Instead of Complaining Try Doing Something with Sevince Bayrak and Oral Göktaş

Summary

In this episode of Anylabtalks, host Yardim Yardim interviews Sevince Bayrak and Oral Goktas, partners and co-founders of SO; an Istanbul-based studio focusing on design, architecture, and urbanism. 

In 2013, they won the Young Architects Program by MoMA/PS1, creating Sky Spotting Stop for Istanbul Modern, which was exhibited in MoMA and MAXXI. In 2015, they won the invitational competition at the Royal Academy of Arts; their project Unexpected Hill was realized in London. Their work has been published internationally and nominated for prestigious Mies, Aga Khan Awards, they were among the finalists of the Architectural Review Emerging Architecture Award 2019. They were shortlisted for the Future Architecture Platform 2019. Their recent work includes a public cultural center in Istanbul, a chicken coop and a cabin in the rural parts of Turkey, and an interdisciplinary research project on post-disaster emergency housing. Sevince recently published a book adapted from her PhD dissertation about the evolution of public space in Istanbul and teaches in MEF University since 2015 and Oral has been running a graduate design studio, titled Alternative Architectural Practices in MEF University since 2019. Visit http://www.soistanbul.com to see their work.

This interview was recorded in MEF University Architecture Studio, Istanbul on October 18, 2019. Enjoy our conversation.

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Why Collaboration Make All The Difference? with Kirsten Lees

Summary

This special podcast recording was a part of Arch + Dsgn Summit and took place at the İzmir Architecture Center, Turkey on 26 September 2019. Moderated by Nurgul Yardim, the talk explored Kirsten Lees’ thoughts on the role of the global architect, the inter-relationship between architecture, place and the city.

Kirsten Lees is the Grimshaw London studio’s Managing Partner and Partner in Charge of the design Arter Museum, opened in İstanbul, Turkey. Kirsten is a highly experienced architect with over 25 years’ experience in architecture, strategic planning, urban design and regeneration in sensitive environments within the arts, sports and master planning sectors. She brings insight and creativity to the development of strategic projects, and she demonstrates strong conceptual judgment when integrating buildings into sensitive settings, both urban and rural. Her work has been acknowledged for its subtle response to place, the pre-eminence of the cultural agenda and its unique expressive and material qualities. She was shortlisted for the AJ Woman Architect of the Year award in 2014. She is currently developing the Koç Contemporary Art Museum in Istanbul, and a new grandstand for Curragh Racecourse.

Enjoy our conversation.

Human Mind as a Site with Lara Lesmes and Fredrik Hellberg

Summary

In this episode of Anylabtalks, host Nurgul Yardim, interviews Lara Lesmes and Fredrik Hellberg. They are co-founders of Spacepopular and direct the research MArch unit Diploma 2: The Civic Program at the Architectural Association. They both graduates from the Architectural Association in London and founded Spacepopular in Bangkok. The practice has been based in London since 2016; has completed buildings, exhibitions, public artworks, furniture collections, and interiors across Asia and Europe, as well as virtual architecture in the Immersive Internet. 

Visit http://www.spacepopular.com to see their work.

This interview was recorded in No.1 Poultry Building London on May 28, 2019. Enjoy our conversation.

Why We Fell in Love with Photography with Sue Barr

Summary

Nurgul Yardim chats to Sue Barr, photographer and Head of Photography at the Architectural Association School of Architecture. She holds a PhD from the Royal College of Art. She works and exhibits internationally, including the recent AutoPhoto exhibition at the Foundation Cartier in Paris and she has a solo exhibition at the Arles Photo Festival in July. Her book ‘The Architecture of Transit’ published by Hartmann Projects. Following historical 18th-century routes from the Swiss Alps to Naples, she used a large format camera to photograph these extraordinary and ignored architectural megastructures. 

Visit architectureoftransit.com to see Sue Barr’s works.

This interview was recorded in Architectural Association London on May 22, 2019. Enjoy our conversation.

The Wisdom of Authenticity with Sumita Singha

Summary

This episode’s guest is Sumita Singha. 

Sumita set up her London-based practice Eco=logic in 1993, specialising in ‘eco-friendly design, community projects and design for those with disabilities’. Sumita set up Architects For Change, the equality forum at the RIBA and has been past Chair of Women in Architecture. 

At present, she sits on the RIBA professional standards committee and its Ethics and Sustainable Development Commission. Singha is currently a tutor in professional practice at the University of Westminster and is the founding director of Charushila, a design charity for community projects. 

She has written numerous books including Architecture For Rapid Change and Scarce Resources, the four-volume Women In Architecture (2018) and Future Healthcare Design. 

Singha is also a trustee of the Architects Benevolent Society and the Commonwealth Association of Architects and, since 2013, has been a non-executive director of Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, where she chairs the People and Culture committee. 

This interview was recorded via Zoom. Enjoy our conversation.

Architects Love Media & Media Loves Architects – But Do They Get Along?

