“…There may be no full return to our familiar ‘normal.’…” (*)
Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Task Force 2021 Opening Charge
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With my practice-oriented mindset in architecture, I am a passionately dedicated, committed, and responsive educator in the field and have excellent (archive-integrated) teaching practice and outstanding student-centered pedagogical approach by having served as a professor, lecturer, research and teaching assistant in architecture and urban design. (Remotely and in-person).
My current teaching practice and pedagogy have being nurtured from the pioneering and innovative (scientific research, teaching and learning) ecosystems of Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Harvard and Columbia universities at where I have been conducting my exemplary scholarship in architecture. For me, current and future architecture (design) teaching, education and learning "must" consider a. the survival of our planet, b. with deep respect to environmental resources, c. human being's basic needs, d. "equity and justice" for our collective living, e. “reality” of (post-pandemic) architecture design practice and its professional requirements. (Instead of “speculations”), and f. natural disaster-resistant principles.
In light of these, my current teaching philosophy, practice and pedagogy are based on a. essential and b. most recent (scientific) principles of multilayered and intertwined 21st century, (post-pandemic) architecture design thinking and relevant design-centered disciplines for healthy, safe, secure, sustainable and energy-efficient interior and outdoor systems for (a better) living environments. While following the most recent scientific knowledge, developments and implementation of (cutting-edge) innovative technological opportunities in architecture, its full commitment to human-centered mindset is essential.
Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, I have offered my lectures, presentations, teaching practice for approx. 400 students in architecture, urban, interior, landscape, industrial design and civil engineering. I am also strongly aware of struggles by students to be equipped with essential requirements and most recent developments on post-pandemic architecture, its design thinking, practice and the built environment, in particular, within the context of developing countries. For “Individual Modules” of my responsive teaching (remotely and English), you can contact me.
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Current topics in my teaching practice:
• Climate Justice and Climate Smart Design in Architecture and its Practice
• Architecture of Food Sector and Public Health
• Urban Agriculture and Architecture Design
• Essential and Emerging Post-pandemic Design Principles of Hospitals
•Essential and Emerging Post-pandemic Design Principles
• Climate Justice and Climate Smart Design in Architecture and its Practice
• Architecture of Food Sector and Public Health
• Urban Agriculture and Architecture Design
• Essential and Emerging Post-pandemic Design Principles of Hospitals
•Essential and Emerging Post-pandemic Design Principles
of Healthcare Facilities
• Essential Seismic Design Principles and its Practice in Architecture
• Alternative Energy Sources and Their Integration into Architecture Design
• Education Buildings in Architecture and Public Health
• Architecture of Work Environments and Public Health
• Public Health in Rural Areas and Architecture
• Living Environments of Senior Communities and Public Health
• Health Technologies, Architecture Design and Public Health
• Housing in Architecture and Public Health
• Essential Public Health Principles for Urban Design
• Urban Ecology and Architecture
• Environmental Humanities and Justice in Architecture
(Environmental activism, environmental justice, environmental citizenship)
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• Essential Seismic Design Principles and its Practice in Architecture
• Alternative Energy Sources and Their Integration into Architecture Design
• Education Buildings in Architecture and Public Health
• Architecture of Work Environments and Public Health
• Public Health in Rural Areas and Architecture
• Living Environments of Senior Communities and Public Health
• Health Technologies, Architecture Design and Public Health
• Housing in Architecture and Public Health
• Essential Public Health Principles for Urban Design
• Urban Ecology and Architecture
• Environmental Humanities and Justice in Architecture
(Environmental activism, environmental justice, environmental citizenship)
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Throughout my teaching career, I have provided productive, effective and responsive research consultation and guidance to more than 650 students (in design-centered disciplines), created and developed several courses in architecture (in-person, remote, English), worked with a founding academic team at the intersection of architecture and urban design, co-created core curriculum in these two disciplines, assisted teaching communities with their inclusive course content developments, their teaching practice, organized and published research-based exhibitions, lectures, symposiums, talks, workshops, roundtable discussions, research tours, etc. I always teach my architecture (and urban design) students to have confidence to put their knowledge, creativity, and human-centered resolutions into the existing reality of world. It has always been an honor for me to receive positive feedback from my architecture students so far.
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(*) Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Task Force 2021 Opening Charge, https://tf2021.mit.edu/overview-task-force-2021-and-beyond, last accessed on 10.10.2022.
(*) Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Task Force 2021 Opening Charge, https://tf2021.mit.edu/overview-task-force-2021-and-beyond, last accessed on 10.10.2022.
If you would like to benefit from “Individual Modules” of my responsive teaching and my (most-recent, scientific) knowledge resources on (post-pandemic) architecture and relevant design-centered disciplines, you can contact me:
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Contact: meral@meralekincioglu.com
From one of my architecture students:
“Dear Professor, thanks for your care and engagement with us throughout the academic term. I will never forget your love of teaching and your kindness to us. Our lessons have always been very enjoyable. It has been very valuable for me to learn the most recent knowledge that can support our professional career and practice directly and from such a valuable scientist like you. We have not had such an educator caring and with patient who wants us to learn as much as you have done. That is why I wanted to thank you. I hope I can use this knowledge (from this course) in a valuable way by blending and learning much more. I hope one day I will have the opportunity to work with you and learn from you face to face. I am so grateful for the opportunity to get to know you and to take this course. I hope this lesson will not be our last meeting. Take care of yourself. Thank you again for your effort, care, patience and kindness.”
Beren Su Cakmakoglu, 2022.




