Gökhan Karakus is a significant figure in architecture, design, and technology in Turkey. Born in Mardin, Nusaybin, Karakuş studied in the United States before returning to Turkey to participate in various projects. He currently manages his own design studio, Emedya Design. We talked with Karakuş about the importance of natural stone in architecture and its contemporary applications.
Could you tell our readers a bit about yourself?”
My name is Gökhan Karakuş. I was born in Nusaybin in Mardin. My father, Kadir Karakus was an engineer with the DSI who was working on one of the large hydroelectric projects built in Turkiye in the second half of the 20th century. I was brought up in this setting of engineering, construction and architecture in Turkiye at that time. My family is from the town of Niksar in Tokat which is has a rich past. I grew up in and around the stone architecture of the Seljuk Period in Niksar such as the Danismend period Ulu Mosque. My father later went to the United States for education. Our family also when there and I grew up primarily in the New York area. I went to Vassar College and Columbia University in New York. Both of these schools were strong in architecture, architecture history and theory which became my focus. Later in the late 1990s i moved to Istanbul from New York to work in technology. I’ve been here in Turkiye ever since working in architecture, design, technology and education. Currently I have a design studio, Emedya Design where we design in stone is one of our focuses working with leading firms such as Silkar Stone, Alimoglu and IMIB/EMIB.
What is the importance of natural stone in contemporary Turkish architecture?
The important of nature stone in architecture in Turkiye is extremely strong. As we have recently seen from archaeological excavations in Turkiye such as Gobelkitepe and Karahantepe, the geography we inhabit has been the source of architecture and specifically architecture in stone since the dawn of human civilization. We the current residents of this area are the heirs to this heritage. Past civilizations that have lived in this area such as the Luwians, Hitites, Myecenean Greeks, Assyrians, Greeks, Romans, Byzantines, Seljuk Turks and Ottomans have left us important examples of architecture and architecture in stone that are central to our understanding of habitation. Modern Turkiye continues these traditions in stone architecture , we as Turkish citizens today continue these traditions, it is our responsibility to continue to advance architecture in stone with the means we have in architecture, design and technology in a sustainable way. It is our job to pass on this knowledge of archtitecture in stone to future generations and the rest of the world. That is why we need to develop contemporary architecture in stone in Turkiye, In 2014, I wrote a book, Contemporary Turkish Architecture in Stone published by IMIB. I was able to find many examples of contemporary architecture by our leading architects and my job is to continue to encourage more architects in Turkiye and the world to use our stone in contemporary architecture.
What role does natural stone play in the transition from traditional to contemporary Turkish architecture?
The move from traditional to contemporary architecture in stone Turkiye has been gradual but also has been geographic. If we look for example in the architecture of the Aegean and Mediterranean many architects are still using traditional means of building with stone masonry and with dry wall techniques. We can see the likes of Cengiz Bektas, Turgut Cansever, Nevzat Sayin, Han Tumertekin that have design buildings using vernacular stone construction techniques. WE have also seen that in our large scale urban architecture dating from the early 20th century the extensive use of stone as cladding in line with the architecture of the modern period. Emin Onat’s Anitkabir and the extensive use of travertine cladding and was reliefs and Sedad Hakki Eldem and Emin Onat’s İstanbul Üniversitesi Fen ve Edebiyat Fakülteleri being an example of the use of stone cladding specifically marble. Later at the end of the 20th century we had many architects using stone cladding techniques in creative ways such as Gokhan Avicoglu’s One and Ortakoy with its wavy organic facade in Unye stone and Emre Arolat’s Sancaklar Mosque with it’s extensive stone work cladding. Today younger architects such as Omer Selcuk Baz and Alper Derinbogaz are using stone in a structural way which I think is an important step and part of my own work in Research and Development in structural stone architecture.
What is the reasoning behind your choice to use natural stone in your projects?
I’m a designer working on research in the possibilities of design in stone. As such I’ve tried to work with the expressive power of natural stone. In my first series of marble mosaics, Hyperarchaic Tectonics we did with Silkar Stone we explored the possibilities of water jet mosaics with advanced goemetries and tiling systems. We used many different colors of marble that Turkiye is known for to create these complex relief mosaics. Later I pursued mosaics again on 3d dimensional surfaces with Silkar Stone that we exhibited in Milan Design Week at IMIB’s Turkish Stone Library that we also designed. My work in structural stone led me to work with the Istanbul area limestone Kufeki which we implemented at Piyalepasa’s Gul Baba park with different geometric and natural textures and surfaces, exploring the textural possibilities of stone surfaces through craft. In our Gul Baba project we brought the Kufeki stone directly for the quarry to the construction site which is a research area I am working on now. That is to say, using the cutting systems of natural stone quarries to create structural and expressive forms of natural stone design. And lastly, we have designed the Aurora series of stackable vases using Alimolglu Izmir’s Travercolor infilled color travertine product. Aurora allows for different combinations of color in bands like an Aurora that can modularly stacked in different combinations. Travercolor extends the possibility of commercial grade travertine for sustainability purposes.
What are your thoughts on the role of natural stone in contemporary architectural trends?