Summary

The LFA is the world’s largest annual architecture event and celebrates London as a global hub of architectural experimentation, practice and debate. This year London Festival of Architecture making LFA Digital on the theme of Power.

As a part of LFA Digital, “Architects Love Media & Media Loves Architects – But Do They Get Along?” panel talk organised by Anylab Experimental Studio, based in Somerset House London; will question how we can define “media” in architecture. Is media only a tool, or is it a space dialogue and debate? Speakers will present their idea of media and demonstrate how media can explore the connections between architecture and its representation.

Speakers:

Dara Huang/ Architect, Founder of DH Liberty, Co-founder of Vivahouse

Tom Wilkinson/ History Editor The Architectural Review, Author of Bricks and Mortals: Ten Great Buildings and the People They Made, co-director of New Architecture Writers

Sam Jacob/ Principal of Sam Jacob Studio for architecture and design, Professor of Architecture at UIC and Visiting Professor at Yale School of Architecture

Manijeh Verghese/ Founding Director at Unscene Architecture, Head of Public Programmes at Architectural Association, Co-Curator of the British Pavilion at the 2021Venice Architecture Biennale

Jim Stephenson/ Photographer, Film-maker, Founder of Clickclickjim

Bobby Jewell/ Press and Communications Consultant, Coordinator at ACAN, Co-organiser of the Negroni Talks

Shukri Sultan / Co-founder of Afterparti, inaugural member of the New Architectural Writers program

Nurgul Yardim/ Architect, Podcast Host, Founder of Anylab (Chair)

Human Energy, Life and Architecture with Benedetta Tagliabue

Summary

This episode’s guest is is Benedetta Tagliabue. She is director of the acclaimed international architecture firm EMBT Miralles Tagliabue, founded in 1994 in collaboration with Enric Miralles, based in Barcelona. 

Among EMBT’s notable built projects are the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh, Diagonal Mar Park, and the Santa Caterina Market in Barcelona, Campus Universitario de Vigo, and the Spanish Pavilion at the 2010 Shanghai World Expo which was awarded the prestigious RIBA International “Best International Building of 2011” award. 

In the teaching field, she has been a visiting professor at Harvard University, Columbia University and Barcelona ETSAB, lecturing regularly at architecture forums and universities, and is on juries around the world. 

Her work received the RIBA Stirling Prize in 2005, the National Spanish Prize in 2006, the Catalan National Prize in 2002, City of Barcelona Prize in 2005 and 2009, FAD Prizes in 2000, 2003 and 2007. She won the 2013 RIBA Jencks Award, which is given annually to an individual or practice that has recently made a major contribution internationally to both the theory and practice of architecture. 

This interview was recorded in Miralles Tagliabue EMBT studio in Barcelona. 

Enjoy our conversation.

Three Generations of Architects and New Hope for Earth with Ricardo Emilio Bofill

Summary

This episode’s guest is Ricardo Emilio Bofill Maggiora Vergano. Ricardo joined Ricardo Bofill Taller de Arquitectura in 1991 after graduating from Harvard University, and he is currently President of his family’s Barcelona-based architecture practice, which is three generations in the making. 

RBTA is an architecture, planning and interior design studio founded in 1963 by Ricardo Emilio Bofill’s father legendary architect Ricardo Bofill one of the defining voices of postmodernism. 

This interview was recorded in La Fábrica, the 3,100 sqm former cement factory which discovered in 1973 and has repurposed as studio, office and residence in Barcelona.

Enjoy our conversation.

Let’s Talk about Climate Action with Lauren Shevills and Joe Penn

Summary

We are in extraordinary times; a lot of us working remotely and meeting daily to keep in touch, and make sure our business is moving forward. As Anylabtalks we help to stay connected and meet new people talking about the things we are most passionate about. 

In this episode host Nurgul Yardim Mericliler talks with Lauren Shevills and Joe Penn from the Architects Climate Action Network. Enjoy our talk, stay safe and stay connected!

Lauren Shevills / Coordinator at Architects Climate Action Network, Architect at Mæ

She defines herself as creative individual, dabbling in mediums ranging from design to fabrication and lots of other things in between. She has personal interests for socio-political research and architectural activism which focus on delivering quality architecture for positive social and planetary change.

Joe Penn / Coordinator at Architects Climate Action Network, Architect at Rock Townsend

He studied Political Architecture and Critical Sustainability, previously working in architectural practice in Denmark and the UK. Joe’s passion lies in the creation of social and joyful architecture through a process of collaboration and craft.

Celebrating Women

Summary

At Anylabtalks, we’re proud to spotlight great women, who have broken barriers and stood for creativity.

Over one year, our host Nurgul Yardim Mericliler have had the great privilege of sitting by many of them, hearing their stories and asking why they are hopeful about future.

Reflecting on just a few of those conversations, this short episode feels a little like what they would have talked.

The episode featuring Dara Huang, Angela Dapper, Mina Hasman, Kirsten Lees and Benedetta Tagliabue.