ULEMA and ULEMA ARCHITECTURE
Founded in 1996 in Alsancak, Izmir, Ulema and Ulema Architecture operates as a design and implementation office. Primarily focusing on villas, residential complexes, stone houses, farms, office administrative buildings, factories, and interior design, Ulema and Ulema Architecture also handles implementation, consulting, and project management. The firm also undertakes historical building restoration projects.
Operating under the motto "We build the projects we design," Ulema and Ulema Architecture works on design concept projects, as well as architectural projects, interior design, implementation, and project management. In addition, they offer consulting services for both local and international projects.
DESIGN PHILOSOPHY
Ulema and Ulema Architecture prioritizes natural building materials. It emphasizes materials and construction techniques that blend with nature, even those that disappear into nature over time, and those that are locally sourced and durable. Sustainability is a key value for Ulema and Ulema.
The architect, as a thinker, begins the design process with a blank sheet of paper.
The project is often resolved through sketching and experimentation.
What sets a project apart is in the idea.
FOUNDERS
Dürrin Ulema
Architect | Co-Founder
Dürrin Ulema was born in Izmir in 1969. She graduated from the Private Izmir American High School in 1987 and completed her degree in Architecture at Izmir Dokuz Eylül University in 1993. She then pursued a Master's degree (MSc) in Building Construction Management at Istanbul Technical University (ITU). In 1996, she co-founded Ulema and Ulema Architecture with her partner, Architect Necdet Ulema.
Necdet Ulema
Architect | Co-Founder
Necdet Ulema was born in 1970. He graduated from Izmir Atatürk High School in 1987 and from the Faculty of Architecture at Izmir Dokuz Eylül University in 1991. After gaining experience working in various offices, he co-founded Ulema and Ulema Architecture in 1996 with his partner, Dürrin Ulema.
TEAM
Oğuzhan Aydın
Architect
Oğuzhan Aydın was born in 1993. He graduated from Rize Ardeşen Anatolian Teacher High School in 2011. He then entered Izmir Dokuz Eylül University’s Faculty of Architecture, graduating as the second in his class in 2015. He participated in numerous national and international competitions during his student years. Oğuzhan is particularly interested in new architectural applications and artificial intelligence technologies.
Sabiha Can
Architect
Sabiha Can was accepted to the Department of City and Regional Planning at Izmir Institute of Technology in 2012. After transferring to the Department of Architecture, she graduated in 2018. After completing her studies, she began working at various architecture firms in Izmir. Since March 2023, she has been continuing her career at Ulema and Ulema Architecture.
Gökben Nerkiz
Executive Assistant
Gökben Nerkiz was born in Izmir in 1980. She studied Accounting and Finance at Anadolu University (Eskisehir) in 1998. She began her professional career in the healthcare sector, working in roles such as switchboard operator, warehouse management, sales marketing, and accounting. She joined Ulema and Ulema Architecture in 2016 and currently serves as an executive assistant, responsible for human resources and preliminary accounting.
Ferdi Kuloğlu
Office Assistant
Ferdi Kuloğlu was born in 1990 in Iğdır. He moved to Izmir in 2011, where he settled and began working at Ulema and Ulema Architecture in 2015. He is responsible for logistics, document management, and site duties.
Ulema and Ulema Architecture believes in work discipline, a positive outlook, efficient work, reliability, and the idea that knowledge and experience grow through sharing. The firm also values traveling the world and discovering new places as an essential part of life.
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