Ekin Ilgin Akgun - Portfolio

Ekin Ilgın Akgün

Architectural Designer

Portfolio

About Me

Architectural designer with a bachelor's degree in architecture and post-graduate degrees in sustainability and human-centered design

5 years of experience in residential, institutional, mixed-use developments, restoration and renovation, sustainable buildings, and interior design

Advanced skills in developing schematic design, design development, and construction drawings

Solid software knowledge including Revit and visualization

Working towards getting licensed as an architect

Understanding of Ontario Building Code (OBC) and accessibility guidelines

Well-versed with LEED, Passive House and WELL building standards

Proactive team player, flexible, quick learner, responsible and easy-going

Technical Skills

Autodesk Revit

AutoCAD

SketchUP

3ds Max

Cove.tool

Affinity Photo

Affinity Publisher

Affinity Designer

Adobe Photoshop

Adobe InDesign

Lumion

PHPP English French Turkish

Adobe Illustrator

Twin Motion

Enscape

MS Office

MS Suite

Experience

Algonquin College & The Public Health Agency of Canada

Sep 2022 - May 2023

User Experience Researcher & Designer

Algonquin College & Parks Canada

Jan 2022 - May 2022

Sustainability Consultant

Teori Yapi, Istanbul/Turkey

Nov 2018 - Mar 2020

Architect

Levent Residence

Feb 2018 - Aug 2018

Architect

Education

Interdisciplinary Studies in Human-Centred Design (2021-2022)

Algonquin College, Ottawa, ON

Green Architecture (2020-2021)

Algonquin College, Ottawa, ON

Bachelor of Architecture (BArch) (2013-2017)

Yeditepe University, Istanbul, Turkey

Pukaskwa Administration Building 01

Parks Canada - Green Architecture, Canada

Renovation for Net Zero Carbon Emission

The M Cottage 02

Green Architecture, Canada

Sustainable Cottage Design

Istanbul City Library 03

BArch Graduation Project, Turkey

Crafting a Public Library Architecture that Embraces Environment, Heritage, and Connectivity

Hatay Archaeology Museum 04

Civil Engineering Firm, Teori Construction, Turkey

Restoration Against Earthquakes

Levent Residence 05

Renovation Project, Turkey

A renovation project of a two-story, three-bedroom apartment in Istanbul

Personal Work 06

Hand Renders

Sketches

Pukaskwa Administration Building

Parks Canada - Green Architecture, Canada

For Parks Canada, the Pukaskwa Administration Building Net Zero Renovation project, located in Pukaskwa National Park, Ontario, Canada, was carried out collaboratively by a team of five members, including Ilgin Akgun, Megha Darji, Mitesh Machanda, and Saransh Singh. Our collective responsibilities included identifying and addressing universal design and physical accessibility deficiencies, in line with Government of Canada Workplace standards. We also focused on electrifying the building and incorporating renewable energy sources to achieve a net-zero carbon and energy retrofit. Throughout the project, we researched and implemented various green architectural methods, LEED and Passive House construction techniques, and examined the impacts of climate change on buildings. Our teamwork was crucial in delivering a sustainable and energy-efficient solution for the Pukaskwa Administration Building, including changes to the building's interior and exterior based on our analysis. This effort contributed to a greener and climate-resilient future for Thunder Bay, Ontario.

Pukaskwa National Park is located on the north shore of Lake Superior.

It’s nearly 12 hours of driving from Toronto, almost 4 hours from Thunder Bay and 5 hours from Sault. Ste. Marie.

Building Info

• Total Floor area: 1101.6 m.sq

• Area use: Office & Workshop.

• Number of users: Approx. 20.

• There are a total of 16 rooms including labs and storage room.

• The major Floor area is occupied by Mechanical Shop, Carpentry Shop, Park Shop, Fire Store and they are all 8-meters high.

• The Height of the admin area is around 4 meters and the height at the workshop is around 8.5 meters.

Based on on-site data and structural data, an accurate model was produced in Revit. The data was exported to the Cove tool and manually entered into Phpp to determine the current energy requirements. The images presented here are on-site images that highlight the structural issues of the building.

Initial results for the energy analysis done using the Cove Tool give us the following results:

The energy needed based on the current layout is 281.14 kWh/yr, which is equivalent to 79 tons of CO2 per year if the energy source is not clean.

Challenges

• Huge floor plate with mixed-use areas.

• High level of thermal breach through roof, walls and flooring

• Performance of windows

• Lack of shading devices, risk of overheating in summers.

• Lack of HRV system.

• Skylight Thermal performance.

• Wall-to-window ratio on the North wall leading to heat loss.

Solutions Provided

• Installation of custom-made prefabricated panels specifically designed for the structure performance need

• Addition of extra layers of insulation on the roof, elimination of the gravel layer, and addition of recycled high-durability rubber roof shingles.

