SELECTED WORKS
Sami Yücel
AA School of Architecture MArch Thesis ’23 Et in Arcadia Nomad Reinventing the Stately
Home for Digital Nomads
Supervisor: Steve Sinclair Team: Sami Yücel
Programs Used: Rhino, AutoCAD, Adobe Creative Suit, V-ray
Advancements in London’s transportation infrastructure have introduced the Elizabeth Line, a cross-rail that draws urban and rural closer than ever before. This enables alternative configurations of living and working. But what kind of settlement patterns does this condition facilitate the emergence of in the semi-rural and rural context? Could there be an alternative to the ‘ideal’ suburban housebuilder typologies that dominate the semi-rural fabric nowadays?
Through challenging the existing developer typologies, this thesis aims to propose an alternative form of settlement on the grounds of a stately home for digital nomads.
Basildon House
Former Stable and the existing car park
Typology 1 - Permanent
Typology 2 - Temporary
Typlogy 2 - Temporary
Typology 3 - Semi-tempory
Tunnel entrance - East
Tunnel entrance - West
Proposed Car Park
Civic Grotto
Incident_1 Elevator
Incident_2 Sculpture ( Exhaust Pipes)
Incident_3 Gatehouse (Tunnel Entrance)
Incident_4 Pond (Rain water collection)
Incident_5 Ruin (Gathering space)
Incident_6 Gazebo (Gathering space)
The proposition is informed by the strict use of ratios and geometries used in the existing neo-palladian villa, where a 1:1,5 ratio dominates the elevation and the plan. Used as a tool to understand the landscape, the 1:1,5 ratio defines the boundaries between built and unbuilt as well as sparse and dense, forming a contextualized settlement pattern which orients itself to the topography. Through landscape interventions, ha-ha’s are formed in the grounds to accommodate settlements, enabling settlement to be invisible from the stately home.
1,5 1 1
The Stately home co-operates with the settlements through the addition of a third layer. Aside from tourists and the house’s previous owner who resides in the right wing, unused rooms are converted into co-working spaces for digital nomads.
The proposed typologies on the grounds accommodate digital nomads, offering flexible configurations of living spaces and shared dynamics. Enhanced by the lateral light wells obtained by the slots, loggias and niches link the living units together, facilitating the encounters and the creation of a civic culture in-between.
Through enabling the expansion, the living units evolve over time, corresponding to the needs of its user. Therefore, challenging the English domestic ideals, this thesis provides an alternative approach to settlement, perhaps proposing Jerusalem in this green and pleasant land.
Allies and
Morrison 2024
Elephant & Castle West
Housing Development
Stage: Concept Design
Team: Artur Carulla, Vicky Thornton, Ignacio Diaz-Maurino Jimenez, Adrian Cullen, Charlotte Hindson, Tatiana Telles Ferreira, Nele Christiansen, Lili Kotte, Laura Blazyte, Jack Jefferson, Eduardo Rubio, Fran Lewis
Role in team: Concept and project development, coordination with consultants, participating in the development of design concepts and documentation Programs Used: Revit, Adobe Creative Suit, Microsoft Office
Submitted for planning application and approved in 2019, we have been redeveloping the Elephant and Castle site in accordance with new housing regulations. The project features two residential towers and a student housing building, ranging from 20 to 35 storeys, along with a cultural venue. These are clustered alongside mansion blocks that harmonize with the more domestic scale of the site’s western edge.
As part of the mansion blocks team, I have been involved in coordinating with fire, structural, MEP, and transport consultants, as well as the wider team, conducting facade studies, and developing flat layouts and schedules.
Allies and Morrison Elephant & Castle West
Allies and Morrison 2024 Knights Road
Mixed-use Development
Stage: Strategic Definiton, Concept Design
Team: Hendrik Heyns, Antje Saunders, Daniel Alba Eugenio, Aurora Avedillo, Teresa Bazal, Allan Campbell, George Davis, Amy Meddings, Christina Njoku, Fran Lewis, Katie Longmore, Imogen Philipps, Mar Vidal Ribot, Sami Yucel
Role in team: Concept and project development, conducting preliminary analysis and research, coordination with wider team and consultants, planning application Programs Used: Revit, Adobe Creative Suit, Enscape
The mixed-use development, situated in East London along the River Thames, is bordered by a industry to the east and housing developments to the west, forming the western edge of the development site. The proposal consists of nine residential blocks and a light industry.
The project was structured into two applications, planning applicaton and outline application, which were developed concurrently. I was part of the design guidelines team for the first three months and I played a key role in developing guidelines for the planning application. My responsibilities included streamlining the design process and distilling the ruleset and toolkit from the concurrently developed RIBA Stage 2 application. This role required strategizing and theoretical thinking, as well as close coordination with the wider team.
During the last three months of the project, I worked as part of the detail application team and was responsible for flat layouts, coordination with the landscape team, as well developing facade studies.
Allies and Morrison 2023
Al-Balad Historic Core Masterplan
Stage: Preparation & Brief, Concept Design
Team: Eric Hallquist, Nouha Hansen, Jai Warya, Jacob Neville, Tom Pailing, Lela Sujani, Caterina de Abreu, Ziyad Hasanin, Ann Hummler, Sami Yücel
Role in team: Concept and project development, conducting preliminary analysis and research, participating in the development of design concepts and documentation Programs Used: MıcroStation, Sketchup, Adobe Creative Suit
The Al Balad Public Realm strategy aims to create a cohesive public realm that reflects the unique character of the city and aligns with its long-term vision. Achieving sensitive, highquality, and sustainable development in the public realm involves interventions at various scales, including streets, squares, small courtyards, zuqaqs, and gardens.
