The winners of the “9th Industrial and Architectural Natural Stone Contest” have been announced. Organized by the Istanbul Mineral Exporters’ Association (İMİB), the contest welcomes industrial design, architecture and art majors and industry professionals alike to battle it up for “student” and “professional” prizes. It encourages people to use Turkish natural stone to come up with unique products that you can mass-produce. This year’s jury panel made up of some of Turkey’s leading architects, interior designers, scholars and industry representatives, alongside İMİB members had to work its way through 599 submissions over three phrases. In all, 7 student and 4 professional prizes were handed out.
74.000 TL Cash Prize and Education Grant Up For Grabs!
In the student category of 9th Industrial and Architectural Natural Stone
Contest Simay Tokuş (Işık University Faculty of Architecture and Design
Department of Industrial Design) came in first with his design named “Luna
Piena”. Sezin Gediz Ün (Izmir University of Economics Faculty of Fine Arts and
Design Department of Industrial Design) came in second with his design named
“Dizem”, while Batuhan Sütbeyaz (Middle East Technical University Faculty of
Architecture, Department of Industrial Design) was awarded the third place with
his design named “Işık Taşı”. The honorable mention award winners of the student
category are Yağız Soysal (Yıldız Technical University, Faculty of
Architecture, Department of Architecture), Tan Nuhoğlu (Architecture Department
of MEF University, Faculty of Architecture and Fine Arts), Saim Emircan Dinler
(Özyeğin University, Faculty of Architecture and Design, Department of
Architecture), Mustafa Can Tözün Atmaca and Enes Toplugül (Işık University,
Faculty of Architecture and Design, Department of Industrial Design), and Elif
Yıldız and Suna Demirci (Istanbul Medipol University Architecture Faculty
Architecture Department).
In the professional category, the jury gave four honorable mentions to Hadiye
Özdemir with “Tondo Light”, İlker Toruk with “Fossilamp” and Alican Faydalı
with “Pulse”, alongside Nihal Konar Naş Karsan with “F/8”.
Unfortunately, the pandemic prevented this year’s awards ceremony from taking
place in person. Instead, winners received their awards via snail mail. Cash
prizes worth 74.000 TL went to winners who ranked first, second and third place
in both categories. On top of that, the Turkish Ministry of Commerce offered
“student” prizewinners education grants to study abroad as well.
21-Member Jury Reviewed the Submissions
The three-tier jury review process for this year’s contest submissions took
place exclusively online. Featuring architects, designers and stone experts,
among others, the jury had two wings, one responsible for student submissions,
the other for professional submissions. Members included Akın Gölcük
(Architect, Member of İMİB Board of Directors), Can Çinici (Architect, Founder
of Çinici Mimarlık), Celaleddin Çelik (Architect, Founder of NUN|Architecture
& Design), Dilce Demircioğlu (Architect, Co-founder of GMW Mimarlık), Dila
Gökalp (Architect, Founder of DGA Dila Gökalp Architects), Dilgün Saklar (Co-founder
of Tekeli-Sisa Mimarlık), Eda Tahmaz (Interior Designer, Founder of EDDA
Architecture), Emine Merdim Yılmaz (General Coordinator at Arkitera Mimarlık
Merkezi), Prof. Dr. Faruk Çalapkulu (TIM Delegate, Aegean Mineral Exporters’
Association), Feza Ökten Koca (Architect, Founder of Elips Tasarım Mimarlık),
Hasan Kıvırcık (Architect, Founder of MTM Mimarlık), Asst. Prof. Dr. Murat
Yurdakul (Head of Bilecik Şeyh Edebeli University’s School of Fine Arts and
Design), Neslihan İmamoğlu (Editor, Architect), Önder Kul (Architect,
Co-founder of Mimaristudio), Dr. Pınar Sipahi (Architecture Instructor, YTU
School of Architecture), Recep Coşkun Bozanlı (Member of İMİB Board of
Supervisors), Dr. Saltuk Özemir (Head of Işık University’s Department of
Industrial Design), Sezai Alkan (Member of İMİB Board of Directors), Vedat
Öksüz (İMİB TİM delegate), Zafer Karoğlu (Architect, Co-founder of IGLO
Architects) and Dr. Zeynep Yazıcıoğlu Halu (Dean of Istanbul University’s
School of Architecture). Aydın Dinçer, Head of İMİB Board of Directors, had the
following to say about the contest: “We are delighted and proud to organize the
Industrial and Architectural Natural Stone Contest for the ninth time in a row.
