Welcome to my page...
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Trained as an architect, I am a passionately dedicated and accomplished scholar/"hacker" (*)
with Ph.D. in architecture. My responsive and problem-centered scientific research projects aim to explore game changing findings in my expertise fields. My current scholarly (research) focal points and deep concerns are climate justice and public health with a holistic perspective and at the intersection of the social and material contexts of architecture design “practice”, interior design and their (recent) intertwined his/herstories.
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With academic sponsorship by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, History, Theory and Criticism of Architecture Program (24 months), I am "the first" scholar to uncover the beginning of co-education at the Princeton University-School of Architecture in 1968 (under the first dean of the School, Professor Robert Geddes' academic leadership and at the graduate level) and "the first" scholar to uncover professional career and education herstory of pioneering Turkish and Turkish-American women architects in multicultural postwar architecture in the U.S. after my Ph.D. in architecture at Istanbul Technical University. Intersectional feminism, immigration and equity in multicultural postwar U.S. architecture have been my recent scholarly research focal points. (1). I have been invited by the MIT-HTC, the MIT-WGS, the MIT-Women League, the MIT-Media in Transition International Conferences (5 & 6), the MIT-WikiConference North America, the Harvard University-GSD, the 53rd Middle East Studies Association-Annual Meeting, the Society of American Archivists-Research Forum (2020), CUNY, Boston University, the Society of Architectural Historians-Annual and International Conferences (2023 and 2018), "Women Who Design", the AIA-Silicon Valley, Emerson College, the Epidemic Urbanism Initiative, etc. as a speaker at their peer-reviewed scientific conferences, panelist and panel chair. Following my productive research process at MIT, I am currently developing my book project.
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With my deep scholarly concern about the lack of diversity and inclusion in architectural archives and collections at (most of) schools of architecture in the U.S., my most recent (systematic) research project has investigated this critical subject and MIT, Harvard, Yale, Princeton universities have been among its participants. Following my published research report on this subject by "the Society of American Archivists-Research Forum", I have moderated and co-organized an online panel on inclusive and diverse historical documentation practice and methods with distinguished panelists and "Women Who Design": Mary Norman Woods, Professor Emerita at Cornell University, Department of Architecture, the first woman tenured in Cornell's architecture department, founded in 1871, a leading senior curator and two archivists in the field.
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I am an awardee of a fellowship by the Society of Architectural Historians (SAH) and very pleased to receive invitation e-mail by the Founding President of Historic Interiors Affiliate Group at the Society of Architectural Historians (SAH-HIG) to serve their “first" Research Committee. With my brilliant colleagues at this Committee, three inspiring archivists in the field and support by our affiliate group (SAH-HIG), I have co-organized our first (and online) panel, "Flow: At the Intersection of Archives and Historic Interiors". With my scholarly mission to support and promote inclusive and diverse mindset in architecture (and its history), I have served as a selected nominator for the Aga Khan Awards for Architecture, and conducted an extensive architectural metadata project (time period: 1931-1981) at the Columbia University-Avery Library. As a certificate holder by Consortium for Graduate Studies, Gender, Culture, Women & Sexuality (GCWS) hosted by MIT and the American Institute of Architects (AIA)-Approved Continuing Education, (2) I am also a peer reviewer of the PLAN Journal (TPJ) on research, studies and criticism in architecture and urbanism.
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As a panelist at "Convergence at the Confluence of Power, Identity, and Design" held by “the Harvard University, Graduate School of Design (GSD)-Women in Architecture Group” in November 2018, it was an inspiring experience for me to act as an active part of a historic threshold and positive transformation at this pioneering school in architecture: With “Convergence”, we had invited everyone in architecture and design-oriented disciplines to take their concrete actions for systemic equity in education and profession. Following our strong messages, Professor Sarah Whiting was officially announced as "the first" woman dean in the history of the Harvard University-GSD in April 2019: We have accomplished!
.in architecture and urbanism..
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As a special Turkish fellow, I began my Ph.D. dissertation research at the Harvard University, Aga Khan History of Art and Architecture, Ph.D. Program, and continued this advanced research at the Columbia University, Graduate School of Planning and Preservation, Ph.D. Program as a research scholar. Based on my dissertation research at Harvard and Columbia universities (in particular with scientific research support by Professor Kenneth Frampton), I completed "the first" Ph.D. dissertation on historical and theoretical analysis of practice conducted by Tekeli-Sisa Architecture (Istanbul, 1954-present) with a specific research problem on design architect-(diverse) large scale client relation in the private sector, and obtained my Ph.D. in Architecture at the Istanbul Technical University, Faculty of Architecture. My secondary scholarly expertise fields and interests are theory and (postwar) history of the architecture profession and its (design) practice with a focus on design architect practitioner and (large-scale) client relation (in postwar Türkiye). Prior to my advanced and international scholarly endeavors, I obtained my bachelor and master’s degrees in architecture from Istanbul Technical University established in 1773. Its Faculty of Architecture is "the first" school in the world that obtained recognition from the National Architecture Accreditation Board (NAAB) outside the U.S. in 2008. (3). I have taken my English language education at Istanbul Technical University, School of Foreign Languages, English Preparatory Programs accredited by the Commission on English Language Program Accreditation recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education. (4). Following my professional degree in architecture, my graduation project has been nominated as an award candidate at the National Architecture Awards by the Chamber of Architects of Türkiye, and exhibited in this Award Program's Travelling Exhibition across the country. As a licensed architect in Türkiye, I have pursued my accomplished and responsive professional design practice with my teaching and publishing practice in architecture.
