
FACULTY OF FINE ARTS AND DESIGN
Department of Architecture
Frequently Asked Questions
General Information
Architecture is a profession where one can design and supervise a building or building complex by considering aesthetics, technical principles and users’ criteria. It is one of the oldest institutionalized professions in the world. Architects study on such a wide spectrum from a small-scale house project to mega structures (airports, hospitals, etc.) and create their design in a domain spreading out from human scale to urban scale. An architect considers many technical details such as structure, material, air conditioning, and acoustics of a building and ancient or modern aesthetics principles. Architects can specialize in several areas such as building science and technology, architectural history, theory and criticism, practical application and digital technologies.
A general tendency regarding the definitions of the professions is ‘Architect designs the outside whereas Interior Architect designs the inside the building’. However this assumption is very wrong. It is very important to be aware of that Architect and Interior Architect are parts of a team and most of the cases they work together. To explain by professional terms, Architects and Interior Architects work on different spatial scales. While Interior Architects are equipped with knowledge about characteristics and interior quality of space; the practice of Architecture consists of designing a building from scratch to a complete project with its narrative, design philosophy, enclosure (façade), structural systems, construction materials, etc. Professional and educational services of Architecture are in connection with town planning, civil engineering, art, history, conservation and restoration. Shortly, Architectural profession and education intersects with Art and Engineering.
Both Architectures and Civil Engineers are involved in planning and designing structures. However, Architecture focuses on spatial planning, functionality and aesthetics of the work whereas Civil Engineering concentrates on the structural elements of the design, making certain that the structure can endure normal and extreme conditions such as earthquakes etc. Civil Engineers’ responsibility is making the required calculations for buildings’ and users’ safety. Architects and Civil Engineers mostly work together in such projects whose main focus is space development however; Civil Engineers also concern with megastructures such as bridges, dams, roads, power plants.
Architecture is art, science and business of building. An architect is trained and experienced not only in the design and construction of the built environment, but also in endeavors ranging from concept development, problem-solving, project management. Candidates who have an interest for Architecture should have:
- Advanced communication skills to be able to express ideas orally in front of a group of people,
- High levels of creativity and imagination to be able to present ideas through a variety of visual materials (drawings, sketches, photography, and three-dimensional models),
- An interest in the built environment, cities, social, economic and political dimensions of the society,
- An analytical mind with excellent problem-solving and mathematical ability,
- Willingness to work long hours and eagerness to refresh their ideas constantly.
Drawing is an important medium for expressing ideas and projects in the Architecture profession. As a consequence of this, it is aimed to gain the necessary knowledge and ability in the 1st and 2nd grade drawing courses. By its professional nature, Architecture is based on visualization of abstract ideas and thus drawing is essential both for educational and professional life. If student’s drawing skills are low, it is possible to advance in those skills by making effort in courses and personal time. Furthermore, it is important to note that having good drawings skill is not an objective but an agency to express ideas. Today, CAD sketching and drawing Softwares give new opportunities to Architects to realize their ideas.
İzmir and surrounding, where ancient civilizations were born and raised, has a structure that reflects Architectural artifacts of many historical eras. Being close to ancient cities Ephesus, Pergamon, Erythrai, Teos and in the center of the Smyrna region that accommodates Agora and Tepekule, makes İzmir an urban museum that shows how architecture was developed throughout ages. İzmir has been a cosmopolite structure wherein different religions and cultures have met since antiquity. The results of this rich structure can be seen in history and also today. In modern times, an interesting urban pattern, which is contemporary architectural examples are being evolved/developed in, occurs due to reconstruction of the city center. It is a great advantage for a student, who wishes to study Architecture Major, to choose the city of İzmir with this rich background and potential.
In IUE Department of Architecture, there is an interactive education based on learning by constructing in digital based studios. The main difference of the Department is being a part of the Faculty of Fine Arts and Design where both faculty and students interact and collaborate in a lively atmosphere of interdisciplinary design culture. Cross-departmental courses in the Faculty, inter-disciplinary researches, exhibitions, conferences and other design events contribute to this end. The studio courses are supported by a range of supplementary courses from architectural technology and computing to the history and theory of art, design and architecture. IUE Faculty of Fine Arts and Design provides extensive facilities in support of courses and studios including Photography Studio, Print Studio, CAD Laboratory, MAC Laboratory, and Maker Laboratory. Furthermore, most undergraduate programs offer a 4 year Bachelor’s Degree plus a 2 year Master’s Degree. IUE Department of Architecture has a 4-year professional Bachelor in Architecture with an opportunity of 4+1 (M. Arch) degree, too.
The four-year Architecture program is challenging to prepare the student for a professional career. Architectural education at IUE Department of Architecture consists of theoretical and applied courses which offer a creative program which intends to create an advance perception of space through architectural design and construction practice. As a consequence of this, Department of Architecture places curricular emphasis on the design studio where architectural skills are required to develop by perceiving and criticizing architecture and its effects in social and economic context in global and local scale. The education is supported by dense program of class work, architectural presentations, juries, as well as advance level of architectural representation materials and visualization techniques.
Studying Architecture Major requires a lot of materials, equipment use and drawing & printing which can be costly. However, material costs vary depending upon the individual design solution and the student’s choice of materials and model-making method.
There are three mandatory summer trainings required in the Department of Architecture. At the end of first year, students improve their knowledge on nature of different materials production processes, or surveying and model making skills with “ST 100-Workshop Internship”. At the end of the second year, students have to complete “ST 200-Construction Internship” which aims to improve students’ awareness on construction of projects and gain experience on construction sites. As the third summer training students have to complete “ST 300-Office Internship” at the end of their third year in the university. This summer training teaches students every step of the project from concept phase to construction phase and the potential problems that may occur during the course of a project.
Students have to find workplaces for summer training with their own effort. However, the faculty may give recommendations as they have strong connections and valuable experiences in the sector.
For more information please visit http://mmr.fadf.ieu.edu.tr/en/stajlar
The Department of Architecture has an ERASMUS partnership with several universities in Europe. For more information please visit http://mmr.fadf.ieu.edu.tr/en/erasmus
IUE funds for student organization of undergraduate levels. In the Department of Architecture “Mimarlık Kulübü” and “CUT PAPER” have been founded by students. For more information about CUT PAPER, please visit https://www.facebook.com/pg/CutPaperCommunity/about/?ref=page_internal
IUE offers Double Major and Minor degrees. For more information please visit http://mmr.fadf.ieu.edu.tr/en/cift-anadal-ve-yan-dal-programlari
IUE Alumni Association lists all graduates along with information on their graduate school and careers. For more information please visit http://mmr.fadf.ieu.edu.tr/en/mezunlarimiz
Construction is a growing sector in Turkey. Therefore, the need for Architecture is growing correspondingly. Architecture is a profession which can be conducted with teams and without being a part of an institution. Hence, graduates can start working both independently and as a team member of national and/or international architectural offices. Graduate architects have a chance to take place in public and private sectors in design, control and construction stages. The ones, who prefer being in public organizations, can work at Ministry of Public Works and Settlements, Ministry of Environment and Urbanization, Ministry of Transportation or municipalities. Moreover, an academic career also can be pursued.
In IUE, students with Bachelor degree of Architecture have many options of graduate programs to register. For the profession of Architecture and Design, Faculty of Fine Arts and Design provides 6 Graduate Programs as listed below:
- Advanced Architectural Design Master Program (Without Thesis)
- Master of Architecture Program (With Thesis)
- Design Studies (With Thesis)
- Ph.D. In Design Studies
- Design Management (Without Thesis)
- Yacht Design (Without Thesis)
For more information please find Academic > Graduate Programs on the main menu.
NEWS |ALL NEWS

