The “A Breath from the Past to the Future: Adobe Application Workshop,” organized by the Interior Architecture Society of the Faculty of Art, Design, and Architecture at Malatya Turgut Özal University and awarded funding under the Turkish Ministry of Youth and Sports' UNIDES Program, was held at our faculty from October 3–8, 2025. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ebru Doğan served as the academic advisor for the project, while Baran Genç, President of the Interior Architecture Society, served as the project coordinator.

Emphasis on Sustainable Building Culture

Conceived within the framework of earthquake-resistant building technologies and sustainable material use, whose importance was once again understood after the February 6 earthquakes, the project aimed to remind participants of the place of adobe in the disciplines of architecture and design. The event consisted of four main sections: theoretical lectures, technical tours, practical work, and an exhibition. During the workshop, which began with an opening speech by the project's academic advisor, Associate Professor Ebru Doğan, numerous academics and industry representatives discussed adobe architecture from various perspectives.

At the event, Associate Professor Ebru Doğan shared the scope of the workshop with her presentation titled “General Introduction to the Project.” Assistant Professor Mevlüt Anıl Fidan touched upon the historical context of adobe material in his talk titled “Encountering Adobe in Archaeological Excavations: Material, Architecture, and Meaning.” Merve Feyza Ergan presented local architectural examples in her presentation titled “Rural Design Codes: The Case of Malatya.” Dr. Burcu Yıldırım discussed contemporary uses of the material in her presentation titled “Mud Brick 2.0: Interpreting the Ancient in the Context of Technology.” Assistant Professor Varlık İndere addressed the archaeological and conservation perspective in her presentation titled “Mud Brick in Arslantepe and the Buffer Zone Boundaries.” Fırat Bozkuş shared his practical experience in his presentation titled “Mud Brick from Tradition to the Future,” and Murat Yaşar did the same in his presentation titled “Malatya Traditional Housing Construction Systems.”

The Unity of Design and Application

Following the theoretical presentations, students used artificial intelligence tools to design a mudbrick reception unit for Malatya Turgut Özal University based on the information conveyed under the heading “Mudbrick 2.0.” The projects produced during the workshop were shared at an exhibition opened by Prof. Dr. Ersan Çiftci, Dean of the Faculty of Art, Design, and Architecture.

Following the Footsteps of Traditional Heritage

Participants organized a technical tour to Lezzet Street in Yeşilyurt Gündüzbey Neighborhood to observe traditional adobe building examples on site. Here, in a building undergoing restoration, adobe block production was carried out using traditional methods. The event attracted particular interest from students in the Interior Architecture and Cultural Heritage Preservation and Restoration departments. Certificates of participation were presented to students who attended the entire program.