Aslı Aydın Aksan is an architect and academic. Her research and teaching focus on shape computation, basic design education, craft studies, material and making processes in the design, and fabrication of experimental prototypes.
Aslı taught first-year design studios at Istanbul Bilgi University and Gebze Technical University. She also taught ‘design geometry’ and ‘design computing’ courses at Istanbul Bilgi University and ‘computer applications in architecture’ and ‘introduction to computational design in architecture’ courses at Gebze Technical University. She has supervised fabrication laboratories in both schools. She has tutored in several national and international workshops, among which are AA Istanbul Visiting Schools.
Aslı practiced architecture in various scales and work environments. She designed a community space for a municipality (freelance collaboration). She worked in two zoo projects, mainly responsible for the design of architectural features and buildings (freelance consultation and in architectural office). She designed and produced two installations (freelance collaboration). She worked in housing renovation projects in the design, tear down and construction stages (in architectural offices and as a freelance).
EDUCATION
2015 - 2022 Istanbul Technical University [ITU], Istanbul
Ph.D. Candidate in Architectural Design Computing Program - Unfinished
2011 - 2014 Istanbul Technical University [ITU], Istanbul
MSc in Architectural Design Computing Program - Scientific Research Projects grant
2008 - 2009 Institute of Advanced Architecture of Catalonia [IaaC], Barcelona
MAA in Emergent Territories Track
2004 - 2008 Middle East Technical University [METU], Ankara
BArch in the Department of Architecture
WORK EXPERIENCE / EMPLOYMENT
2022-2023 Intern at Fablab Amsterdam / Waag
Prepared and tutored Maker Skills Courses,
Giving guided tours of the lab,
Conducted open Thursdays and assisted people with the realization of their projects,
Assisted in several workshops and FabAcademy Bootcamp,
Custom g-code generation and pen plotter for 3d printing,
Final Project: open source 4 shaft weaving loom
2010 - Freelance Architect/Designer
4 architectural design competition entries (1 entry shortlisted),
2 Installation designs,
Design and parametric design consultation,
Single-family summer house design (built),
Urban open space and communal facility buildings design (approved to be built by the municipality) - project received Scientific Research Projects grant from Kocaeli University
2021 Istanbul Bilgi University - Part-time Instructor / Online Education
Instructed course:
- ARCH112 / ID102 / IND102 : Basic Design 2 (Spring semester)
2015 - 2018 Architectural Association (AA) Istanbul Visiting Schools - Workshop Tutor
https://istanbul.aaschool.ac.uk/
2013 - 2017 Istanbul Bilgi University - Instructor, Research Assistant
Instructed courses:
- ARCH111 / ID101 / IND101 : Basic Design 1 (Fall semester)
- ARCH112 / ID102 / IND102 : Basic Design 2 (Spring semester)
- ARCH113 / ID113 / IND113 : Architectural/Design Geometry (Fall semester)
- ARCH114 / ID114 / IND114 : Design Computing (Spring semester)
Assisted courses:
- ID211 : Technical Studies 1: Materials and Manufacturing (2013, Fall semester)
- ID212 : Tech. Studies 2: Materials and Manufacturing (2014, Spring semester)
Fabrication laboratory supervisor for the Dept. of Architecture (https://yap.bilgi.edu.tr/)
2012 - 2013 Gebze Technical University - Instructor, Research Assistant
Instructed courses:
- ARCH 121: Architectural Design 1
- ARCH 122: Architectural Design 2
- ARCH 102: Computer Applications in Architecture
- ARCH 216: Computational Design in Architecture
Founded and supervised the fabrication laboratory [CoDeMaLab] with Miray Baş Yıldırım
2011 - 2012 Berna Bora Design - Architect
2010 - 2012 Ekodenge Architecture - Architect
2009 - 2010 FEMA Architecture - Architect
PUBLICATIONS
Book Chapters
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Erdine, E., Aydin, A., Bingöl, C. K., Gündüz, G., Rodriguez, A. L., & Showkatbakhsh, M. (2019). Robot-Aided Fabrication of Materially Efficient Complex Concrete Assemblies. In J.-H. Lee (Eds.), “Hello, Culture!” (pp. 454-472).
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Aydın A., Özkar, M. (2015). Material Computability of Indeterminate Plaster Behavior. In G. Celani, D.M. Sperling, J.M.S. Franco (Eds.), The Next City: New Technologies and the Future of the Built Environment (pp. 582–599). Berlin: Springer.
Articles in Refereed Journals
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Aydın Aksan, A , Çakıcı Alp, N , Baş Yıldırım, M . (2016). The Marks from the Pull-Push-Sit Experience. In Artium , 4 (2) , pp. 0-0.
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Çakıcı Alp, N., Baş Yıldırım, M., Aydın Aksan, A. (2016). Meeting in the Public Space … Kocaeli Değirmendere Town Square and Public Park Planning. In Artium (1), pp. 43-57.
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Çakıcı Alp, N., Baş Yıldırım, M., Aydın, A. (2014). Işık Gölge Arayüzünde: Bir Sayısal Tasarım ve Üretim Sürecini Öğrencilerle Deneyimlemek. In Mimarist, Winter 2014, 49. pp. 76-81.
Conference Proceedings
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Özsel Akipek, F., Yazar, T., Aydın, A. (2016). Prototypes for Performance Based Design-Research: URBAN GARDEN STRUCTURES. In 10th National Symposium of Computational Design in Architecture, ENCOUNTERS: CRISES AND OPPORTUNITIES Proceeding Book. pp. 240-251.