In recent years, the architecture and design industries have seen a resurgence in the use of natural stone, driven by both aesthetic preferences and a commitment to sustainability. This resurgence is characterized by several key trends that reflect a broader movement towards more responsible, adaptable, and innovative uses of this timeless material. I think we in the Turkish stone sector hase be aware of these trends as the world is quickly changing and our competitors in China, Italy, France, UK are keenly aware.
A central focus has been on sustainability and ethical sourcing. Recently at the Surfaces Design Fair in London I spoke on natural from Turkiye for the EIB and the first question I was asked is the carbon footprint of brining natural stone from Turkiye to the UK. As environmental concerns become increasingly paramount, architects and designers are prioritizing the use of ethically sourced stone that adheres to stringent environmental standards and supports local communities. This trend extends to the recycling of natural stone materials, making use of remnants and reclaimed pieces to minimize waste.
Another significant trend is the integration of biophilic design principles, which aim to connect building occupants more closely with nature. I have worked extensively leading efforts in biophilic design with designs for the Memorial Hospitals Group, Polat Gayrimenkul and Silkar Stone. By using stone in ways that highlight its inherent beauty—its texture, color, and form—designers are able to enhance the natural aesthetics of both interior and exterior spaces, creating environments that are calming and inspiring. I look at a building such as the Perelman Performing Arts Center in New York by Rex Architects with its sandwich marble facade an example of this. We need to do more of this in Turkiye as a leader in biophilic design in natural stone. I am working now on some biophilic designs with my design studio, Emeyda Design trying to advance this topic.
The spare and simple approach in modern architecture also plays a significant role in the use of natural stone. This trend emphasizes clean, simple lines that allow the natural characteristics of the stone to stand out. Advances in technology have facilitated the production of large, seamless stone surfaces and thinner, lighter slabs that are easier to handle and install, supporting a sleek, uncluttered look.
Technological advancements, particularly in digital fabrication technologies like CNC milling and robotic arm cutting, have opened new possibilities in stone construction. These technologies allow for the creation of complex and precise designs that were previously not feasible, enabling architects to explore new forms and patterns. For example, in New York the Brooklyn Tower by Shop Architects has a facade of highly articulated pieces in marble from Turkiye using digital fabrication and handcraft from Turkiye.
There’s also a growing trend to blend old and new, integrating traditional stone masonry with contemporary design elements. This approach not only respects and preserves the historical craftsmanship associated with stone but also adapts it to modern contexts, creating a dialogue between the past and present. We can see this in Turkiye for example in GAD ARchitecture’s Divan Kurucesme where there many examples of stone masonry techniques mixed with modern design.
Finally, the trend towards multifunctional and adaptive use of spaces reflects the premium on urban space. Stone is being chosen for its durability and longevity, key qualities for buildings that need to adapt to multiple uses over time which we see in Turkiye for example in the work of Han Tumertekin.
Together, these trends showcase a field that is both looking back to its roots in traditional stone craftsmanship and forward to the possibilities of modern technology and sustainable design. This dual focus is helping to push the boundaries of what can be achieved with natural stone in architecture.
What do you think about the potential for Turkish architects to lead in the use of natural stone? What advice would you give to young architects in this field?
The potential of architecture and design in stone is vast. I encourage all young architects and designers to immediately look around and see what local stones are from their geography in Turkiye from marble and travertine to basalt and limestone. Turkiye has a vast quantity of natural stone that we should be able to use in sustainable and ecological way. It is up to the next generation of architects to solve this sustainability issue. I also encourage the possibilities of digital fabrication in CNC and craft by hand. In Turkey we have both and young architects should be able to use both of them to create unique designs which I have the opportunity to see every year as jury member of the Izfas Marble Izmir trade fair, Degisik design competition.
Can you share some details about a few of your projects and their unique features with our readers?
My new projects focus on structural stone architecture and craft. We at Emedya Design with designer Gozde Kavacli Eren are working on new designs for mosaic stone in 3d. We hope to have a new collection designed for the
Fall of 2024. Our Aurora collection with Alimoglu is now on sale in Turkiye and Qatar and we hope to promote sales of Aurora collection in Travercolor in the UK, USA and China. I’m working now on a research project where I am focusing on digital cutting techniques in the quarry, using the quarry as a site of fabrication. In the way we create building blocks for structural stone architecture directly in the quarry and send them to the construction site for construction. This process intends to reduce the carbon footprint of construction and create less waste from the quarrying process. This is a project I am pursuing with colleagues in Turkiye such as Hasan Burak Alimoglu of Alimoglu Marble Izmir and in the UK such as architect Amin Taha. I am continuing my study of archaeology and stone architecture using the concept of archaeotecture. I have been cooperating with Prof. Ferda Kolatan of the University of Pennsylvania Weitzman School of Architecture in Philadelphia on a book on Cappadocia with the support of Gokhan Avcioglu’s GAD Foundation. And lastly I continue my almost 15 years efforts to help in the exports of Turkish natural stone with the Aegean Exporter’s Assembly, Istanbul Mineral Exporters’ Association and the the Marble Izmir trade fair. I hope to do more of this.
+90 532 585 51 95
+90 532 585 51 95