Our 2020 graduate Cansu Ündeyoğlu is accepted to University of Toronto with scholarship and committed to University of British Columbia, Master of Landscape Architecture with 12.500 CAD grant.
Our 2020 graduate Cansu Ündeyoğlu is accepted to University of Toronto with scholarship and committed to University of British Columbia, Master of Landscape

Our 2020 graduate Gizem Çalışkan received a Gold Scholarship from Politechnico di Milano, Master in Sustainable Architecture and Landscape Design.
Our 2020 graduate Gizem Çalışkan received a Gold Scholarship from Politechnico di Milano, Master in Sustainable Architecture and Landscape Design.

Kent ve Tasarım İzmir Lab "Davide PONZINI: Transnational Architecture"
The interview with David Ponzini on "Transnational Architecture" as the third of events organized by Kent ve Tasarım İzmir Lab and moderated

Our 2020 graduate Gizem Çalışkan received a grant to attend AURA İstanbul 2021 Spring Certificate Program.
AURA İstanbul Certificate Program offers a research and education environment to the graduates of Architecture, urban design and landscape design. This year the

Our 2020 Architecture graduate Zeynep Görken received a partial grant to enroll Pratt Institute Architecture Master (M.Arch) program.
Our 2020 Architecture graduate Zeynep Görken received a partial grant to enroll Pratt Institute Architecture Master (M.Arch) program. Zeynep Görken: “After graduating from

Interior sliding walls, exterior elevator
Coronavirus, which affects life in many issues from social life to work arrangements, and earthquakes that have occurred in a row in

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Güzden Varinlioğlu receives Fulbright Visiting Scholar Program Grant
IUE Architecture Department Faculty Member Assoc. Dr. Güzden Varinlioğlu received Fulbright Scholarship for Academic Research with her project aiming to reveal historical

Department of Architecture Webinar Series 4: Lia Ghilardi
The last of the webinars organized during distance online training period hosted Lia Ghilardi.

