TraMod TALKS with Dr. Ali Derya Dostoğlu
Read Javad Eiraji`s Exclusive Talk with
Award-Winning Architect, Academician & Co-Founder of Per Se Architecture
Dr. Ali Derya Dostoğlu
Thinking about architecture in the context of the relationship between tradition and modernity is important in overcoming our today`s problems
Javad Eiraji: Would you please share a short biography of yourself and your professional activities and firm with us
Ali Derya Dostoğlu: I was born in Philadelphia. After graduating from Galatasaray High School, I started my formation in undergraduate architecture at Ecole Nationale Supérieure d’Architecture de Paris-Belleville and finished my studies at Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University in 2009, as first of my class. I was awarded Graduate Scholarship and Merit Based Scholarship from Pratt Institute, New York, where I received a Master of Science in Architecture degree in 2011, as first of my class, graduating with Excellence in Academic Achievement and Pratt Circle awards. In 2018, I was a visiting researcher at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) as part of my PhD study at Istanbul Technical University Architectural Design Program, and received my doctorate in 2024. I worked as a teaching assistant at Pratt Institute and Istanbul Bilgi University, where I also taught as an adjunct faculty at the Department of Interior Design, in 2016-2017 and in 2021. In 2021-2022, I was among the tutors of the Architectural Application Project Studio at Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University, Department of Architecture. Since 2015, I pursue my practice at Per Se Architecture, as its co-founder. Per Se’s works have been published at various national and international publications. Çoker House, EMKO Electronics Factory, Çağlayan & Alper House and Baruthane projects have been selected for Turkey Architecture Yearbook 2019, 2021, 2022 and 2023, respectively. Together with my partner Uğur Özer, I was included in the 2023 edition of the Emerging Architects Selection and Exhibition organized by the Circle. There are national and international architectural project competitions in which we participated as an office and received awards
Javad Eiraji: What are the main factors which have effect on Tradition in your idea? What is Tradition
Ali Derya Dostoğlu: Tradition is an important element that creates the context of the architectural project and makes the project belong to the place
Javad Eiraji: What is the relationship between tradition and modernity? Is it needed they have relationship
Ali Derya Dostoğlu: There is an inevitable relationship between tradition and modernity. In the age of communication and information we live in, we are surrounded by modernity. However, we have the opportunity to decide to what extent we will touch upon tradition
Javad Eiraji: How tradition can be added to today`s contemporary architecture and design? How can we create a dialogue between past and today
Ali Derya Dostoğlu: The contact of tradition with contemporary architecture can occur in different ways. Construction systems, materials and formal references, all pave the way for establishing a dialogue between tradition and today
Javad Eiraji: How much do you pay attention to identity, culture and traditions in your own projects? And how do you create interaction between these and today`s needs of users
Ali Derya Dostoğlu: There are various housing projects in Ayvacık that we designed and implemented. In these projects, we try to learn something from local architecture. Using local materials whenever possible and working with local craftsmen teams made the houses in question suitable for the context in which they are located. However, we strive to develop solutions that meet the needs of employers, especially when designing interior spaces
Javad Eiraji: May interaction between tradition and modernity happen in all contexts and societies? Is there any limitation in this happening
Ali Derya Dostoğlu: The relationship between tradition and modernity can be established in every context. As a matter of fact, as can be seen in my answer to the first question, tradition is a very broad concept that makes the project belong to the place, related to form, function, construction systems, materials. Therefore, every architectural project can be considered as the interface of the relationship between tradition and modernity
Javad Eiraji: Which factors (forms, meaning, function, user) must be studied in combination of tradition and modernity in architecture
Ali Derya Dostoğlu: I think all the factors you mentioned should be evaluated. If you ask me, we cannot think of these separately from each other
