Spatial designs for EXPO by IUE students

9 students of Izmir University of Economics (IUE) Department of Interior Architecture and Environmental Design prepared 3 different ‘spatial design’ projects for the World EXPO, which will be hosted by Japan in 2025. The young people, aiming for the visitors to spend time in spacious and comfortable areas at the EXPO, where more than 30 million visitors are expected, presented the designs they prepared as part of an international workshop to Chiba University in Japan.

Students, under the supervision of Prof. Dr. Deniz Hasırcı and Research Assistant Yasemin Albayrak Kutlay from IUE Department of Interior Architecture and Environmental Design, created designs driven by the theme of ‘sustainability’ and ‘coexistence of different cultures’. In their design titled ‘Hayatları Birleştirmek’ (Connecting Lives), students Elifnaz Kırkpınar, İlayda Uygur and Kuzey Türkel were inspired by Turkey's geographical location connecting the continents of Asia and Europe. Students aimed to create a space where people from different cultures could feel themselves spiritually together. Students focused on creating up-to-date digital designs by enriching indoor and outdoor spaces with intermediate spaces. 

EXHIBITION AREA WHERE SUCCESSFUL WOMEN ARE PROMOTED

Students Hatice Gök, Mehmet Deniz Özdemir and Hasan Alp, on the other hand, aimed to create designs that reflect Turkey's past, present and future and emphasize polyphony in their design titled ‘Seslerin Kucaklanması’ (The Embrace of Sounds). Young They paid attention to using natural and sustainable materials in their designs. Students Hilal Serra Felek, Cafer Denizhan Evşen and Osman Mert Tosun named their design ‘Geçmişten Günümüze Kadının Yaşamdaki Yeri’ (The Place of Women in Life from Past to Present). The students prepared a project that where there are spaces that are angled and interlocking with the concept of three-dimensional rugs including an exhibition area where women who have been successful in social, cultural and scientific fields in Turkey.

WE RECEIVED GOOD FEEDBACK

Providing detailed information about the studies, Prof. Dr. Hasırcı said, “We have an ongoing communication and cooperation with Chiba University in Japan for more than 15 years. As the faculty, we also exchange students during the internship period. Recently, an international workshop was held online with the participation of students and academics from Italy, England, Thailand and Spain. Prof. Dr. Kaname Yanagisawa from Chiba University, Department of Architecture, invited us to this international event. And they coordinated the process with Marco G. Corbella. Yanagisawa also came to Turkey and visited us. We thank them very much. Only we from Turkey took part in the study. The aim here was to prepare sample design projects for the EXPO to be held in Japan. We completed the designs by conducting a detailed and meticulous study together with 9 of our students. They have been good projects that have felt comfortable about. Other international participants also gave positive feedback on the designs.”

JAPANESE AUTHORITIES WILL DECIDE

Prof. Dr. Hasırcı continued as follows: “Our students showed how well they raised themselves with their successful designs on the international platform. In this respect, we were very happy, we experienced great pride. We forwarded all the designs prepared, together with their details, to Chiba University. Preparations for the EXPO in Japan continue extensively. Of course, we cannot decide whether these designs will be used or whether they will be inspired by them. The designs prepared by students have been very beneficial in terms of both testing themselves and gaining experience. Congratulations to all our students who prepared the designs.”

THEY ALSO PRESENTED AT IZTO

IUE students also presented their projects at an event organized by the International Association of Interior Architects (IFI) at the Izmir Chamber of Commerce (IZTO) as part of the World Interiors Day. At the event, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Emre Ergül, Head of IUE Department of Interior Architecture and Environmental Design, Burcu Yazgan, Head of Izmir Branch of the Chamber of Interior Architects, and Jülide Tutan Hergül, Board Member of IZTO, made evaluations about possible collaborations in the future.