YouDesign Competition Call
YouDesign – Aşıklar Tepesi Urban Design and Architectural Idea Student Competition is a national student design competition organized within the scope of the YOUrban - Youth Empowerment in Urban Decision Making- Project, supported by the EIT Co-Create NEB call.
Conducted in collaboration with Gebze Technical University and Çayırova Municipality, the competition invites young designers to develop sustainable, participatory, and innovative urban visions.
The focus of the competition is to generate conceptual projects for the future development of the surroundings of Aşıklar Tepesi in Çayırova’s Atatürk Neighborhood. Participants are expected to propose a design scenario that integrates education, public and municipal services, supports urban food accessibility, and suggests public use programs for municipal service areas. The aim is to design an integrated public space system in coordination with the existing educational buildings located within the project site. Finalist projects will be presented through virtual reality (VR) to the public and subjected to a public vote.
YouDesign is a competition model that prioritizes public participation and local needs-sensitive design.
Competition Type
The competition is open to undergraduate or graduate students in the fields of architecture, urban and regional planning, landscape architecture, and civil engineering, and is organized as a two-stage urban design and architectural idea competition.
Competition Calendar
- Competition Announcement: Wednesday, July 23
- Neighborhood Intro & Needs Seminar (online): Wednesday, August 20
- Deadline for Questions: Friday, August 8
- Publication of Answers: Wednesday, August 20
- Registration Deadline: Friday, September 26
- 1st Stage Submission Deadline: Monday, October 13
- 1st Stage Jury Evaluation: October 17–19
- 1st Stage Results Announcement: Tuesday, October 21
- Workshop on VR Modeling Techniques with VR Team: Friday, October 24
- 2nd Stage Submission Deadline: Friday, October 31
- 2nd Stage Presentation: Saturday, November 1
- 2nd Stage Results Announcement: Monday, November 3
- VR Model Preparation: November 3–20
- Final Colloquium: Saturday, November 22
- Public Voting: November 22–28
- Announcement of Winners: Saturday, November 29
Evaluation Process
The competition consists of two stages. In the first stage, applications are submitted via digital boards and a short explanatory video. Based on the jury’s evaluation, 10 semi-finalist teams are selected. In the second stage, after project presentations to the jury, three equivalent awards, three honorable mentions, and jury special awards are determined. The winning projects will be presented in VR format for public experience and voting.
Jury Members
Main Jury:
- Dr. Architect Ali Dostoğlu
- Prof. Dr. Architect Kutlu Sevinç Kayıhan, Gebze Technical University
- M.Arch. Melike Altınışık, Melike Altınışık Architects (MAA)
- Prof. Dr. Architect Nurbin Paker, Istanbul Technical University
- Prof. Dr. Architect Tuğrul Yazar, Istanbul Bilgi University
Alternate Jury Member:
- Dr. Lecturer Elif Özer Yüksel, Architect / Landscape Architect, Gebze Technical University
Awards
- 3 Equivalent Awards: 90,000 TRY each (Total: 270,000 TRY)
- 3 Honorable Mentions: 30,000 TRY each (Total: 90,000 TRY)
- Jury Special Award* (Total: 40,000 TRY)
* The Jury Special Award may be distributed among the finalist teams at the discretion of the jury, in any proportion or number.
Contact
Gebze Technical University
Faculty of Architecture, Department of Architecture
Email: yourban@gtu.edu.tr
Web: https://www.gtu.edu.tr/kategori/6506/3/display.aspx
Registration Form: https://forms.cloud.microsoft/r/L4hWT3wQQT