Department of Architecture Webinar Series 2: Phillip Tabb, PhD
The third guest of the webinars held during the distance online education period was emeritus professor in architecture Phillip Tabb from Texas

Department of Architecture Webinar Series 2: Andria Post-Ergun
The second of the webinars series being held during the distance online training period, hosted Landscape Architect Andria Post-Ergun to give a

Department of Architecture Webinar Series 1: Praveen Maghelal
The first of the webinars to be held in the distance online training period took place.

Asterios Agkathidis was our guest
Asterios Agkathidis from Liverpool University was our guest within the context of ARCH 202 Architectural Design II. Agkathidis gave a seminar entitled

Burning Man 2020: A Biomimetic Structural Organizm Workshop Exhibition
“Burning Man 2020” workshop, coordinated by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Güzden Varinlioğlu, Hugh Clarke, Ayşe Bozkurt Karal, Filiz Keyder Özkan, Hüseyin Onur Dinmez,

Assoc. Prof. Yüksel Demir, PhD. was our guest
Associate Professor Yüksel Demir from İstanbul Technical University gave a seminar entitled "R&D in Architecture: Turkish Antarctic Research Station Case" as the

“Women Architects Panel” brought students and professionals together
A collaboration of Department of Architecture, Faculty of Fine Arts and Design, Izmir University of Economics (IUE) and Izmir Chamber of Commerce

Prof. Dr. Paul Knox and Cristiano Luchetti were our guests
Paul Knox, University Distinguished Professor of Virginia Tech and a prominent scholar of urban geography and Cristiano Luchetti who is an architect

Our graduate Seyit Koyuncu won the Honorable Mention at Archiprix 2019
Seyit Koyuncu, Izmir University of Economics Faculty of Fine Arts and Design, Department of Architecture Graduate (2019), won the Honorable Mention Award

Department of Architecture took part in Good Design ___ 4
The faculty members and students of İzmir University of Economics, Department of Architecture took part in the exhibition and workshops program organized

Third place award goes to the Trace Clouds
İzmir University of Economics, Faculty of Fine Arts and Design, Department of Architecture 2019 graduates Seyit Koyuncu, Ebrar Eke and Erman Eskiköy

We congratulate our 2019 graduate Erman Eskiköy’s achievement
İzmir University of Economics, Department of Architecture 2019 graduate Erman Eskiköy’s project is a finalist in ‘’The SKYHIVE 2019 Skyscraper Challenge’’ competition

IUE architects continue to win awards
Once again, our students in the Department of Architecture were awarded in the Merhaba 2019 Student Graduation Project Contest organized by the

ECOFAB team members won Architectural Digital Design Competition
ECOFAB is a project / design team founded under the leadership of the Department of Architecture, Faculty of Fine Arts and Design

Assoc. Prof. Vladimir Kulic, PhD. was our guest
Associate Professor Vladimir Kulić from Iowa State University, College of Design, Department of Architecture gave a seminar entitled "Exhibiting Yugoslavia" as the

Urban Global Networks: The Case of İzmir was held with the contributions of IUE Architecture
Organized by the leadership of Izmir University of Economics (IUE), Faculty of Fine Arts and Design (FFAD), Department of Architecture, “Global Urban

A conversation with Bahadır Kul, BK Architecture founder
Architect Bahadır Kul gave a seminar for the students of architecture with the contributions of Cut-Paper, the student club of the Faculty

Renowned architects came together at Izmir University of Economics
Organized with the contributions of Kalebodur and presented by Dr. Celal Abdi Güzer "Kalebodur'la Mimarlar Konuşuyor-Kampüs” event was hosted by Department of

Prof. Thomas Mical, PhD. was our guest
Thomas Mical, Professor of Architectural Theory at Auckland University of Technology, New Zealand, and international professor at the School of Design at

A conversation with Beset Architectural Studio and Demirce Norms
Architects Arda Beset ( Ph.D ), Alpay and Burçin Demirci had an enjoyable conversation with the students of architecture with the contributions

Architects’ BİRİKİM is on display
Department of Architecture presented the annual BİRİKİM (ACCUMULATION) exhibition, which started in 2015 and continued every year, to students, academicians, architects and

Assoc. Prof. Dr. İpek Akpınar was our guest
Istanbul Technical University faculty member Assoc. Dr. İpek Akpınar gave a seminar in the Department of Architecture.

