Rönesans is a world-leading project development and construction group, building for a better society.
Primarily in Turkey and the Netherlands, but also in other European countries, CIS countries, the Far East, and the Caribbean,
we operate as a main contractor and investor in the construction, real estate, health, energy, and petrochemistry sectors.
We believe a sustainable future can only be achieved through collaboration with future generations.
This year marks the ninth edition of the 'Design the Sustainable Future' competition. Our goal is to collaborate with university students, who represent the professionals of the future, to generate sustainable ideas that will shape the future.
Our objectives are: -To foster the culture of 'sustainability' among university students, ensuring that future generations inhabit healthier and environmentally friendly buildings. -To correctly identify project requirements for waste reduction and standardize techniques and methods. -To facilitate collaboration among students from various departments, encouraging teamwork and idea sharing. -To raise awareness about R&D projects related to innovation, sustainable technologies, lean construction, and green systems. -To develop alternative solutions to global issues, such as the climate crisis, by fostering different perspectives.
Subject and Theme of the Competition
The 9th edition of the 'Design the Sustainable Future' inter-university idea and project competition is centered around the theme 'Biomimicry - Create Impact Inspired by Nature!'
Biomimicry
The concept of Biomimicry is based on the principle of incorporating the proven capabilities of natural systems, discovered through experience and observation, into our designs and processes. This understanding is grounded in the premise that nature, having developed sustainable, harmonious designs, preserving resources, and perpetuating its forms and functions over time, has already devised solutions to many of the challenges currently on our agenda. Like engineers, animals and plants evolve systems to find solutions to ensure their survival and longevity.
Organisms often develop characteristics to address life challenges, and these traits may share commonalities with the issues we encounter in our lives.
The imperative to take precautions against challenges like climate change, natural disasters, and the environmental impacts of population growth is now an undeniable reality. By studying nature, we recognize the potential to derive solutions for our problems by drawing upon analogous approaches living organisms use to address and overcome challenges.
Competition Categories
Building Design Category: This category includes building projects designed with the principle of Biomimicry that align with at least one of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
Product Design Category: This category is open to product designs inspired by nature using the Biomimicry approach. Designs should not harm the environment and society but rather contribute to meeting our needs. Submissions should also align with at least one of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
Social Innovation Category: In this category, we encourage participants to share ideas that offer solutions to social and/or environmental issues without any specific department, field, or class limitations. For instance, participants can contribute by developing an idea or a new system to improve application methods or processes. The focus is on enhancing social sustainability and improving environmental and/or social conditions.
Awards
Design the Sustainable Future "Biomimicry - Creating Impact by Drawing Inspiration from Nature!" Awards
First Prize** 50,000 TRY
Second Prize 40,000 TRY
Third Prize 30,000 TRY
Honorable Mention 20,000 TRY
Urban Development and Evaluation 20,000 TRY
Innovative Idea and Detailed Solution 20,000 TRY
Good Practice 20,000 TRY
Visual Design 20,000 TRY
In the case of group participation, the prize money will be divided equally among the group members. As an initiative of Rönesans Holding, the first-place winners may also be offered a 1-week training/internship opportunity at Ballast Nedam, a group company of Rönesans Holding.
Selection Jury
Academic Jury
Product Design
Assoc. Prof. Aykut Coşkun - Koç University He obtained his Bachelor's, Master's, and PhD degrees from the Department of Industrial Design at Middle East Technical University (METU). Between 2014 and 2015, he was a Fulbright Visiting Research Fellow at the Human-Computer Interaction Institute at Carnegie Mellon University. His research focuses on sustainability in design, design for behavior change, design methods, and interaction design.
Asst. Prof. Süha Süzen – Selçuk University He graduated from the Middle East Technical University (METU) Faculty of Architecture, Department of Industrial Design in 2008. He has worked as an expert in design, served as a referee for the KOSGEB and TÜBİTAK BIGG Projects, and participated as a jury member in various national design competitions. He has taught numerous courses, including product design, design management, ergonomics, business management, and sustainability. He has earned a total of 11 awards in various design competitions, with 8 international awards and 3 national awards.
Dr. Aydın ÖZTOPRAK, Head of TOBB ETU Industrial Design Department He obtained his Bachelor's (2001), Master's (2004), and PhD (2011) degrees from the Department of Industrial Design at Middle East Technical University (METU). As a Fulbright Visiting Research Fellow, he conducted user experience research at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Upon returning to Türkiye, he played a role in establishing the TOBB ETU Industrial Design Department. He founded the TOBB ETU Medical Products Design Center, led various research projects supported by TUBITAK, and currently serves as the Head of the TOBB ETU Industrial Design Department, Chair of ETMK Board of Directors, and manager of Proda Industrial Design Ltd. He continues his research in the fields of computer-aided design, industrial design processes in SMEs, smart products, and the environment.