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I have over 100 publications in architecture, including published scholarly essays, articles, digital collection, published research report, interviews on my research, editorial monographs, digital publications of my panel talks, symposium and conference presentations, short documentary films and translations. According to Archnet at MIT, the "first" and digital collection on "Turkish Women Architects" I created and developed for this online resource is the largest of several additions to their Women in Architecture Collection. (in 2016). (5). As a contributing author, I have recently submitted my 10 building and interior design articles with my 336 high quality photographs to SAH Archipedia, authoritative online encyclopedia of the U.S. built environment organized by the Society of Architectural Historians and the University of Virginia Press for their climate responsive and inclusive content development to support post-pandemic studies by learning, teaching, research and professional communities in these fields. With my published "817" architectural and interior photographs, I am also an inclusive content developer of "SAH Archipedia" and "SAHARA", a digital image archive developed by the Society of Architectural Historians in collaboration with Artstor and funded by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation to support (new) studies by learning, teaching, research and professional communities through visual knowledge resources in these fields. As a guest editor of SAHARA (January 2023), my goal has been to emphasize diverse, inclusive and multidisciplinary characteristics of public interior spaces to bring together people and communities by considering our pandemic (lockdown) experience. In addition, my 19 editorial monographs on pioneering architects are accessible at leading academic libraries in the U.S. architecture, such as at the Avery Architectural and Fine Arts Library of Columbia University, the Frances Loeb Library of the Harvard University Graduate School of Design and the Rotch Library of Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Architecture & Planning. Among them, my published architectural monograph on Bernard Tschumi is accessible in Swiss Collections, a gateway to historical and modern collections in Swiss libraries and archives. (Bibliographic code: bbg08). These 19 editorial monographs are "first" series on (international and national modern and contemporary) architects for teaching, research, learning and professional communities in Turkish architecture.
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With my full commitment to support inclusion and diversity within scholarly context in architecture for a better society, I am also a founding member of Citizen TALES Commons, Cambridge-based multidisciplinary and international scholarly community on inclusive citizenship, civic engagement and humanities. (with more than 100 international scholars). I have initiated and co-curated its "Multidisciplinary Climate Conversation Series".
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In 2020, my exhibition project, “The Life Cycle of Celile Berk in Postwar Architecture: Her Challenge at the MIT-Architecture and in the U.S.” was shortlisted by the international jury of “the Life Cycles of Women in Architecture Exhibition” organized by “Women Who Design”. In 2019, I was among participants and organization team members of our collaborative exhibition project, “Citizen TALES Commons” as a part of the Exhibition: “Re-Imagining Civic Engagement, Civic Media: Art & Practice” at the Emerson College, New Urban Art Gallery in Boston, MA.
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As the first-generation international (woman) scholar, I am proud of being a graduate of Erenkoy Girls High School (with honors) in Istanbul: Leman Tomsu and Munevver Belen, the first two women architects of Türkiye (1934) were graduated from the same high school (1929), and it is one of the oldest surviving high schools with its high standards in education in the country. (1911-present). In addition, I am deeply indebted to Dr. Gulsun Saglamer, my professor during my architecture education (Honorary Fellow by the American Institute of Architects, the first woman rector of Istanbul Technical University and the first President of European Women Rectors Association, EWORA) for the foundation of my international vision.
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As an invited scientific committee member of "VI International Conference on Architecture and Gender" in València, (6) I have also served as invited members of "the first" Register Committee of the Society of Architectural Historians, Women in Architecture Affiliated Group with the invitation e-mail by its chair to join the proposal of this Women in Architecture Affiliate Group (2019), their "first" Media and Communication Team (2021), their early oral history project (at the beginning level) on Luigi Horn Mumford of SOM. Following the establishment of the Registers Committee in December 2020, I am "the first" member submitting my systematic, in-depth and comprehensive research on “archival resources of diverse women architects and diverse women in architecture” in January and February 2021 (total: 41 pages). My systematic research is “the first” register of this Committee on archives, (7) and includes a comprehensive, systematic bibliography on diverse women architects.
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I am also a fanatic appreciator of Stanley Clarke (Grammy-winning bassist, producer and composer in jazz), King Crimson (pioneering band in progressive rock/progressive metal, 1968-present) and Sergei Vasilyevich Rachmaninoff (Western Classical, the late Romantic period). My acoustic Fender along with singing is inseparable part of my life!