A colorful break with Color Therapy workshop
İzmir University of Economics, Department of Architecture hosted a colorful workshop by the contributions of Alligator Boya.

Mission Antarctica
The living colonies which has habituated on Mars and under water in the previous years, has settled in Antarctica in scope of

ARCHITECTURAL TOUCH TO ART IN DARAĞAÇ
Izmir University of Economics, Department of Architecture 2nd year students designed a residence for an artist couple in Umurbey Quarter, known as

THE COLLABORATION BETWEEN SALT GALATA AND İEÜ ARCHITECTURE CONTINUES
The open forum, in scope of ARCH 401, the 4th year Architectural Design Studio in Department of Architecture, Faculty of Fine Arts

FROM NATURE TO ARCHITECTURE: COMPETITION AND COLLABORATION
Izmir University of Economics, Faculty of Fine Arts and Design, Department of Architecture hosted two presentations based on different disciplines about Competition

INTERVENING SPACES WORKSHOP & GOOD DESIGN__3
In scope of Good Design__3, which was organized by İzmir Akdeniz Akademisi, Department of Architecture instructor Michael E. Young and Department of

NAVIGATION ON THE FLUID GROUND WORKSHOP & GOOD DESIGN__3
In scope of Good Design__3, which was organized by İzmir Akdeniz Akademisi, Department of Architecture part-time instructors Ertunç Hünkar and Mehtap Altuğ

IEU DEPARTMENT OF ARCHITECTURE & ÜTAS__3
In scope of Good Design__3, which organized a series of events under the theme “together”, ÜTAS universities graduation projects exhibition opened in

HAPPY WORLD ARCHITECTURE DAY
The World Architecture Day, whose theme is set by The International Union of Architects (UIA) as “Architecture... for a Better World” this

THE AWARD WINNER STUDENTS OF ARCHITECTURE CERTIFICATED
A certificate ceremony has been organized by the Dean’s Office of Faculty of Fine Arts and Design at İzmir University of Economics,

ECOFAB'S LONDON ACHIEVEMENTS WON'T STOP
As in the last year, 2 teams of EcoFab, mentored by Asst. Prof. Dr. Güzden Varinlioğlu, won 4 prizes in FabFest’18 organized

IEU ARCHITECTURE GRADUATES AWARDED
The award ceremony of “2018 Merhaba Student Graduate Projects Competition” which was organized by İzmir SMD was held in İzmir Havagazı Fabrikası

4 PRIZES FROM İZMİR SMD STUDENT GRADUATION PROECT COMPETITION 2018
Four of our fourth-year students from Department of Architecture have been selected as the winners in the 2018 İzmir Serbest Mimarlar Derneği

STUFFED CAST WORKSHOP IN COOPERATION WITH URBAN ATÖLYE
Stuffed Cast Workshop, organized by the cooperation of IUE Department of Architecture and Urban Atölye, was held on 10-11 March 2018 at

MISSION AQUARIUS
In scope of ARCH 202 Architectural Design II, a workshop entitled “Mission Aquarius: A Biomimetic Structural Organism” was organized. In this two-week

IUE ARCHITECTURE – SALT GALATA 3RD MEETING
The educational outcomes of the three thematic studios of the fourth-year architectural design studio (ARCH 401), where architecture’s participation in the various

IUE DEPARTMENT OF ARCHITECTURE 2017 GRADUATES’ SUCCESS AT IV. INTERNATIONAL ARCHITECTURE BIENNIAL OF ANTALYA
Our 2017 graduates Hande Kocabaş and Nevzat Kuru, together with Urban Atölye design studio which is supervised by Nilüfer Kozikoğlu, have been

ECOFAB IS BACK FROM LONDON FABFEST17 WITH AWARDS
EcoFab is a project/design team consists of eight sophomore and two post-graduate architecture students and a mentor from IUE Department of Architecture

DIGITAL HUMANITIES LAB: RE-ANIMATION OF TEOS ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE EXHIBITION
The Digital Teos Project is the first step to formulate and establish the Digital Humanities Lab at İzmir University of Economics. This

MISSION MARS 2024 WORKSHOP EXHIBITION OPENED
“Mission Mars 2024” workshop, coordinated by Asst. Prof. Dr. Burkay Pasin, Asst. Prof. Dr. Güzden Varinlioğlu, Hugh Clarke, Özgür Genca, Ayşe Bozkurt

MISSION MARS 2024 WORKSHOP
İzmir Ekonomi Üniversitesi Mimarlık Bölümü 2. sınıf öğrencileri 2016-2017 Bahar dönemine 2 haftalık bir atölye çalışması ile başlayacaklar. Atölye kapsamında öğrenciler Mars’a