Emre Ozdemir: HM of the Re-Draw.05

+ Emre Ozdemir 🇹🇷

Honourable Mention of the Re-Draw.05: Nakagin Capsule Tower

Portfolio: https://www.non-a.com/members/emre/portfolio/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emreozdemir_emreo/

1) Could you briefly introduce yourself?

I am a Brooklyn-based Architectural Designer, XR Developer, Multimedia Artist, and Educator with over ten years of experience in architectural design and developing immersive experiences. Currently, I am teaching design studios at the Pratt Institute. Designing spaces, experiences, and digital products from conceptualization to deployment and translating complex design concepts into engaging lessons are some of my superpowers. In my works, I aim to uniquely blend different mediums and emergent technologies while focusing on designing innovative and meaningful interactions between individuals and spaces.

2) What inspired you for the Re-Draw.05?

The profound futuristic architecture of Nakagin Capsule Tower was the primary inspiration for my design in Re-Draw 05. As a movement Metabolism’s avant-garde approach to urban lifestyle, population dynamics, climate change, production, and space age was truly unique for its time. Also, the confluence of the Metabolism movement with the emergence of Anime/Manga in the 70s reflects a broader cultural narrative specific to Japan intertwining modernity with a speculative and futuristic worldview. Nakagin Capsule Tower was the pinnacle of that uncanny worldview and Metabolism movement. 

3) Can you describe any particular challenges you faced during the design process and how
you overcame them?

During my design journey, I wanted to create a fictional future that reimagines the tower as a space station as if it had not been demolished but ascended to space ( where it belongs). In order to make this fictional future more plausible, I needed to add a lot of meticulous details and diversity that would make sense. As a solution, I immersed myself in the world of anime and analyzed their unique approach to world-building and storytelling. If you look carefully there are some easter eggs from various anime worlds.

4) How do you think your educational background or professional experiences influenced your winning design?

I always have had a passion for including narratives and creating fictional worlds during my architectural studies. Storytelling is often overlooked in the architectural design process because of the pragmatic nature of education and industry.  My professional knowledge helped me meticulously manage details and master the intricacies of 3D modeling of my proposal. Also, my personal inclination on speculative design played a pivotal role in shaping the final outcome.

5) What advice would you give to students or young professionals looking to excel in architecture competitions?

Architectural competitions serve as invaluable learning platforms that extend beyond the formal boundaries of architectural education. They present unique opportunities for young architects/students to assimilate new methodologies, discover diverse ideas, and master various tools. I would strongly encourage students and young professionals to actively participate in various design competitions as much as they can, and bring their unique visions of the future to the table. Prioritizing future-forward design thinking and conceptualizing unthinkable speculative ideas would be the best strategy for competitions.

6) What are your future aspirations in the field of architecture?

Thinking about the future is extremely critical in the ever-evolving landscape of architecture. The advent of emergent technologies and global urgencies poses paradigm shifts, necessitating a transformative approach to both theory and practice in the architectural design field. In order to ensure our creative agency for the future we need to invent new modalities to adapt and contribute to this transformation. My agenda for the future is to combine emerging technologies (AI, XR, Spatial Computing, Human-Computer Interaction) with spatial design and explore and invent new aesthetic approaches.