting.
Project #2: Voronet House
Project #2 Category: Sigle House (individual use)
Start year: 12.12.2023
Standing on a hill, facing the Voronet River, with the Piatra Soimului Mountains to the east and the Moldova River to the North, the house is located in the middle west part of the land. There are 12 private houses and a social building linking the two existing timber construction houses. The main ideas of the house is derived from the features of the context; the slope, the view, the greenery and from the relationship to the neighbours. To achieve these, four main motivations directed the design; integration with the landscape, introverted and extraverted experiences, relationship with neighboring houses and connecting to the panaroma.