Betonart Architecture Summer School 2025 Program is Launching

Organized traditionally by TÜRKÇİMENTO for architecture students, the Betonart Architecture Summer School is getting ready to welcome its participants once again in 2025 with a creative, thought-provoking, and inspiring program. This year, under the theme “Network”, the summer school will be held at the Faculty of Architecture of Gaziantep University from June 30 to July 9, with 18 students and a team of around 40 people. The program will emphasize that concrete is not only a structural material but also part of a complex network interwoven with technical processes, design practices, and social interactions. The results of the applications will be announced on June 2.

The 21st edition of the Betonart Architecture Summer School will be organized in collaboration with Gaziantep University, with Çimko Cement as the main sponsor and Polisan as the materials sponsor. The participants will explore the invisible yet strong system of connections ranging from the components of concrete to its production processes, logistics, and digital infrastructure. Topics such as the transformation of the material over time and sustainability coordination will also be addressed as part of this multi-layered network.

This year’s program, hosted by Gaziantep University’s Faculty of Architecture, will be curated by Architect Erhan Vural, while the academic advisory will be conducted by Dr. Esra Gürbüz Yıldırım. The moderators will include Architect Hande Ciğerli, Architect Eser Ergün, and Architect/Interior Architect Gizem Temiz. Coordination of the program will be carried out by Dr. Architect Ferhan Yalçın, Architect Ali Fatih Cebeci, and Architect Mehmet Ali Yiğit.

In this program, where students will have the opportunity to rethink the multi-layered nature of concrete at the intersection of different disciplines, they will participate in both theoretical and practical workshops that involve them directly in the production process.

TÜRKÇİMENTO CEO Volkan Bozay, owner of the organization, stated: “In this 21st edition of the Betonart Architecture Summer School, which we organize every year in a different region of our country with the support of various universities and factories, Çimko Cement is supporting us as the main sponsor this year, while Polisan Construction Chemicals will accompany us as the materials sponsor. When we launched this program in 2002, our goal was to enable young people to put their theoretical education into practice and bring them together with industry leaders. So far, more than 500 students have participated. Many of them are now prominent architects in Turkey. This is a great source of pride for us. As TÜRKÇİMENTO, we will continue to look beyond economic figures and growth rates, to contribute to society, support young people who make a difference with their energy and determination, and stand by them. We extend our sincere thanks to Gaziantep University’s Faculty of Architecture for hosting, to the esteemed professionals supporting us as curators and moderators, to Çimko Cement, which we are happy to call our second host, and to our material sponsor Polisan Construction Chemicals.”

Çimko Cement CEO Dr. Önder Kırca added: “We are proud to be the main supporter of such a well-established and visionary initiative as the Betonart Architecture Summer School. As Çimko, we are a company focused on social benefit and believe in building a sustainable future together with young people. Meeting young architecture students in Gaziantep means shaping not only today but also the future. Introducing students to the aesthetic and structural richness of concrete, expanding its usage areas with young minds, and bringing a new perspective to concrete through their vision is highly meaningful for us. One of the most valuable aspects of this collaboration is contributing to the development of the architecture profession, enhancing material knowledge, and encouraging students to form creative connections with concrete. We care not only about introducing concrete but also about helping architects and future architects fall in love with this material, and realize that they can bring their imagined structures to life with it. Supporting these young, hopeful minds with projects that channel their creative energy is truly meaningful for us.”

Curator Erhan Vural explained the theme as follows: “Concrete is not just a singular material seen in buildings; it is the embodied final form of a broad network where multidimensional interactions, technical and computational processes, digital design practices, and social relationships intertwine. The ‘Network’ theme emphasizes the interconnectedness of the fundamental components and production processes of concrete. It reflects a dynamic and multi-layered relationship network that starts with the chemical structures of cement, water, and aggregate, and continues through the stages of production, design, and implementation—each component and process forming complex connections within a holistic system.”

The names of the students accepted into the Betonart Architecture Summer School will be announced on June 2, 2025.

www.betonartyazokulu.com