speaker-photo

Prof. Dr. Yenal AKGÜN

Dokuz Eylül University - Faculty of Architecture
Yenal Akgün graduated from Istanbul Technical University, Department of Architecture in 2000. After working on several national and international design projects between 2000 and 2002, he started to work for İzmir Institute of Technology (IZTECH) in 2002 as a research assistant. In 2004, he received his MSc degree from IZTECH. In 2006, he continued his academic studies at the University of Stuttgart, Institute for Lightweight Structures and Conceptual Design (ILEK) with a Ph.D. grant from the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), and completed his Ph.D. in 2010. In December 2017, he received the title Associate Professor from the Higher Education Council of Turkey (YOK) in “Construction and Construction Technologies / Systems in Architecture”. Between 2017 and 2019, he worked as a full-time architect at Izmir Konak Municipality Department of Urban Design; and taught at Yaşar University Department of Architecture as a part-time lecturer. Between September 2017 and May 2023, he worked as a full-time associate professor at Yaşar University Department of Architecture. Since May 2023, he has been working as a full professor at the Dokuz Eylül University Department of Architecture. Yenal Akgün has received many awards in national architecture competitions; conducted many national and international workshops at several universities.
    13:00 - 13:45

    Thursday 18th Dec

    Typologies, Technologies, and Design Strategies for a Changing Environment

    The building sector is one of the major contributors to global energy consumption, material use, and greenhouse gas emissions, and its impact is expected to increase as global building stock continues to expand. In the context of climate change, resource scarcity, and growing environmental inequalities, architecture can no longer rely solely on static design paradigms. This keynote presentation argues that adaptation must become a central design principle, reshaping how buildings and their components respond to changing environmental, functional, and social conditions.

    The presentation first outlines the current global situation, highlighting the environmental burden of the built environment and the urgent need for alternative design approaches. It then introduces adaptation in architecture as both a conceptual and technical framework, discussing adaptive and kinetic architecture through interdisciplinary lenses that include architectural design, structural engineering, mechanism design, material science, mechatronics, and parametric design. A typological overview is provided, covering adaptability in structural systems, architectural components, and building envelopes, as well as adaptability achieved through material properties such as shape-memory, thermoresponsive, and hydro-active materials. Key built examples are presented to demonstrate how adaptive strategies have been implemented at different scales.

    In the final part, the presentation focuses on the author’s current research, showcasing patented and ongoing work on adaptive shading devices and urban elements based on scissor linkages, over-constrained mechanisms, compliant mechanisms, curved-line folding techniques, and kerf-based systems. These studies illustrate how lightweight, material-efficient, and responsive systems can enhance environmental performance while expanding architectural expression. The presentation concludes by positioning adaptive architecture as a critical pathway toward more resilient, responsible, and future-oriented built environments.