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Aydın A., Özkar, M. (2013). Between Form and Material: the digital computability of indeterminate plaster behavior. In 7th National Symposium of Computational Design in Architecture: Digital Design, Entropy and Creativity Proceeding Book. pp. 161-168.
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Aydın, A., Boyacıoğlu, C. (2013). Genetik Algoritmayla Üretilmiş Bir Ekolojik Mutualist Kabuk Önerisi. In 7th National Symposium of Computational Design in Architecture: Digital Design, Entropy and Creativity. pp. 65-73.
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Boyacıoğlu, C., Aydın, A. (2012). Ekolojik Mimari Kabuk ve Ekosistem Arasında Bir Simbiyoz Arayışı: Mutualist Kabuk. In Sustainable Building Design National Conference Proceedings.
Magazine Article
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Baş Yıldırım, M., Aydın, A., Çakıcı Alp, N. (2016). Oynamak için Tasarla. In YAPI Dergisi, 413 April. pp. 136-141.
CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS
"Prototypes for Performance Based Design-Research: URBAN GARDEN STRUCTURES" (with Fulya Özsel Akipek, Tuğrul Yazar)
10th National Symposium of Computational Design in Architecture, 27-28 June, 2016
Istanbul Bilgi University, Istanbul - Turkey
"Material Computability of Indeterminate Plaster Behavior"
CAAD Futures 2015, International Conference, 6-10 July, 2015
Unicamp, Sao Paulo - Brasil
"Between Form and Material: the digital computability of indeterminate plaster behavior"
"Genetik Algoritmayla Üretilmiş Bir Ekolojik Mutualist Kabuk Önerisi"
7th National Symposium of Computational Design in Architecture, 27-28 June, 2013
Istanbul Technical University, Istanbul - Turkey
NETWORK and PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES
2018 - 2020 FABLAB Valby, Copenhagen, Denmark Superuser (Volunteer)
2018 Copenhagen Maker Festival 2018, Copenhagen, Denmark Hospitality and Production Setup Volunteer
2017 CAADFutures Conference 2017, Istanbul, Turkey Organization Volunteer
2016 Kocaeli University - Scientific Research Projects Coordination Unit, Research Grant (project: Urban Planning of Değirmendere Town Square and Its Vicinity with Digital Design and Production Tools, with Neşe Çakıcı Alp, Miray Baş Yıldırım)
2016 10th National Symposium of Computational Design in Architecture Member of Symposium Organization Committee, Proceeding Book Editor, Proceeding Book Design and Typesetting
2014 MOBBIG (National Communication Group of Architecture Schools’ Department Heads) Meeting Member of Meeting Organization Committee
2013-2014 Istanbul Technical University - Scientific Research Projects Coordination Unit, Research Grant (project: Material Computability of Becoming Forms, with Mine Özkar)
TUTORED WORKSHOPS
Robotic Mediations, AA Istanbul Visiting School, 25 June - 06 July, 2018
Istanbul Bilgi University & Architectural Association, Istanbul - Turkey (w/ Koray Bingöl, Elif Erdine, Gamze Gündüz, Alvaro Lopez Rodriguez, Milad Showkatbakhsh, Şebnem Yalınay and Teaching Asst:Yıldırım Erbaz, İlayda Keskinaslan)
Robotic Mediations, AA Istanbul Visiting School, 28 June - 07 July, 2017
Istanbul Bilgi University & Architectural Association, Istanbul - Turkey (w/ Koray Bingöl, Elif Erdine, Gamze Gündüz, Benay Gürsoy, Alexandros Kallegias, Alvaro Lopez Rodriguez, Şebnem Yalınay & Teaching Asst.: Elif Soylu, İlkan Cemre Acar)
Tectonic Symbiosis, AA Istanbul Visiting School, 13-22 June, 2016
Istanbul Bilgi University & Architectural Association, Istanbul - Turkey (w/ Koray Bingöl, Elif Erdine, Gamze Gündüz, Benay Gürsoy, Alexandros Kallegias, Efe Gözen, Şebnem Yalınay)
Cellular Re-Visions, AA Istanbul Visiting School, 15-24 June, 2015
Istanbul Bilgi University & Architectural Association, Istanbul - Turkey (w/ Koray Bingöl, Dağhan Çam, Elif Erdine, Gamze Gündüz, Benay Gürsoy, Alexandros Kallegias, Şebnem Yalınay, Tuğrul Yazar)
Pull Push Sit, Digitally Design and Fabricate, 31 May - 01 June, 2014
Kocaeli University, Kocaeli - Turkey (w/ Neşe Çakıcı Alp, Miray Baş Yıldırım)
Design to Play, Digitally Design and Fabricate, 23-24 November, 2013
Gebze Technical University, Kocaeli - Turkey (w/ Neşe Çakıcı Alp, Miray Baş Yıldırım)
Between Light and Shadow, Digitally Design and Fabricate, 14-18 March, 2013
Kocaeli University, Kocaeli - Turkey (w/ Neşe Çakıcı Alp, Miray Baş Yıldırım)
Com.maned, Zıvanadan Çık - Bi' Sürü, 15-19 February, 2012
Yıldız Technical University, Istanbul - Turkey (w/ Faruk Can Ünal)
LANGUAGES
Turkish native, English professional, Spanish intermediate, Danish intermediate, Dutch A2
INTERESTS
Jazz Dance, Weaving, Crocheting, Making, Folding Paper, Geometry