Within the scope of the “Design and Build” workshop organized by the Research Center for Interdisciplinary Studies in Built Environment (ISBE) operating under the Eastern Mediterranean University (EMU) Faculty of Architecture, a solar charging workstation was designed, built and donated to the Yeniboğaziçi Elementary School. Equipped with a solar panel system and portable enough to serve multiple purposes, the station exemplifies the EMU Faculty of Architecture’s dedication to serving the community.
The said project was carried out within the framework of the 11th International Design Week (2024) annually organized by the EMU Faculty of Architecture which brings prominent figures in the design world together. The project, serving as a follow-up to the “Design and Build” workshop series, was conducted under the guidance of Prof. Dr. Charlie Hailey from the University of Florida, and Dr. Bahar Aktuna and Dr. Berna Göl from Yeditepe University. Students from EMU Architecture and Interior Architecture Departments, along with a group from Doğa College, actively participated in the workshop.
The project encouraged students to create designs based on sustainability principles with an emphasis on social impact and real-life problem-solving. It offered a comprehensive learning approach that prioritized practical experience, allowing students to implement the project through both theory and hands-on practice.
Handover Ceremony Held
A handover ceremony was held at the Yeniboğaziçi Elementary School, featuring academics and school administrates who contributed the project. In the remarks delivered at the ceremony, emphasis was put on the importance of university-society collaboration and sustainability.
In her speech, ISBE Executive Board Member and EMU Faculty of Architecture academic staff member Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ceren Boğaç said; “As the ISBE Center of EMU’s Faculty of Architecture, we place great importance on helping our students enhance not only their professional abilities but also their social awareness through hands-on design and full-scale production. This project aimed to both reinforce the environmentally conscious educational methods of Yeniboğaziçi Elementary School and offer a motivating example of how renewable energy can be integrated into design for young learners. The open-air classroom we previously designed and built for the same school created a space where students could connect with nature by growing plants. Seeing how much both students and teachers enjoy using that space inspired us to take this next step”.
Prof. Dr. Kokan Grchev, Chair of ISBE, also made remarks on the topic, saying; “As the Research Center for Interdisciplinary Studies in Built Environment (ISBE), our goal is to create an interdisciplinary platform for critical and conceptual dialogue. As part of our dedication to sustainable innovation, our students created and built a solar-powered outdoor workstation and donated it to Yeniboğaziçi Elementary School. This project not only enhances environmental education but also encourages the use of renewable energy in shared public spaces. The workstation acts as a practical educational tool, helping young students develop an early interest in sustainability, design, and science.”
Appreciation Message from Yeniboğaziçi Elementary School Administration
Dr. Fahri Tümkan, Principal of the Yeniboğaziçi Elementary Scool, also delivered a speech at the ceremony, stating the school’s appreciation; “I would like to extend my sincerest thanks to you for your generous support and meaningful contributions. The environmentally friendly tools your faculty has brought to our school are not only raising our students’ awareness about nature conservation but also providing them with the chance to learn outdoors. We are especially grateful to the Eastern Mediterranean University, Faculty of Architecture, and to Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ceren Boğaç for staying in close contact and enabling our students to engage with creative and inspiring designs. We truly appreciate your presence and efforts”.
“EMU Faculty of Architecture is ready to Provide All Kinds of Support”
Also making remarks, Dean of EMU Faculty of Architecture Prof. Dr. Resmiye Alpar Atun said; “EMU Faculty of Architecture is committed to promoting social responsibility and environmental awareness through the Research Center for Interdisciplinary Studies in Built Environment (ISBE). Implementing this participatory project in direct collaboration with its users significantly strengthens the bond between the university and the wider community. We extend our sincere appreciation to the administration of Yeniboğaziçi Elementary School for taking on a vital role in advancing sustainability and collective awareness, as well as to the ISBE Center for leading this initiative. We also affirm our continued readiness to support any future collaborations as the EMU Faculty of Architecture”.
