Mehmet Konuralp, 1939
architect


Mehmet Konuralp was born in İstanbul in 1939. He studied architecture at the Architectural Association School of Architecture in London between 1960-65. He finished his studies in Urbanism at the Leverhulme Department of Planning and Urban Design of the same school in 1966. He began in 1968 his private practice in İstanbul. As an architect he worked in all fields of the prfession, as designer, builder, planner, as well as lecturer and studio master in various universities. His realized and unrealized projects, as well as his aceademic contributions and lecturers are widely covered in national and international publications. Enclosed are his selected works and academic activites in Turkey and abroad.

He is the member of several instititution like Chamber of Architect in Turkey (TMMOB), Architectural Association in London, Association of Independent Architect in Istanbul,...etc.
Master Jury Member of the ‘Aga Khan Architecture Award’ and Chairman of National Architectural Award Commitee are the academic activites that Konuralp has attended respectively.

He has experienced as a lecturer in Faculty of Fine Arts in University of Bilkent and also, as a studio tutor, he has been in Jordan Architectural Laboratory in Amman University. There are several experiences in various universities’ faculty of architecture such as; Mimar Sinan University, Middle East Technical University, Uludag University and Yeditepe University.

He has signature on international projects in Iraq (Al Kaim Town Planning for 20.000 Inhabitants) and Yemen ( Marib Dam Valley Experimental Agrovillage and Landscape Design. The projects he created are in the subject of different areas like interior design, touristic facilities, residential, health, industrial, office and civic buildings.

Victoria Diaz Saravia, 1975
architect


Victoria Diaz Saravia was born in Tucumán, Argentina. In 1996 she started her studies in architecture at the Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. In 1998 she moved to Switzerland and studied at the Accademia di architettura di Mendrisio, Universitá della Svizzera Italiana. In 2004 she graduated in the studio of Valerio Olgiati and received the BDG Prize destined to the diploma work that would better interpret sustainable development.
From 2005 to 2008 she has been assistant in Valerio Olgiati’s design studio at the Accademia di Architettura di Mendrisio.
In 2008 her house “Casa para tres” built in Tucumán gained by the Swiss Art Award 2008. She collaborates with architect Martino Pedrozzi in Mendrisio.

Hüseyin Kahvecioglu, 1964
architect

assistant professor at Istanbul Technical University



Hüseyin Kahvecioğlu attended architecture school at Istanbul Technical University, graduating in 1986. He received his master of Architecture and doctorate (PHD) in architectural design from the same university. During 1998-99, he was a visiting scholar at University of Cincinnati, DAAP (College of Design, Art, Architecture and Planning). Since his graduation, he has practiced both independently and in different teams in Istanbul. He received various prizes in urban and architectural design competitions. Some of his completed commissions are; ITU Gölet Dormitories, İstanbul (1998), Karaalioğlu City Park Renovation Project, Antalya (2003), ARI Science Park Offices, Istanbul (2004), ITU Mustafa Inan Library, Istanbul (2007), Metropolitan City Hall, Antalya (2008). Besides, he serves in various positions at academic and Professional fields, as competition jury member, scientific committee member, editorial board member. With a background in both the academic and practice fields, he currently teaches architectural design as an assistant professor at Department of Architecture, in Istanbul Technical University.

He has taken the Ord. Prof. Emin Onat Success Award 3 times between the years 1984 -1986. Furthermore he has carried out several significant projects such as; in 2007, İTÜ Mustafa İnan Library, in 2005 Eskişehir Anadolu University School of Foreign Languages Architectural Competition, in 2004,Eski Başiskele Crossroads with Bridge Transportation System and Surroundings Arrangement Competition Project, in 2004, Pananos Beach Urban Design and Landscape Competition Project - 3rd Prize, in 2004 Antalya Historical Park Town Hall and Surroundings Urban Design and Conservation Competition Project - 1st Prize, in 2001 Kadıköy Square/ Haydarpaşa/ Harem Surroundings Urban Design Competition Project - 5th Prize, in 1996 Municipality of Trabzon Service Building Competition Project - 2nd Prize

Serhat Kiraz, 1954
artist


Born in 1954 in İstanbul, Serhat Kiraz graduated form the Painting Department of State Fine Arts Academy in 1979. He achieved proficiency in art with his studies in Marmara University. He has been teaching in various universities in İstanbul.

Serhat Kiraz has been in the art miliu since late 70s. He has opened solo exhibitions in İstanbul, Ankara, İzmir, Cologne, Essen and Venice. Maçka Art Galerie in İstanbul hosted most of his solo exhibitions, entitled “Translation”, “Varlık”, “Construction/ Reconstruction”. He participated in several group exhibitions in Turkey as well as abroad. Among these are a series of exhibitions called ‘A Cross-section of Turkish Avant-Garde Art’ in the 80s, “Orient Express”, Künstlerhaus Bethanien, Berlin, “Modernities and Memories”, Recent Works From The Islamic World in 1997. He took part in the XI. Paris Biennial in 1980 with a work titled “A Proposal for an Artistic/Touristic Transportation”, in the II. İstanbul Biennial with “God of Religions, Religions of God” in 1989, “The Two Invariables and Various Visions”, Osaka Triennale’90, and in the 45th Venice Biennial with “The Time of Emptiness” in 1993. His works have been displayed in contemporary art fairs in Bari, Cologne and İstanbul. Kiraz has created art works for private spaces and has works in private collections.

Beral Madra
art critic


Beral Madra, a critic and curator, directed Gallery BM (1984-1990) and directing BM Contemporary Art Centre (since 1990).
She coordinated the 1st (1987) and the 2nd (1989) Istanbul Biennale, curated exhibitions of Turkish artists in 43rd, 45th, 49th, 50th and 51st Venice Biennale, co-curated the exhibition Modernities and Memories-Recent Works from the Islamic World in 47th Venice Biennale.

Since 1984 she has organized more than 250 local and international artists in her art centre and in other official art spaces in Istanbul.

She has curated and co-curated over 20 international group shows including Sanat, Texhn (Istanbul 1992), Treffen-Kunst ( Istanbul 1993), Iskele-Türkische Kunst Heute (Berlin-Stuttgart) 1994), Orient Express (Berlin 1994), Xample (1995), Concrete Visions (Istanbul 1995), Gold-X-Change (1997), Kerteriz (1998), Berlin in Istanbul (Berlin 1998), Reise durch das Labyrinth (Berlin, 1998) and Memories and Modernities (Istanbul 1998), Veritas Omnia Vincit (Istanbul 2000), "In Image We Trust" (2001), "Sheshow" (2002). Curated 5 international exhibitions in WestLB, Istanbul building, (1999-2002) Curated 3 exhibitions in Diyarbakır Art Centre (Southeast Turkey- 2002), “Registering the Distance- Istanbul/Los Angeles”, Crazyspace, Santa Monica (2003); “The Sphinx Will Devour You”, Karşı Sanat (2004), Bizhan Bassiri, “Evoporations”, Tophane-i Amire (2004).