INTERNATIONAL DESIGN COMPETITION
LOCAL CRAFT TRAINING INSTITUTE
RESULT
LOCAL CRAFT TRAINING INSTITUTE
Editorial reflection
The Local Craft Training Institute competition explored how architecture can preserve traditional craftsmanship while adapting it to contemporary needs. The proposals reimagined learning environments where skills are passed between generations, artisans are supported, and local crafts remain an active part of cultural and community life.
Beyond providing spaces for training and production, the designs examined how workshops, exhibitions, and public spaces can bring craftsmanship closer to people. They highlighted the potential of architecture to connect traditional knowledge with innovation, encourage community participation, and create opportunities for the economic sustainability of local crafts.
The submitted projects reflect diverse approaches to cultural preservation, spatial experience, and sustainable design. We congratulate all participants for their thoughtful contributions and thank our jury for recognizing the ideas that demonstrate how architecture can keep the legacy of craftsmanship alive while shaping its future.
EXPERTS
Jury Panel
Distinguished architects from around the world evaluate submissions with rigorous professional standards and creative insight.
01 First Place
Winner
Studio Khart
Nur Bahar Kılınç
Juror’s Comment:
STUDIO KHART presents a compelling architectural interpretation of Moroccan craftsmanship, using spatial sequencing, material expression, and traditional courtyard typologies to communicate the cultural significance of Zellige. The contrast between the restrained exterior and the richly articulated interior creates a strong sense of discovery, while perforated brick screens and shaded courtyards contribute to daylight modulation, ventilation, and comfortable communal spaces. The integration of workshops, educational facilities, exhibition areas, and social spaces supports the project's ambition to transmit artisanal knowledge across generations. The proposal's strongest quality lies in its ability to treat architecture not merely as a container for craft, but as an immersive medium through which craft can be experienced, learned, and celebrated.
Special Mention
Exceptional
The Loom
Rabiya Elif Hayırlı
Juror’s Comment:
A compelling architectural interpretation of weaving that transforms the relationship between warp and weft into a clear spatial and formal language. The integration of artisan workshops, educational spaces, exhibitions, and participatory outdoor areas establishes a meaningful connection between cultural preservation and contemporary public life. Its emphasis on intergenerational learning strengthens the project’s relevance beyond the building itself.
Honourable Mention
The Resonance of Craft in Avanos: Design Shaped by the Rhythm of Craft
Sadakat Safiyye Mumcuoğlu Türker & Süfyan Atallah
Juror’s Comment:
The Resonance of Craft in Avanos presents a compelling architectural interpretation of traditional craftsmanship through the dynamic geometry of a potter's wheel. The transformation of a simple circular form into a three-armed spiral establishes a strong conceptual foundation that informs the building's massing, circulation, and functional organization. The integration of pottery, copperwork, carpet weaving, and stone carving workshops with educational facilities, exhibition spaces, and retail areas creates a comprehensive environment for sustaining local craft traditions. The central gallery acts as a meaningful intersection between production, learning, and public engagement, while the permeable woven façade translates traditional material techniques into a contemporary architectural expression. The project's riverside setting and open courtyards further strengthen its potential to reconnect Avanos's craft heritage with everyday urban life.
Honourable Mention
Layered Traces
Yagmur Unal
Juror’s Comment:
LAYERED TRACES presents a thoughtful synthesis of traditional Kündekari craftsmanship, Seljuk architectural heritage, and contemporary educational programming. The fragmented building arrangement translates the craft’s modular logic into a sequence of interconnected spaces, while the geometric timber screens create a strong architectural identity through filtered daylight, intricate shadows, and material expression. The integration of archaeological remains as part of the public experience is a particularly valuable aspect, allowing the institute to function as both a place of learning and a setting for cultural interpretation. The proposal demonstrates strong contextual awareness and a clear relationship between architectural form and craft tradition.
Honourable Mention
The Hearth of Duodji
Serra Muzaffer Katırcıoğlu
Juror’s Comment:
A culturally sensitive and climate-responsive proposal that translates the communal spirit of the lavvu into a contemporary learning environment. The adaptable courtyard, specialized craft workshops, and seasonal community programming create a compelling framework for transmitting Sámi knowledge across generations.
Honourable Mention
The Shadow Passage
Irem Onay
Juror’s Comment:
The Shadow Passage presents a compelling interpretation of traditional Turkish shadow theatre through architecture. Its integration of craft workshops, exhibition spaces, research facilities, and public gathering areas creates a meaningful environment for preserving and transmitting cultural knowledge. The contrast between solid brick volumes and lightweight, translucent canopies translates the principles of light, shadow, and movement into a distinctive architectural language. The continuous public passage and carefully developed visual narrative strengthen the project's potential to connect artisans, students, and visitors while keeping traditional craftsmanship relevant to contemporary life.
Honourable Mention
Thermal Trace
Yerin Kim & Eugene Ahn
Juror’s Comment:
Thermal Trace presents a thoughtful architectural interpretation of Jeju Ong-gi pottery, translating the thermal transformations of traditional kiln firing into spatial form, material expression, and daylight strategies. The sculptural central Ong-gi core establishes a strong architectural identity, while the interconnected exhibition, educational, and research wings create a comprehensive environment for preserving and advancing the craft. The massing studies demonstrate a clear design evolution, and the differentiated lighting strategies reflect an understanding of how spatial atmosphere can support different activities. The integration of pottery production, display, learning, and public engagement gives the proposal considerable cultural and architectural value.
Celebrating Potential
Shortlisted Entries
Innovative ideas that stood out among hundreds of entries and earned a place in the final shortlist.
1. Design Title: Îmmersion
Winners Name: Doğa Özgen
2. Design Title: Vitreous Kiln
Winners Name: Beyzanur Özkan
3. Design Title: Rostov Finift: A Multifunctional Craft Complex in Rostov Veliky
Winners Name: Polina Bidylo
4. Design Title: Komorebi Kumiko Craft Institute
Winners Name: Meryem Nur Ertunç
5. Design Title: Linea Viva
Winners Name: Zeynep Bahar
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