[Super•positioning] - Thesis project by SCI-Arc M.Arch II ‘21 Graduate Burak Celik. Thesis Advisor: Kristy Balliet.

Continuing with Archinect's commitment to highlighting students and their academic work, we connected with SCI-Arc M.Arch II graduate Burak Celik. As the 2021 Gehry Prize Winner for best thesis, Celik talks to us about his project "Super•positioning." He uses Los Angeles as a backdrop for exploring architecture and its relationship between digital and analog, reality and speculation, and how the use of superpositioning allowed him to question other architectural perspectives. The word superposition is defined as "the placement of one thing above or on top of another" and "the combination of two distinct physical phenomena of the same type (such as spin or wavelength) so that they coexist as part of the same event." Celik uses this as the basis for thesis exploration.

"Today's digital culture would be embraced by architects not only as a means of software and tools but also as a complete architectural experience by the viewer," Celik explains and continues by sharing: "Through superpositioning, certain limitations like time, constructibility, and technology would be turned into an advantage in design and become the next turning point in architecture." Together, we also discuss his experiences as an M.Arch student at SCI-Arc, challenges he faced during the pandemic, and his thoughts on the industry post-graduation.

Archinect's Spotlight on 2021 Thesis Projects: Archinect's commitment to highlighting student work doesn't stop at simply sharing projects. Our editorial team focuses on connecting with students and asking questions to learn their process, architectural perspectives, and their take on the industry as young designers. 2020/21 has been a challenging year for all architecture graduates; to support the class of 2021, we've launched our summer series iteration of Archinect's Thesis Review to highlight the work of thesis students during this unique time of remote learning amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Be sure to follow our 2021 thesis tag to stay up to date as we release new project highlights.

My thesis understands superpositioning through the interplay between digital and analog, between cyberspace and real space, between augmented and virtual reality to uncover the latent structures within current post-digital aesthetics.

Please provide a brief summary of your thesis project.

My thesis understands superpositioning through the interplay between digital and analog, between cyberspace and real space, between augmented and virtual reality to uncover the latent structures within current post-digital aesthetics. Superpositioning is central to architecture. It brings into existence that there are new types of architectural edges and it questions how these new hybridities would present new potential sites of convergence in architectural discourse. 

Hologram has been increasingly popular in its attempts to link both digital and physical worlds. The technique involves Hologram/AR to visualize the data because it is a highly effective and available tool with today’s technology and a great tool with interactive features. With holograms, one can see, sense, and connect with art, events, and entertainment in greater depth than ever before. 

Today’s digital culture would be embraced by architects not only as a means of software and tools but also as a complete architectural experience by the viewer. Through superpositioning, certain limitations like time, constructibility, and technology would be turned into an advantage in design and become the next turning point in architecture. 

Superpositioning is central to architecture. It brings into existence that there are new types of architectural edges and it questions how these new hybridities would present new potential sites of convergence in architectural discourse. 

How does your thesis fit within OR challenge the discipline of architecture? 

Michel Foucault, as a sociologist, addresses the relationship between power, order, and knowledge, and how they are used as a form of social control through societal institutions. Bernard Tschumi sees these layers as meaning-making devices and how one is not necessarily linked to each other in rigid ways. Tschumi’s critique of institutions is visible in his work in Parc de la Villette with superpositioning of events in 1987. In quantum mechanics, a superposition is an object which is in many different states, and yet when you look, you can only observe one of those states. 

Superpositioning is about the memory/influence of a building; it does not require an existing building itself. It is a spatial way of defining togetherness. It’s almost like reading layers of information and perceiving them all together. Just like a building, the city itself has multiple layers in it, many superpositionings happening through time. Driving through the city in the 1960s and 2020s have two different feelings. The reason why the city is meeting this topic right now is that the way we experience/move through the city is changing. My thesis challenges those aspects of life and the role of architecture. It aligns itself with the notion of superpositioning. It challenges those ideas with today's digital culture through the methodology of urban infill and holograms, which is an image in flux and constantly in change similar to today's big data environment. Diving deep into the relationship between big data and architecture and looking at superpositioning in time opened up new discussions, especially during my final review where I received rich feedback from my jury. 

Superpositioning is about the memory/influence of a building; it does not require an existing building itself. It is a spatial way of defining togetherness. 

Did your thesis change during the pandemic? What difficulties did you face? How did your thesis advisors help you during this time?

There was a time I had to visit my home country (Turkey) and come back. Being on the other side of the world, and under a national lockdown for three weeks, my thesis advisor, Kristy Balliet, and I worked against an eleven-hour time difference and made it through. After those difficult times, I’ve had the chance and opportunity to work with her in person at SCI-Arc by following all the safety protocols. I feel so lucky to have Kristy Balliet supporting me in every challenge. Also, I feel so lucky to have my Cultural Agent, Jasmine Benyamin, being a great mind behind the theory of my Gehry Prize-awarded thesis. 

What are your next steps academically? Professionally?

Architecture is an ever-growing field where the bond between rapid architectural developments and academic research is strong. I am planning to stay in the professional environment for a while, working for the firm I am currently with. Yet, I would also like to contribute to and be involved in academia through research collaborations and teaching. I am glad to be receiving invitations for being a jury for design studios and other courses now from the US and Turkey. These opportunities make me excited about the academic environment. I believe that pursuing my career in both tracks through research, development, and application will provide me with a broad vision, opening the way for a thorough professional career in architectural technologies. 

As a recent graduate experiencing the direct effects of the pandemic, how do you feel about the architecture industry right now?

I always (try to) look at things in a positive way, which I believe is the duty of architects looking for ways to resolve issues. 

There is a quote from our Director Hernan Diaz Alonso, stating “Architecture is always an act of optimism,” and I truly believe in that. The pandemic has taught us many things, from improving our way of living, working from home, and working remotely from the other side of the world. After the pandemic, people started looking for new projects and investments. As the industry reopens, there are great opportunities out there. However, we should always look for ways to lower our carbon footprint and save the environment while doing so. On a global level, every project and every decision we are making matters. It’s not only the pandemic but wildfires, climate change, and the climate crisis. These are real and become more serious if we don’t change the way we live. 

[Super•positioning] Video courtesy of Burak Celik

What has helped prepare you for the workforce?

Graduating from SCI-Arc has helped me build a strong work ethic that has to do with deadlines and time management. In addition to this, having the desire to learn new things daily, work in teams, leading them, and producing high-quality work. I feel lucky to have such strong connections with practicing instructors which allowed me to learn things from active professionals. This enabled me to develop strong work habits all while delivering them to a group of practitioners who have high expectations. While I have had professional experience with international firms like Studio Libeskind, Oyler Wu Collaborative, and Melike Altinisik Architects, the network of architects and inspiring students at SCI-Arc made me strive for more all the time. I believe in learning something from someone by watching, observing, and collaborating. The studio environment at SCI-Arc has shaped my architectural vision, and I am so thankful to those who were around me.