The opening ceremony for the Faculty of Architecture building at Hacettepe University, which will commence undergraduate education in the 2025–2026 academic year, was held on 16 April. The ceremony was attended by our University Rector Prof. Dr. Mehmet Cahit Güran, our University Vice-Rectors Prof. Dr. Ahmet Serper, Prof. Dr. Şahap Armağan Tarım, Prof. Dr. Necla Özer, members of our University Senate, Dean of the Faculty of Architecture Prof. Dr. Meltem Yılmaz, and a large number of academic and administrative staff. Having achieved a significant milestone this year by ranking fourth among architecture departments offering English-language education, our faculty will enhance the quality of education with its new building, which provides the necessary spatial facilities.
Prof. Dr. Meltem Yılmaz: “Our aim is to highlight the relationship between architecture and art”
In her speech at the opening ceremony, Prof. Dr. Meltem Yılmaz, Dean of the Faculty of Architecture—which was established by a decision of the Council of Ministers in 2014 and has been operational since 2021—outlined the process the faculty has undergone since then. In her address, she also highlighted the development of the faculty’s entrance area. Prof. Dr. Yılmaz noted that the final work of Kim Yong Moon, a lecturer at our university’s Faculty of Fine Arts who passed away in 2025—composed of chimney bricks—is on display at the faculty entrance; she also described the process of acquiring this work for the faculty.
Stating that architecture has always been intertwined with art throughout history, Prof. Dr. Yılmaz said in her speech:
“Our aim is to emphasise the relationship between architecture and art to our students and guests. Architecture has always been intertwined with art throughout history. We wanted to highlight this in our spaces. Furthermore, our mission and vision, alongside establishing this connection between architecture and art, is to instil in students the vision of creating inclusive designs capable of accommodating everyone.”
Prof. Dr. Mehmet Cahit Güran: “It is important for the positive perception and interest in the Faculty to continue”
The opening ceremony continued with a speech by our university’s Rector, Prof. Dr. Mehmet Cahit Güran. Highlighting the importance of establishing the Faculty of Architecture within our university, Prof. Dr. Güran shared the following remarks regarding the faculty’s activation:
“Drawing on my past professional experience, I have observed that architecture is a field highly valued within universities and one that attracts student interest and a desire for education outside the university as well; therefore, I considered the failure to bring this faculty into operation to be a loss for our university.”
Noting that the need for a physical space arose once the Faculty of Architecture began offering undergraduate education, Prof. Dr. Güran stated: “The need emerged for the faculty to have its own independent space—with a dean’s office, lecture halls, and areas where students can socialise—a space they could call ‘our faculty building’. This was important for ensuring that the positive perception and interest in this faculty continued in the years that followed.”
“This university belongs to us”
In his speech, our university’s Rector, Prof. Dr. Güran, emphasised that the allocation of this building had been made following an assessment of future needs. Rector Güran noted that the faculty’s student numbers are set to increase in the coming years.
In his speech, Prof. Dr. Güran also touched upon various ideas, suggestions and projects aimed at strengthening our university’s physical infrastructure. Reminding the audience of the necessity to adopt a sustainable, manageable and feasible approach, Prof. Dr. Güran also stated that this must be done with a university mindset. “We need to adopt an agenda focused on the sustainability of this concrete, brutalist architectural style on our campus, as well as on raising its aesthetic and standard,” said Prof. Dr. Güran, expressing the importance of university-focused initiatives as follows:
“This university is ours; we will continue to take ownership of it, and we will work to bring our university to a better place by securing the interest and support of state institutions and private organisations.”
The opening ceremony concluded with the cutting of the ribbon.
