In brief
- The 21st Çuhadaroğlu Student Project Competition was held under the theme “Recess.”
- The event was hosted by Trakya University’s Faculty of Architecture.
- Among the 61 submitted projects, faculty students won third place and an equivalent honorable mention.
- The program addressed children’s needs for education, play, social interaction and a sense of belonging after disasters.
The 21st Çuhadaroğlu Student Project Competition, themed “Recess,” was hosted by Trakya University’s Faculty of Architecture. According to a report published by Edirne Yenigün on 9 November 2026, the event included a colloquium, an exhibition and an awards ceremony; students from the Faculty of Architecture won third place and an equivalent honorable mention. A total of 61 projects were submitted.
The competition focused on children’s needs after disasters
The program explored children’s needs for education, play, social interaction and a sense of belonging after disasters from the perspective of architectural design. Jury Chair Dr. Selin Arabulan also noted that students’ creative and sensitive responses to disaster and risk scenarios stood out during the evaluation process.
The source report did not name the winning projects or students, or provide design details. It is therefore not possible to link the results to a specific project or student. The competition theme and the jury’s comments show that children’s post-disaster needs were considered as part of the design agenda; however, the available information does not explain what spatial solutions the projects proposed to address those needs.
Trakya University hosted the competition again
Faculty of Architecture Dean Prof. Dr. Semiha Kartal expressed her pleasure that the faculty was hosting the competition again, following its previous stint in 2009. Kartal also said the faculty aims to promote a culture of competition. The faculty students’ two award placements among the 61 submitted projects were among the event’s notable outcomes.
Speaking at the opening, Trakya University Rector Prof. Dr. Mustafa Hatipler highlighted the importance of university-industry collaboration and the partnership with Çuhadaroğlu. Çuhadaroğlu General Manager Gökhan Atsız thanked the university for hosting the event and said the company was open to offering employment opportunities to successful students. This does not mean that a specific recruitment program or job guarantee was announced.
The colloquium included evaluations of the competition entries, followed by the presentation of awards and plaques of appreciation. The program concluded with a group photo and a visit to the exhibition. The source does not say when or under what conditions the exhibition was open to visitors.
What it means for architecture and visualization teams
The topics addressed by the competition offer a framework for architecture and interior architecture students to consider user needs alongside disaster scenarios in the design process. Bringing education, play, social interaction and a sense of belonging together under one theme can provide a starting point for examining how design proposals address different uses. This is an inference based on the information available about the competition; the published report does not disclose the winning projects’ content.
For architectural visualization teams, the topic also invites consideration of how design ideas and user scenarios can be communicated. However, the report contains no information about project imagery, software or hardware used, licensing terms or file compatibility. The competition results should therefore be viewed as a development in student design and architectural education, not as a technical product or workflow update.
Sources
1 sourceSource texts are not republished; short quotes are marked, everything else is our own summary and commentary.
The results show that student competitions can bring social issues such as children’s needs after disasters into the design conversation. For architecture firms and visualization teams in Turkey, the practical value lies not in any specific software or hardware, but in the approach of connecting user needs with design decisions.
Without the names or images of the winning projects, it is not yet possible to examine their design solutions. Çuhadaroğlu’s openness to offering employment opportunities is worth following, but it is not a hiring commitment. Further announcements are needed for project details and potential opportunities.
Frequently asked questions
What was the theme of the Çuhadaroğlu Student Project Competition?
The theme of the 21st competition was “Recess.” The program addressed children’s needs for education, play, social interaction and a sense of belonging after disasters.
What awards did Trakya University students win?
Students from Trakya University’s Faculty of Architecture won third place and an equivalent honorable mention. The report did not name the students or projects.
How many projects were submitted to the competition?
According to Edirne Yenigün’s report, 61 projects were submitted.