• Vacuum insulated panel in the flooring which exponentially increased the structure's performance.

• Passive house-rated lite zone window

• Elimination of the Skylight reduced heat loss and overheating issues in the reception area.

• Addition of High performing HRV system

• Addition of a few clerestory windows on the south façade for daylighting in the workshop and increasing the heat gain.

Final Energy Audit

Materials for external cladding were used considering there carbon footprint as well as their resilience to the extreme weather conditions.

The list of materials are:

• Reclaimed wood panels

• Fly ash based concrete panels.

• Recycled rubber shingles

• Dry walls with 98% recycled content

• Non VOC paints

The M Cottage

Green Architecture - Sustainable Cottage Design

Our creative team of four members, which includes myself, Sachna Chandra Babu, Talar Demirjian and Yigit Cuhacibasi, collaborated closely to design a sustainable cottage for a couple in their early 40s and their two children on the banks of the Madawaska River in Ontario, Canada. Addressing the clients' requirements for one kids' bedroom, one master bedroom, and two guest master bedrooms, along with parking spaces, a study area, and ensuring river views from all common spaces, our project prioritized environmental preservation and structural stability on the muddy terrain. Through careful conceptualization, feasibility studies, and design development, we integrated energy-efficient technologies, eco-friendly materials, and seamless landscape integration. Our construction phase focused on sustainable practices while ensuring compliance with building codes and regulations. Finally, our attention to interior design, landscaping, and quality assurance culminated in the delivery of a high-quality, environmentally conscious vacation home that surpassed the client's expectations and set a new benchmark for sustainable living in a protected natural environment.

laced to the south façade to e coming from the river. Service est sides of the building to shield Open plan interior is designed so all spaces for cross ventila- tion. ented towards the prevailing ditioning during summer.

Excess of rainwater in the cistern will be transferred to the river.

All toilets, faucets and shower-heads are water conserving.

North Elevation

West Elevation

East Elevation

Istanbul Public Library

Kadıköy, Istanbul

This project aims to provide innovative design proposals that take into account various crucial factors, including climate, topography, landscape, historical context, and the analysis of the surrounding environment.

The primary focus is on optimizing the organization of movement and the main transportation artery while creating well-organized spaces for various activities. This includes careful planning for service areas, circulation, and vehicle access. Additionally, the goal is to establish a strong sense of place through the flexible use of space and a seamless integration of nature, all while preserving the existing trees in the area.

Boundaries Circulation Axis Nodes

Station Rooms for maneuver non-pubic area Border 2 Ra lway nfrastructural disturbance of spatia integrity

KarakolhaneStreet Commercia l ne

InternalC rculationAxis Access to the sea

SöğütlüçeşmeStreet Main Road

UzunhafızStreet Pedestrian connection from Acbadem area to the sea

HalitağaStreet Acıbadem - Sea connect on

Haydarpaşa Train Station

Construction Area

Surface Temperature of Istanbul (Sentinel3, 01072019)

Sun Path and Wind Directions

Impacts of Urban Heat Islands

Increased air pollution and greenhouse gas emission

Reduced human health and comfort

Increased energy demand

Reduces water quality

What I do to reduce the heat island effect

Increase shades around the buildings

Install green or reflective surfaces

Use energy-efficient appliances and equipment

Trees, green roofs and vegetation can help reduce urban heat island effects by shading buildings surfaces deflecting radiation from the sun, and releasing moisture into the atmosphere.

I preserved all the trees in the area. And designed on the remaining space

And add some new ones too.

Native trees show conservative water use relative to invasive trees so it is planned to use endemic fast-growing shade trees such as:

Existing Trees

Acer campestre Acer negundo Aesculus hippocasteneum Koelreuteria paniculata Liquidambar styraciflua Parrotia persica Quercus ilex

Robinia pseudacacia Salix babylonica Tilia platyphyllos Tilia tomentosa Tamarix gallica (which is Ilgın tree in Turkish, my name)

Heat Maps

People don't like right-angled corners; they tend to choose the hypotenuse

Research shows that the human brain is better at understanding energy-saving principles and choosing the quickest way, even if it's muddy.

So, I designed the pathways based on this point of view and considered very short cuts between each building combination.

The use of light colored pavements as well as cladding and roofing in our urban areas can contribute to overall energy savings and reduced carbon emissions.

Because concrete is a light colour, it absorbs less heat and reflects more light than dark-colored materials, therefore maintaining a relatively low surface temperature.

Concrete has been demonstrated to have a positive impact on the localized ambient temperatures and can reduce energy required to air condition buildings

Administration

Food Court

Security

Shops

Meeting/Group Study Rooms

Reading Area

Technical Services

Bookshelves

Conference Halls

Information Desk / Cloakroom

Circulation and Exhibition / Multi-Func. Area

The library is designed with a colorful, comfortable, and functional approach combining different design elements in order to create a vibrant and motivating studying environment for students, researchers, and all users.

