20th BETONART Architecture Summer School held in

20th BETONART Architecture Summer Program, organized by TÜRKÇİMENTO since 2002, was held this year in Isparta bringing together students of architecture from across Türkiye.  

The summer school program was hosted by the faculty of Architecture of Süleyman Demirel University on 15-24 July 2024. Göltaş Cement was the main sponsor for the event while Limak Cement Academy and Çimental were the golden sponsors while Polison was the silver sponsor and Fibrobeton was the material sponsor. 

The program adopted the “Timeless” theme as it is to bring together students of architecture from across Türkiye as curated by Begüm Yılmaz Bilgin and Caner Bilgin, moderated by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Hatice Gökçen Özkaya, Assistant Prof. Dr. Duygu Köse, Certified Architect Erhan Vural and Certified Architect Aygen Erol Çakır.  

Delivering a speech at the closing session of the summer school, prof. Dr. Mehmet Saltan, President of Süleyman Demirel University stated that the efforts exerted against the nature would fail while nature-friendly efforts have proven more successful.  Prof. Dr. Saltan also congratulated the students attending the summer school program. 

Delivering a speech at the plaque presentation ceremony of the summer school, Volkan Bozay, the CEO of TÜEKÇİMENTO recalled that while initiating the program back in 2022, TÜRKÇİMENTO aimed at creating opportunities for implementing theoretical training and meeting the sector’s pioneers. 

Volkan Bozay said “Every year we have brought together over 500 students from different cities in collaboration with university and the member factories” and added:  
“The architects who attended these programs as students contribute a great deal to our country as the leading and well-renowned architects of Türkiye. This makes us really proud.  As TÜRKÇİMENTO, we will continue to look beyond simply economic figures, growth rates; provide contributions to the community; stand with and support the young people who make difference with their energies and ambition to work.”   

Bozay stressed that this year’s summer program curated by Begüm Yılmaz Bilgin and Caner Bilgin adopted “timeless” as a theme and said:  “We have completed the 20th activity of our summer school with such a valuable theme. This year is important and significant in the sense that it marks the 20th activity as well as the 200th anniversary of the Pottland cement patent. This project emphasizing the theme of timelessness has provided us with a historical adventure beginning from the Roman concrete.”   

TÜRKÇİMENTO has reached over 500 young architects in this field which bears great importance for the sector.  Apart from providing contribution to national economy, TÜRKÇİMENTO plays an effective role in social development and pioneers the meeting of future architects with the sector. IIn this context, it holds the BETONART Architecture Summer School since 2002.  

Within the scope of the program, students of 4th grade selected from across universities of different cities of Türkiye found the opportunity to apply the materials both theoretically and practically. BETONART Architecture Summer School was finalized with the exhibition of the works of the students and distribution of certificates on the last day. 

In the course of the program, participants also visited the memorial tombs of Süleyman Demirel, 9th President of the Republic of Türkiye and Şevket Demirel, the former Board Member of Göltaş Cement. Apart from this, the students also met with Nihan Demirel Atasagun and Neslihan Demirel, Board Members of TÜRKÇİMENTO. 

Exhibition  
47 parts of concrete samples produced by 18 students of architecture currently enrolled at and representing at Betonart Architecture Summer School the different universities and faculties of architecture with 47 concrete formulas was exhibited at the garden of the President’s Office of Süleyman Demirel University. The students completed this work within 9 days including the project.

Plaque Presentation Ceremony  

The curators, moderators, and students attending the 20th Betonart Architecture Summer School hosted by Süleyman Demirel University were presented plaques at the closing session by President Prof. Dr. Mehmet Saltan and TÜRKÇİMENTO CEO Volkan Bozay.