Arolat Keynote Speaker At La Biennale Di Venezia

As part of the 16th International Architecture Exhibition – La Biennale di Venezia in Venice, Italy, Emre Arolat participated as the first keynote speaker in the “Vardiya/Shift” roundtable within the Pavilion of Turkey which was curated by Kerem Piker and coordinated by the Istanbul Foundation for Culture and Arts (IKSV).

From his aspiration to become a car racer to his collaboration with his parents – and until his latest professional attempts to expand his architecture practice internationally – Arolat gave an overview of his personal and professional development with a focus on his understanding of context and specificity in architecture. Starting with a brief criticism on the capitalist context shaping the urban landscape of Turkey, he then juxtaposed his personal approach through two of his works: Sancaklar Mosque in Istanbul and Nora Mosque and Community Center in Ajman. Pointing to his interest in atmospheric architecture, he presented these works as reinterpretations of the mosque structure. By understanding its fundamentals, he redefined the mosque in its contemporary form as a place of gathering and contemplation.

To watch the lecture, please visit Vardiya’s Youtube channel.