Diversity among the departments is achieved through the use of various colors, taking into consideration human psychology. This is combined with the use of warm materials and interior plants.

It lasts for 25 to 40 years

It is fully biodegradable and does not release harmful substances or gases

It is acoustic so it creates a healthy environment bu combining sustainability with excellent sound reduction properties

Furthermore the production of linoleum is a closed-loop system. This means that the energy obtained from incinerating it is roughly equivalent to the energy it takes to procude it

The benefits of biophilia in offices

15% increase in the feeling of well-being

6% more productive, 15% more creative

67% of employees ensure that they feel happier working in spaces with natural light and decorated with hints of green, yellow or blue.

It reduces employee anxiety by 37%, depression by 58% and fatigue by up to 38%.

Linoleum floor

Advantages of Double-Skin Façade System

Acoustic Insulation

Thermal Insulation

Natural Ventilation

Night Time Ventilation

Energy Saving

Solar Gain Control

Aesthetic Appearance

Enhanced Security Pollution Barrier

Recommended inside design conditions for HVAC-controlled public non-archival libraries are typically 20-22° C, 40-55% relative humidity with air movement at 0 13 m/s and 8-12 air changes per hour

For archival and specialty collection libraries, it is 25°C, 50% relative humidity with an air movement speed of 0.13 m/s and 8 and 8-12 changes per hour. That’s why I designed rare books’ building separate from the main library building.

In some areas I used openings to the lower floor in order to extend the natural light that came from the roof It is aimed to create a bright, spacious study place with this superposition of glass roof and floor openings

Top daylight applications

harvest daylight from the roof of the building and channel it inside, providing henceforth a better daylight distribution throughout the space

Properties of the Glass Roof

6mm Clear Solar Low-e + 16 Argon + mm clear float:

Solar Factor (SF): 52%

U Value: 1,8 W / m2 K

Light Transmission (LT) 61%

Solar Control Low-E Glass’ advantages:

Thermal insulation

Controlling solar gain

Energy saving cost saving

Reduces condensation on the glass surface

Protection from UV radiation over 75% therefore helps to reduce fading and aging effects

Aesthetic appearance In that case for bein invisible beside Haydarpaşa Station by reflecting surrounding area like a mirror

Sketches Before Design

The Hatay Archaeology Museum

Restoration Against Earthquakes - Teori Yapı

The Hatay Archaeology Museum showcases predominantly 2nd and 5th-century AD artifacts, including mosaics from Roman and Byzantine structures, which were meticulously examined, measured, and assessed for the resilience of the steel panels supporting them. Earthquake loads were calculated depending on the construction height and panel elevation. Contributing even slightly to the transfer of these unique mosaics, which are world heritage, to future generations without being affected by earthquakes, brings me happiness.

Levent Residence

Renovation Project

In my role as a Project Architect for a three-room apartment renovation project, I undertook a multifaceted approach to ensure the project's success.

I meticulously crafted floor plans and mechanical/electrical layouts, collaborating closely with engineers and contractors to optimize functionality and efficiency. Coordinating the renovation efforts, I liaised with construction personnel and suppliers, maintaining strict adherence to timelines and budget constraints. Furthermore, I conceptualized the apartment's overall aesthetic, curating colours, textures, materials, and furniture selections to align with the design vision. My holistic management of this project not only resulted in a visually stunning living space but also in a highly functional one that catered to the occupants' needs.

Nestled within a mid-1980s housing complex, this two-story apartment in the 5-story building, faced challenges like limited natural light due to neighboring structures and aging kitchen and bathroom fixtures. Wooden-framed windows, though charming, caused rainwater seepage and temperature regulation problems. Additionally, outdated wooden interior doors posed security risks. The main objective was to eliminate the dated, dark, and cluttered elements to create a brighter, more contemporary space.

style faux concrete finish applied to the TV wall for contrast. Even small details were addressed, such as replacing a dark wooden curtain rail with a sleek white plasterboard cover Through these changes, the outdated apartment was transformed into a contemporary, well-lit space that harmoniously balances materials, colors, and functionality, bridging the gap between past and present aesthetics.

The house renovation commenced with the replacement of worn-out dark wood parquet flooring with longer, thicker planks, achieving a more modern look. To improve insulation and prevent leaks, all windows were exchanged for PVC-clad aluminum frames, ensuring durability against weather-related issues. Furnishings were chosen with a blend of dark tones to match the client's preference, complemented by light walls for enhanced ambient lighting. A limited color palette of black, wood, and gray was maintained, with an Italian-

The Living Room

The existing kitchen posed a multitude of challenges, ranging from worn-out cabinet doors to cluttered open shelving and subpar cabinet quality. The marbled countertop, though eye-catching, contributed to a crowded appearance and lacked the desired hygienic feel. Furthermore, the gas stove' s setup on the balcony not only posed safety concerns but also disrupted the visual harmony within the kitchen. Cracked floor tiles, inconsistencies in breakfast nook design, and insufficient storage compounded the existing issues, while signs of wear in the windows and doors

exacerbated insulation problems throughout the apartment.