I was actively involved in both the masterplan stage and the detailed design phase. My contributions focused on key areas where zuqaqs, souqs, and streets intersect. These intersection points required extensive collaboration across various teams to develop comprehensive strategies that enhance the public realm.
gravel to accommodate future tree
Slotted channel drain
Subbase
Sub surface irrigation
Metal Staking
Decompacted soil
gravel to accommodate future tree
channel drain
Subbase Irrigation Irrigation
Sub surface irrigation
Metal Staking
Decompacted soil
By addressing these critical junctures, we aimed to ensure a seamless integration of different urban elements from paving to bench design, thereby enriching the overall urban experience.
Sandy loam soil
Sandy loam soil
Slotted
Loose
Loose
Specimen palm tree pit in soft
Rootball
Typical Details GUIDELINES Allies and Morrison 30 January 2024
Allies and Morrison 2023
Cambridge Science Park Landscape
Stage: Concept Design, Spatial Coordination
Team: Artur Carulla, Constantino Baranda, Charlotte Hindson, Beatrice Cappuccilli, Eric Hallquist, Jai Warya, Sami Yücel
Role in team: Concept and project development, advancing the design from concept to detailed development, coordinating with clients and consultants, preparing documentation for construction procurement and tendering Programs Used: Revit, MicroStation, Adobe Creative Suit, Microsoft Office
The landscape concept revolved around the idea of ‘the pavilion in the park,’ with the design aiming to reference picturesque elements that reinforce the relationship between the research lab and the existing park. I developed drawings and design for the planning application as well as RIBA Stage 2 and 3 submissions. Through this process, I gained experience in understanding the importance of materiality and tactility in the landscape. I actively participated in developing the overall landscape strategy, including planting, paving, and wayfinding.
Paving & Edging Types
Kumru
Aerial Vehicle Concept Study
Elif Erdoğdu, Kürşad Özdemir, Sami Yücel
Role in team: Concept and project development, visualization, digital model and prototype making Programs Used: Fusion 360, Adobe Creative Suit
Kumru is an aerial vehicle concept study, funded by the MEF University Research Fund. The flying car takes its name from the turkish word for dove, Kumru, which is the main inspiration of the shape of the vehicle. The team consists of architects and an aircraft engineer consultant who guides the team about computation and technical requirements. f e
Team:
Community Involvement Project 2016 Omnibus
Multi-purpose Room
Stage: Preparation & Briefing, Concept Design, Technical Design, Manufacturing & Construction
Team: Miray Akbulut, İlayda Baydemir, Gülfem Bayraktar, Öykü Beşer, Betül Çakmak, Mehmet Eroğlu, Elif Lahor, Berfin Kaya, Hazal Seval, Ahmet Sezgin, Aybike Şenkaya, Nagehan Taviloğlu, Sami Yücel
Role in team: Concept and project development, technical drawing, digital and physical model making, construction Programs Used: Rhinoceros, AutoCAD, Adobe Creative Suit
The community involvement project involved refurbishing a disused room in a primary school into a multi-purpose room that could accommodate gatherings, plays, and events. The project began with a needs assessment of the school and its community, followed by a collaborative design process that involved students, professionals such as architects and contractors, and school administrators. During the construction phase, the team worked together to install new raised flooring, lighting, built-in furniture and an access to the back garden.
Pier [Future] Section 1:750
Bridge [Present] Section 1:750
Tower [Past] Section 1:400
MEF University BSc Thesis 2019 Resilient Corridors
New Habitats for a Post-Industrial Town
Team: Sami Yücel
Tutors: Ozan Avcı, Burcu Serdar Köknar, Şebnem Yücel
Programs Used: Rhinoceros, AutoCAD, Adobe Creative Suit, V-ray
After the establishment of Ceramic Factory in the late ’50s, Kalebodur Factory in the early ‘70s, and the thermal power plant in the early ’00s, Çan grew rapidly highly dependent on the industry. However, as of 2019, tables have turned and the town’s economy is in decline. In 20 years, the industry is expected to leave the town completely, transforming its industrial assets and landcapes into images of nostalgia, objects that no longer function.
The Project “Resilient Corridors” aims to reinvent the industrial heritage of the town and reintegrate them to the urban fabric. It focuses on three different sites across the town; the ceramic factory, the lignite fields and the waterfront. Stitching two different urban textures together each intervention operates as a corridor, amalgamating two fabrics into one another.
the tower_past re-configuring the connection between the ceramic factory and the urban fabric
the bridge_present strengthening the link between two sides of the town
the pier_future establishing a new connection between lignite fields and the town
The “bridge” aims to transform the town’s waterfront into a lively urban district by using housing as a tool.
The design of the apartments re-interprets the served and servant relationship between the spaces. Mediating between private and public as well as indoor and outdoor, the corridors are transformed into spaces that could accommodate communal activities and gatherings thus strengthing the link between the apartments in the block.
AA Visiting School Lyngør 2018
Fragile Thresholds
Team: Sami Yücel
Tutors: Daniel Ayat, Amandine Kastler, Erlend Skjeseth
Programs Used: AutoCAD, Adobe Creative Suit
The pier is both the lock and the key to Lyngør. They are the thresholds between the island and its negative space, linking one specific point to virtually limitless possibilities. Piers are resilient pieces of infrastructure yet they are so fragile. My drawings record the story in their scars, their erosions, their patina and their inhabitations. No two piers are alike; each is the result of overlapping functional and leisurely uses.