Building Design
Asst. Prof. Mahmut Atilla Söğüt – Mimar Sinan Fine Art University He obtained his Bachelor's, Master's, and Proficiency in Art degrees from the Department of Interior Architecture and Environmental Design at Mimar Sinan Fine Art University. He has conducted studies in the field of Sustainability and Biomimicry.
Asst. Prof. Güzide Atasoy Özcan – Middle East Technical University (METU) She obtained her Bachelor's and Master's degrees from the Department of Civil Engineering at Middle East Technical University. She completed her PhD in Civil Engineering at Carnegie Mellon University. Her research interests include smart building operations, building energy performance, and risk management.
Assoc. Prof. Betül Bilge Özdamar- Başkent University She graduated from Bilkent University's Department of Interior Architecture and Environmental Design. She completed her Master's and Proficiency in Art degrees at Hacettepe University. Her research interests include sustainability as well as flexible and changeable space design.
Social Innovation
Assoc. Prof. Belgin Bahar – Galatasaray University She obtained her Bachelor's degree in Business Administration at Dokuz Eylül University, her Master's degree in Marketing Communication at Galatasaray University, and her PhD in Business Administration at Bordeaux University in France. She teaches courses such as Business Ethics, Entrepreneurship, Management, and Organization. She has produced several national and international publications on ethical leadership, corporate social responsibility, corporate reputation management, and sustainability.
RA İlke Candar - Bilkent University For her Bachelor's degree, she completed a double major in Psychology and Sociology at Koç University. During that time, she received certification training in Gender and Society. She completed her Master's degree in Social Psychology at Bilkent University. Her research interests include environmental psychology.
Prof. Dr. Yeşim Tanrıvermiş - Ankara University In 2002, after graduating from Ankara University, Department of Agricultural Economics, she completed her Master's degree in Agricultural Economics in 2004. In 2011, she was awarded her PhD at Ankara University, Department of Real Estate Development and Management, representing the first PhD graduate in this field, and she subsequently started working in the department as a lecturer. She worked as an Assistant Professor in 2016 and became an Associate Professor in 2018 at Ankara University Faculty of Applied Sciences, Department of Real Estate Development and Management. She has been working as a Professor since 2023. She has published articles in many indexed national/international journals and made presentations at domestic/international conferences. She is the author of scientific reports and books on many valuation projects with the Ankara University Real Estate Development and Management Department. She teaches courses on real estate valuation and applications, land economics and management, real estate valuation theory and applications, expropriation and resettlement, real estate economics and management, and protected areas management at the undergraduate and graduate levels. She continues her consultancy and expert witness activities in research projects. She is a member of the Faculty Board, Vice President of the Department, and a member of the Rent Determination Commission of Ankara University. She was the founding president of the Real Estate Development and Management Association and a member of the Board of Directors of the Turkish Appraisers Association for two terms. She is also a member of MRICS.
Expert Jury
Building Design
Mehmet Baytan - Architectural Design Director - Rönesans Holding He graduated from Middle East Technical University, Department of Architecture, and earned his Master's degree in Building Sciences from Middle East Technical University, Department of Architecture. With 19 years of professional experience, he has worked on and managed various functions and scale projects.
Eda Aydın - Architectural Design Manager - Rönesans Holding She graduated from Middle East Technical University's Department of Architecture. She has worked in executive positions by coordinating the design and implementation of large-scale projects in Türkiye and abroad.
Social Innovation
Att. Burcu Çetinkaya Destek - Legal Counsel - Rönesans Holding She graduated from Ankara University Faculty of Law and completed her Master's degree at Ankara University, Department of Real Estate Development and Management.
Betül Selcen Özer - The Good Factor - Social Good Manager She graduated from Middle East Technical University's Department of Sociology and earned her Master's degree from Hacettepe University Institute of Population Studies' Department of Economic and Social Demography. Over her 21 years in the civil society sector, she has worked with leading organizations such as Willows International, TURMEPA, Community Volunteers Foundation, and Tohum Autism Foundation, focusing on reproductive health, the environment, children, youth, education, and disability.
Mehru Aygül - The Good Factor - Social Good Manager With 21 years of experience in the civil society sector, she has served as the General Manager of the Turkish Entrepreneurship Foundation since its establishment. Additionally, she is a founding member of the board of trustees of the Community Volunteers Foundation (www.tog.org.tr), Türkiye's largest youth NGO, since 2002.
