Emre Arolat
Emre Arolat
TURKEY - Emre Arolat has a thriving, internationally recognized architectural practice – yet, when he observes developments in the market, the media and architectural education, he is not very optimistic about the future. 'Even today I am uncomfortable with the pace of architectural production.'
Biography
Emre Arolat (b. Ankara, 1963) studied architecture at Istanbul Mimar Sinan University and received his Master's degree in 1992. From 1987 to 2004 he worked at Arolat Architects as associate designer with his parents Saziment & Neset Arolat. In 2004 he founded Emre Arolat Architects with Gonca Paşolar. EAA now has a staff of 55 and two offices in Istanbul. Emre Arolat's other activities include teaching, writing and sitting on architecture juries.
Profile
Emre Arolat Architects (EAA) was founded in May 2004, as the continuation of Arolat Architects, where Emre Arolat started out, as an associate designer, in 1987. EAA, with a staff of 55, is now one of the most prolific architectural firms in Turkey. The office has developed a distinctive visual language, in which grids in various scales and layers, as well as the skin as an architectural element, play important roles. Also important is the way EAA seek to extend the borders of architectural knowledge by trying out new approaches in each of their projects.
Even though founding partner Emre Arolat has worked in the United States and has also designed and realized a couple of buildings in other European countries, EAA's portfolio consists mostly of projects in Turkey. This is not a deliberate choice; it is simply that the number of assignments in Turkey is more than enough for EAA, so they haven't needed to look for work abroad.
Nonetheless, EAA is an internationally recognized office. Among their many successes are the Mies Van Der Rohe Award 2005 (Minicity Model Park in Antalya, Turkey – Shortlisted) and the Architectural Review Award for Emerging Architecture 2006 (Dalaman International Airport in Mugla, Turkey – Highly Commended).
Omer Kanipak: What are the advantages and disadvantages of practising architecture in Turkey compared to other European countries?
Emre Arolat: Judging from my own experiences, practising architecture in Europe is not that much different. One thing that's similar to the situation in Turkey is that architects speak a different language from engineers. For instance, when we were engaged for the renovation of Entrepôt Royal in Brussels, we actually thought that Belgian structural and mechanical engineers would understand the needs of architects better, suggest architecturally more satisfying solutions. Contrary to our beliefs, it was sometimes even harder to get the Belgian engineer on our side than it is in Turkey.
