The Awards Ceremony of the national architectural ideas competition for the new Çamlıca TV and Radio Tower in Istanbul, jointly organized by the Turkish Ministry of Transportation, Maritime Affairs and Communications and Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality, was held on 24 October 2011.The new project is meant to replace dozens of irregular and ugly communications towers located on the Çamlıca Hill while also creating a Landmark for contemporary Istanbul.

The internationally acclaimed jury of the competition composed by Şulan Kolatan (Architect), İlhan Zeybekoglu (Architect), Cengiz Yetken (Architect), Prof.Dr.Zekai Celep (Structural Engineer), Niyazi Parlar (Structural Engineer), Doç.Dr.Pelin Pınar Özden (Urban Planner), led by Prof. Suha Özkan, Chairman of World Architecture Medium, awarded the first prize to the project designed by the group led by Arch. Inanç Eray.

At the Awards Ceremony attended by the Minister of Transportation, Maritime Affairs and Communications of Turkey and the Mayor of Metropolitan Istanbul, Suha Özkan in his statement said urban responsibility formed the basis of the competition. Originality was a major criteria in the selection process, Özkan explained, referring to the original concept of the winning project.

Inanc Eray has been invited to participate in the round-table discussion with Huseyin Kayvecioglu, Elif Ozdemir and Omer Selcuk Baz on Architectural Competitions.

It is a well supported idea that especially public buildings should be designed through competition processes. It is acknowledged the fact that competitions creates opportunities for the public authorities to investigate many ideas for a potential site as well as young designers to prove themselves as established designers. Yet is competitions the best way for public project procurements? Is the competition processes has been abused already? Do we need better, more transparent, more collective systems?

The discussion goes around these topics with couple anecdotes from the participants, including current in-discussion public competitions like Taksim Square, Camlica Hill Mosque etc.

Timeout Istanbul interviews Inanc Eray and Ceyhun Baskin on Architecture, Life, London, Istanbul and their winning scheme for 2011 Novermber issue. Here is the full text in Turkish. You can also read on Timeout website at bit.ly/19F6VCd

We are pleased to hear that Newitalianblood announced IEA as one of the TOP 10 under 40 Architecture Firms in Turkey. Along side with IEA on the 4th place, ex-colleague STEB made it in the list as well.

Newitalianblood is the only website specialized in the conception, management and promotion of architecture, landscape, design and visual arts competitions and prizes. In the year 2000 nib realized the first example of online procedure fully anonymous; now has 10 years of experience and international recognition, in the development and organization of a wide range of competitions and prizes both for public Administrations and private companies. Among our clients and partners: The Venice Biennale, the Ministry for Cultural Assets and Activities, the Italian Institute for Foreign Trade, several Regions, Provinces, Cities, Superintendences and many private companies. Nib developed and tested a wide range of formats with customized technological and economical solutions that satisfy the needs of all promoters. With a database of more than 60.000 users and 5.000 daily visitors from 100 countries nib offers an international diffusion targeted on designers and media of architecture, landscape, design, art, fashion, leisure. Please feel free to contact nib in order to develop the most appropriate idea and format for your needs: ideas competitions, design competitions in one or two phases, selections on cv’s, online competitions and prizes.

Istanbul Modern initiates YAP Istanbul Modern: Young Architects Program in partnership with The Museum of Modern Art, MoMA / MoMA PS1. The program will be held biannually during the summer and offer young emerging architects the opportunity to design a temporary architectural installation in İstanbul Modern’s courtyard. YAP Istanbul Modern is an expansion of the YAP International architects programs carried out at MoMA / MoMA PS1 in New York, the National Museum of XXI Century Arts (MAXXI) in Rome, and the CONSTRUCTO in Santiago.

The YAP: Young Architects Program offers designers and architects the opportunity to create spaces that promote diverse uses such as rest, play, and relaxation as well as hosting a series of live events. Architects are encouraged to address environmental issues, such as sustainability and recycling, to create innovative projects providing elements such as shade, water, and seating that increase the use of open-air spaces. Throughout the summer of 2013, the temporary installation built in Istanbul Modern’s courtyard will be used by museum visitors of all ages and will host museum activities especially addressing the young audience.

seapeaker is a hearing aid for Istanbul. It highlights the city’s muted qualities in an unexpected way. Designed using rigorous acoustical principles and the generative capacities of the site, seapeaker amplifies sounds of the sea underneath and punctures a new connection inbetween. Placed diagonally in Istanbul Modern’s courtyard, seapeaker organizes the previously empty space into a shaded hang-out area and a multi-functional venue, in which various spectacles and performances can unfold.

Four design professionals from different cities with diverse backgrounds, Evren Başbuğ (M.Arch., İzmir / METU, İstanbul Bilgi Uni.), İnanç Eray (M.Arch., London / METU, Architectural Association), Meriç Kara (designer, İstanbul / METU, Domus Academy) and Engin Ayaz (interaction designer, sustainability expert, New York / Stanford Uni., New York Uni.) are collaborating on the YAP İstanbul Modern Project in order to create a multi-disciplinary approach to this sophisticated design problem. With contributions from various specialists and design consultants, the design process and the framework of the project has been transformed into a wider research agenda.