Organized by TÜRKÇİMENTO for architecture students, the Betonart Architecture Summer School opens its doors for the 21st time this year. Scheduled to take place from June 30 to July 9, 2025, the program will be hosted by the Faculty of Architecture at Gaziantep University and will revolve around the theme “Network.”
With main sponsorship from Çimko Cement and material sponsorship from Polisan Construction Chemicals, the event will bring together 18 students and a team of approximately 40 professionals. Participants will explore concrete not merely as a structural material, but as a multifaceted part of a broader technical, digital, and social network.
Curated by Architect Erhan Vural and academically advised by Dr. Esra Gürbüz Yıldırım, the program will feature Architect Hande Ciğerli, Architect Eser Ergün, and Architect/Interior Architect Gizem Temiz as moderators. The coordination of the summer school will be managed by Dr. Architect Ferhan Yalçın, Architect Ali Fatih Cebeci, and Architect Mehmet Ali Yiğit.
TÜRKÇİMENTO CEO Volkan Bozay shared his views on the 21st edition of the Betonart Architecture Summer School Program:
“Each year, we organize our program in a different region of the country with the support of a local university and a cement plant. This year, our main sponsor Çimko Cement will support us, and Polisan Construction Chemicals will accompany us as the material sponsor. When we initiated this program in 2002, our goal was to provide young people with the opportunity to apply their theoretical knowledge in practice and connect with leading industry professionals. Over the years, we have reached more than 500 students, many of whom are now prominent architects contributing significantly to our country. This is a great source of pride for us. At TÜRKÇİMENTO, we strive to go beyond economic figures and growth metrics to create social value. We remain committed to supporting the young minds who make a difference with their energy and determination. I would like to sincerely thank Gaziantep University Faculty of Architecture for hosting us this year, our dedicated curators and moderators, our main sponsor Çimko Cement—whom we are pleased to call our second host—and our material sponsor Polisan Construction Chemicals.”
Çimko CEO Dr. Önder Kırca added: “We are proud to be the main supporter of such a long-established and visionary initiative as the Betonart Architecture Summer School. At Çimko, we are an institution that prioritizes social benefit and believes in building a sustainable future together with young people. Meeting the imagination of young architects in Gaziantep means shaping not only today but also tomorrow. It is highly important for us to introduce students to the structural and aesthetic richness of concrete, to expand its applications with their perspectives, and to redefine it through their vision.
Our partnership is rooted in enhancing architectural education, enriching material knowledge, and encouraging architecture students to build creative relationships with concrete. In this process, our goal is not only to present concrete as a material but to inspire young architects to embrace it and envision the structures they dream of creating with it. Supporting these bright young minds and aligning our social investments with their creative energy carries deep meaning for us.”
Curator Architect Erhan Vural stated: “Concrete is not merely a singular material visible in buildings, but rather the final representation of an extensive network where technical and computational processes, digital design practices, and social interactions converge.
The ‘Network’ theme emphasizes the interconnectedness of basic components and production processes of concrete. It highlights a dynamic and multi-layered web of relationships, beginning with the chemical structures of cement, water, and aggregate, and extending through design, production, and implementation phases. Every component and stage is part of a complex, interlinked system.”
The list of selected participants will be announced on June 2, 2025.
