Urban Dialogues | The Beginning of the Beginning • The Beginning of the Beginning, featuring architect Mert Eyiler, founder of MeMALondon, in conversation with Nil Aynalı, took place at İskele on Saturday, 5 March, at 14.00.
Drawing on the ideas and experiences shaped by his life between Istanbul and London, Eyiler discussed the production of the city and the relationships, actions and interactions that unfold within it. With contributions from Nil Aynalı, the conversation explored labour, production, work, common spaces and action, examining what architecture might generate in the city, whether as a means or an end. Following the question of what kind of architecture an architect can practise in the city today, the speakers discussed the possibilities of taking new steps based on past experiences and the potential of establishing a third way.
The event was held with a limited number of participants, with HES code checks and face masks required.
Mert Eyiler completed his undergraduate studies at Anadolu University and Istanbul Technical University and received his master’s degree from Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University. Between 1996 and 2006, he worked with Nevzat Sayın at NSMH before establishing his own architectural practice, MeMA, in 2007. From 2008 to 2017, he taught in architectural design studios at Yıldız Technical University, Istanbul Kültür University, Istanbul Bilgi University and Bahçeşehir University. Eyiler received the Arkitera Young Architect Award and was featured in the 40 Under 40 selection. Following his national and international work, he relocated his practice to the United Kingdom and founded MeMALondon. He was also among the speakers at TEDxKaş, held under the theme Escape to the Future.
Nil Aynalı graduated from the Faculty of Architecture at Istanbul Technical University in 2005 and completed the Architectural Design master’s programme at Istanbul Bilgi University in 2007. After working at various architectural practices in Berlin and Istanbul, she joined EAA–Emre Arolat Architecture in 2010. She contributed to the design and implementation of several projects, including the Sancaklar Mosque. Aynalı has curated exhibitions in Türkiye and abroad and participated in various panels as a speaker. In 2012, she served as assistant curator of the Musibet exhibition, curated by Emre Arolat for the inaugural Istanbul Design Biennial. In 2013, she became a founding member of Yoğunluk, an art initiative focusing on the relationship between art and space, and participated in the 15th Istanbul Biennial with The House. She edited the books Fabrika by EAA–Emre Arolat Architecture and Confidential: Turkish Republic Strasbourg Mission Buildings by Atelier Han Tümertekin, as well as the City and Contemporary Art issue of Sanat ve Toplum magazine. From 2014 onwards, she taught and led design studios at the architecture departments of several universities, including Istanbul Technical University, Istanbul Bilgi University and Istanbul Şehir University. At the time of the event, she was pursuing doctoral research on space in Sufi thought through Istanbul Technical University’s Architectural Design PhD Programme and Istanbul University’s Department of Sufi Studies.
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