Designs that make us take confident steps towards the future show us as an
organization what an important role we have taken on.”
STUDENT CATEGORY 1ST PRIZE
LUNA PIENA
Simay Tokuş Işık University, Industrial Design
Luna Piena means full moon in Italian. The product form is designed with inspiration from the phases of the moon. It is a lighting design where the user can adjust the light intensity according to his needs. The product consists of two parts. The upper part of the product provides illumination, while the lower part allows the light intensity to be adjusted. There is a rail system in the lower section. By moving the sphere from the left side to the right side by step along the rail system in the product, the user can either get a dimmer or a brighter area by moving it from the right to the left, and provide an interactive experience to the user. Protruding compartments are used in the system to keep the sphere that provides the adjustment of the light. Eye sensitivity was also taken into account at the point of adjusting the intensity of light. With the effect of light on marble, it is aimed to bring natural stone to the fore. Luna Piena can also be defined as a decorative product with its use by fixing it on the wall and revealing the aesthetics of natural stone. Since it is defined as a decorative product, its usage areas are wide. The lower part of the product is produced by CNC machining using marble material.
STUDENT CATEGORY 2ND PRIZE
DİZEM
Sezin Gediz Ün Economy University, Industrial Design
The pandemic has changed so many aspects of our lives, not the least of being how we use cities. Dizem is a piece of both urban furniture and public sculpture that aims to try and address that. Made from marble, the front features a series of evenly spaced vertical stones shaped like flowing leaves that function as dividers. Each stone is connected to horizontal sitting pads that fold towards one another as well as provide structural support.
STUNDENT CATEGORY 3RD PRIZE
IŞIK TAŞI
Batuhan Sütbeyaz Middle East Technical University, Industrial Design
Işık Taşı was born out of a playful idea. It reminds us that even something as mundane as a candleholder can be full of surprises. Designed to pique the user’s curiosity upon first contact, from the outside, it looks plain, if not minimalistic. The inside, however, harbors mysteries. A CNC-made brass button along the side is connected to a neodymium magnet, and allows you to adjust the candle [inside’s] height.
STUDENT CATEGORY HONORABLE MENTION PRIZE
CEVHER
Yağız Soysal, Yıldız Technical University, Architecture
Cevher brings together raw and processed stone. It offers those looking for a way to keep and display their accessories an esthetic and customizable alternative. Cevher consists of a pounded metal tree perched a top a base. On the tips of the branches of that tree are powerful magnets, atop which sit travertine, granite, and onyx units ring boxes resembling beach pebbles, each representing an array of colorful designs. Cevher showcases the best in natural stone, and whatever gem stone you display in it.
ÖDÜLÜ STUDENT CATEGORY HONORABLE MENTION PRIZE
DALGA
Mustafa Can Tözün Atmaca, Enes Toplugül Işık University, Industrial Design
Dalga is ideal for those who nostalgically long to see a telephone or radio in their homes again. A marvelous example of the unparalleled beauty and esthetic of marble, it both decorates the home and walks you down memory lane. Visually, Dalga is no ordinary radio. No, it’s a cool radio, and it takes stone to a whole new dimension. Users can adorn their homes with it like a work of sculpture. In return, it offers the user an entirely new social experience.
STUDENT CATEGORY HONORABLE MENTION PRIZE
JUST TURN
Elif Yıldız, Suna Demirci İstanbul Medipol University, Architecture
Inspired by ancient inscriptions, Just Turn is intended to be game and public communication tool. It features a series of semi-circleshaped openings lathed into a marble panel. How it works is that you spin small spherical, double-sided marble plaques/balls inside those openings. Each side is a different color. Following a “just turn” logic, passers by rotate the balls to write messages on the plaque, thereby interacting with others in a fun way.
STUDENT CATEGORY HONORABLE MENTION PRIZE
YALAK
Tan Nuhoğlu Özyeğin University, Architecture
The intention behind Yalak is to examine the relationship between man and animal, and to underscore the notion that time is as much a design element as material. Within that context, Yalak is more than just a birdbath. It is a piece of the urban fabric embedded into the pavement of plazas. It is meant to inseparable from the city, and from time. White Marmara marble is the medium of choice because of how it interacts with time in an urban setting. It moreover serves as a reference point for how a birdbath can be both permanent and temporary.