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As a passionately dedicated and accomplished scholar, educator and former professional design practitioner in architecture, I am always open new, inspiring, collaborative projects for a better architecture and society! For lecture and speaking arrangements, remote teaching and questions, please do not hesitate to contact me:
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meral@meralekincioglu.com
. Response by the U.S. President Biden . TEACHING . Visual Documentation . Music . Community Engagement
to my message to him
(Architecture & Interior)
collective learning on 21st century architecture)
(*) Hacking is a long-standing tradition at Massachusetts Institute of Technology as curious explorations and creative inventions that demonstrate ingenuity and cleverness,
please see: https://handbook.mit.edu/hacking, last accessed on 7.11.2023.
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Upon my e-mail to the Harvard University's President Office to congratulate Dr. Claudine Gay's appointment as the new and the first African American woman on this position, I am honored to receive her own response with this sentence on August 17th, 2023: "It means a lot to know I have your support as I take on my new role.".
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Primary (Scientific)
Research Interests:
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Climate justice and public health with a holistic and intersectional perspective in the social and material contexts of architecture design “practice”, its recent his/herstory; interior design and its (recent) his/herstory with a focus on urgent pandemic challenges, inclusive historical documentation practice and "methods" in these fields.
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Research Interests:
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Climate justice and public health with a holistic and intersectional perspective in the social and material contexts of architecture design “practice”, its recent his/herstory; interior design and its (recent) his/herstory with a focus on urgent pandemic challenges, inclusive historical documentation practice and "methods" in these fields.
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Secondary Scientific
Research Fields and Interests
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Theory and history of architecture profession, architecture design practice, architectural (design) partnerships in professional practice, architectural design practitioner - large-scale client relations (in the private sector), intersectional feminism, intertwined history and politics of gender in architecture with a focus on the postwar period.
Secondary Scientific
Research Fields and Interests
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Theory and history of architecture profession, architecture design practice, architectural (design) partnerships in professional practice, architectural design practitioner - large-scale client relations (in the private sector), intersectional feminism, intertwined history and politics of gender in architecture with a focus on the postwar period.
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Teaching Experience and Interests
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• Advanced Architecture Design Studio
• Graduation Project in Architecture
• Architecture as Public Health
• Multidisciplinary Design Territories
• Graduation Project in Architecture
• Architecture as Public Health
• Multidisciplinary Design Territories
in Architecture
• Material and Social Context of
• Material and Social Context of
the Architecture Profession
• History and Theory of Modern Architecture
• Essentials of Urban Design
• Basic Design
• History and Theory of Modern Architecture
• Essentials of Urban Design
• Basic Design
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Languages for Scientific Research
in Architecture:
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• English
• German
• Turkish
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My profile on Linkedin:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/meral-ekincioglu-ph-d-b649b6b
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My profile on Archnet at MIT:
https://www.archnet.org/authorities/2975
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My profile on Humanities Commons:
https://hcommons.org/members/meral2020
https://hcommons.org/members/meral2020
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My profile on Archinet:
https://archinect.com/people/cover/150330395/meral-ekincioglu
https://archinect.com/people/cover/150330395/meral-ekincioglu
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My blog on architecture:
meralekincioglu.blogspot.com
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My youtube channel on architecture:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQa7o9RHlFNucbNy_mIq2uw
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQa7o9RHlFNucbNy_mIq2uw
My Membership:
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• The Society of Architectural Historians (SAH) (2020-present; 2017-2018; 2014-2015)
• The SAH Historic Interiors Affiliate Group, Research Committee member
(2021-present)
• The SAH Climate Change and Architectural History Affiliate Group
(2021-present)
• The SAH Minority Scholars Affiliate Group, (2020-present)
• The SAH Race and Architectural History Affiliate Group (2020-present)
• The SAH Race and Architectural History Affiliate Group (2020-present)
• The Middle East Studies Association (MESA) of North America (2020-2021; 2017-2018)
• The Association for Middle East Women's Studies (AMEWS) (2020-2021)
• SpaceArchitecture.org (2020-2022)
•European Architectural History Network (EAHN) (2019-present)
• The Society of American Archivists, SAA. (2019-2020).
• Northeast Modern Language Association (2020-2021)
• Citizen TALES Commons, Cambridge based multidisciplinary, international scholarly community, founding member (2018-present)
• Friend of Boston Society of Architects (2015-present)(2015-
• World Architecture Community
(honorary member) (2008-present)
• Harvard Neighbors (2006-present)
• The MIT’s Women League
(2014-present)
• The MIT Women Chorale (2006-2007).
• Columbia University Alumni Association, Türkiye. (2021-present)
• Invited scientific committee member, ICAG . VI International Conference on Architecture and Gender, Valencia, 2023.
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The SAH-Women in architecture -affiliate group membership
( 2020 - 2022, Sept.) by the chair's invitation e-mail to join its proposal (2019); its first Registers Committee - membership by the chair's invitation e-mail (on archives and bibliography, 2021 - 2022, Sept.); Media and Communication team member by the chair's invitation e-mail
(for “Humanities Common” page, contribution, 2021, August - 2022, Sept.).
(for “Humanities Common” page, contribution, 2021, August - 2022, Sept.).
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If you wish to reach information of all my publications and projects in architecture on digital platforms, you can search my surname as "Ekincioglu" (its spelling in English) and "Ekincioğlu" (its original spelling in Turkish).
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