We Conducted an Interview with Gencer Yalçın, Co-Founder of Studio Vertebra

In our interview, we spoke with Gencer Yalçın, Founding Partner of Studio Vertebra, about current topics in architecture.

   

Could you briefly introduce yourself to our readers, tell us about your education and professional background?

I was born in Erzincan in 1981. I completed my degree in Architecture at Mimar Sinan University in 2003. Throughout my student years, I worked in various architecture offices. After graduation, I continued my career as a project leader. After completing various projects as chief architect with foreign investors, I founded Studio Vertebra with my partners in 2009. How does the design process work at Studio Vertebra? How do you determine the concept? If there are sources of inspiration in this process, what are they? The design process at Studio Vertebra proceeds as a participatory and collaborative process. In regular meetings we hold, designers share their ideas and research, thereby nourishing each other and ensuring that the concept that emerges is the product of a team rather than a single person. In our concepts, we are careful to respond to the client's needs. In each project, we determine the main idea by thinking about aesthetics and functionality together.

Especially in developed countries, great importance is given to sustainability, green buildings and passive house concepts. In this context, what could be done in Turkey? Could you share your views and recommendations?

Turkey has considerable potential in renewable energy sources; to fully utilize this potential, we need to start locally. We should investigate how daily decisions people make can become more environmentally friendly and sustainable, and these practices should be disseminated widely. In this regard, raising awareness and educating young people plays a crucial role.

Landmark structures, also known as iconic buildings, significantly contribute to a city's recognition. Could we learn your thoughts on such projects?

Iconic structures provide global recognition for a city and demonstrate its distinctiveness from other cities. What must be considered in this regard is that these iconic structures should be compatible with the spirit of the city in which they are located and the vision it wishes to convey. In multi-layered and historically rich cities like Istanbul, this requires careful consideration, whereas in relatively newer cities like Dubai, decisions about iconic structures can be easier to make. In the Bukhara City project that our office designed in Uzbekistan, we also designed a high-rise structure that could become an icon for the city in the coming years. We aim for this iconic structure to symbolize a new era for the city and bring fresh vitality to it.

Our country is surrounded by sea on three sides. For this reason, the subject of "Architecture in Coastal Areas" takes on particular importance. How should architectural approach be adopted in these cities, in your opinion?

Coastal areas by their nature have quite delicate and fragile ecosystems. When designing in such areas, we believe it is essential to use natural design elements present locally. For this reason, the process must begin by taking into account the characteristics and climate parameters of our coastal cities, and designs should be made with the use of natural materials. Thus, we can both ensure that the structures built exist in harmony in their region without disturbing people, and construct more sustainable and enduring structures. [gallery columns="2" size="medium" ids="eyJ1cmwiOiJodHRwczpcL1wvd3d3LnR1cmtjaGVtLm5ldFwvd3AtY29udGVudFwvdXBsb2Fkc1wvMjAxOVwvMTBcL21fbmFjaS5qcGciLCJ0aXRsZSI6Im1fbmFjaSIsImNhcHRpb24iOiIiLCJhbHQiOiJTdHVkaW8gVmVydGVicmEgYXJjaGl0ZWN0dXJlIGRlc2lnbiIsImRlc2NyaXB0aW9uIjoiIn0=,eyJ1cmwiOiJodHRwczpcL1wvd3d3LnR1cmtjaGVtLm5ldFwvd3AtY29udGVudFwvdXBsb2Fkc1wvMjAxOVwvMTBcL3ZvbHVtZV8uanBnIiwidGl0bGUiOiJ2b2x1bWVfIiwiY2FwdGlvbiI6IiIsImFsdCI6ImFyY2hpdGVjdHVyZSB0ZWNobm9sb2d5IGRldmVsb3BtZW50IiwiZGVzY3JpcHRpb24iOiIifQ=="]