In response, a comprehensive overhaul was initiated, prioritizing functionality and aesthetics. Custom-designed cabinets were introduced in the client's preferred style and color, in contemporary design trends The decision to replace the marble countertop with a lighter-colored surface not only enhanced cleanliness but also imbued the space with elegance. The installation of an electric stove with a built-in oven addressed safety concerns while streamlining the kitchen's visual appeal. Additional storage solutions were integrated, ensuring practicality without compromising natural light flow. Revamping the flooring with white-gray ceramic tiles and introducing a modern white brick-style backsplash further elevated the kitchen's aesthetic, culminating in a sleek, functional, and visually pleasing space that breathed new life into the apartment.

The Kitchen

The lower-level powder room, once a neglected space exuding antiquity, underwent a remarkable transformation to reintroduce sophistication and cleanliness. Its small window, previously connected to a dim ventilation shaft, was revamped to allow fresh air in while maintaining functionality with a discreet filtering system. Enhanced ventilation control was achieved through the addition of a button-activated fan. Similarly, the worn entry door was replaced with durable materials, seamlessly aligning with the house's modern aesthetic. The harmony of material and color choices throughout the entire house, including white brick-style wall tiles, a subtle blue-gray hue, and added features like a black mirror frame, wooden shelves, and a vessel sink, collectively refreshed and elevated the space, turning it into a symbol of the home's style.

With meticulous attention to detail and a cohesive design approach, the lower-level powder room now stands as a testament to modern living, shedding its dated ambiance for a contemporary aura. This comprehensive revitalization not only addressed functional shortcomings but also imbued the space with a sense of elegance and charm. By blending practicality with aesthetic appeal, the powder room has been transformed into a sanctuary of comfort and cleanliness, seamlessly integrated into the overall design narrative of the house.

The Powder Room

The Circulation Area

Downstairs

For the flooring in circulation areas, a deliberate choice was made to complement the industrial-style aesthetics, resonating with the concrete-like appearance of the living room ' s walls and furniture. Hence, raw concrete-look floorings were selected, harmonizing with the overall design language.

Because of the budget constraints, the staircase design and materials

remained untouched, yet a unifying cohesion within the color palette was achieved by painting the handrails in a sleek black hue.

Furthermore, the door material for the under-stair storage cabinet was upgraded, and an elegant coat rack was added adjacent to the entrance.

Upstairs, in the utility area, a closed cabinet was customdesigned to house the water heater and washing machine, ensuring both functionality and a streamlined appearance. The flooring in this space was aligned with the rooms on the same level, maintaining a cohesive design scheme.

Upstairs

The Circulation Area

The master bathroom on the upper level presented several challenges that required careful consideration.

Issues such as limited space due to the water heater and washing machine, lack of enclosed storage for towels and cleaning supplies, and an awkward layout with the sink and toilet nearby contributed to a disorderly feel reminiscent of the rest of the house To remedy these shortcomings, we expanded the shower cubicle to improve comfort and adjusted the floor height for a more spacious feel. Waterproofing techniques were applied to ensure durability, and tiles were elegantly installed to match the overall design scheme. Additional closed cabinets were incorporated for increased storage and privacy, resulting in a comprehensive solution that not only enhanced functionality but also maintained the sophisticated aesthetics consistent throughout the house.

The Master Bathroom

The original bedroom was cramped for a double bed and wardrobe. To address this, we removed the dividing wall between the adjacent room, transforming it into a spacious walk-in closet. This alteration not only expanded the circulation space but also increased the room ' s overall sense of openness and the influx of natural light.

The Dressing Room

Previously a narrow room with bunk beds, this space underwent a significant transformation into a spacious dressing and preparation room by removing the dividing wall to create a walk-in closet with mirrors, adding an illusion of more space. Removing a hallway door reduced door transitions, streamlining the design and saving costs. The room ' s functionality expanded with the addition of a vanity table for grooming and makeup application, while discreet storage for laundry baskets ensured tidiness. This comprehensive overhaul revitalized the space, resulting in a versatile room that seamlessly blends style, functionality, and efficiency.

The Master Bedroom

Personal Work

Sketches

I would like to share some of my drawings in this part of my portfolio.

Besides architectural drawings, I also have a big interest in pencil drawings. Sometimes I draw my friends, animals portraits and objects around me.