Medipol contributes academically to NEAR Frontiers 2026


Istanbul Medipol University provided both academic and organizational support to the international NEAR Frontiers 2026 Symposium, which focuses on the relationship between architecture and neuroscience. Hosted by Istanbul Technical University and ITU ARI Teknokent between July 27 and 29, 2026, the symposium brought together researchers, academics, and professionals from Türkiye and across the world in Istanbul.

Organized through the collaboration of ITU School of Architecture NEAR Lab, Aalborg University BBAR Lab and the Istanbul Medipol University School of Fine Arts, Design and Architecture, the event brought together experts from architecture, psychology, neuroscience, and other disciplines to explore the relationship between human experience and the built environment. 

Among the executive organizers of the symposium was Prof. Attila Dikbaş, Dean of the Istanbul Medipol University School of Fine Arts, Design and Architecture. The organizing committee also included Research Assistant Betül Uçkan from the Department of Architecture and Research Assistant Umutcan Pektetik from the Department of Interior Architecture and Environmental Design at Istanbul Medipol University.
 

DİKBAŞ: THE FUTURE OF ARCHITECTURE WILL BE SHAPED THROUGH MEANINGFUL DIALOGUE
The opening addresses were delivered by Prof. Attila Dikbaş, Dean of the Istanbul Medipol University School of Fine Arts, Design and Architecture, and Prof. Hayriye Eşbah Tunçay, Dean of the ITU School of Architecture.

Prof. Dr. Attila Dikbaş emphasized the profound influence of the built environment on how people think, feel, and behave, underscoring the importance of the relationship between architecture and neuroscience. Highlighting the significance of bringing scientific research together with design practice for the future of architecture, Dikbaş stated:

"Research should not remain confined within universities and laboratories, and architectural practice should not advance independently of research. The future of architecture will be shaped neither solely by intuition nor solely by technology; it will be shaped through a meaningful dialogue among creativity, scientific evidence, technological innovation, and human experience."
 

MEDIPOL ACADEMICS CONTRIBUTED FROM DIVERSE DISCIPLINES
The symposium program also featured academics from various disciplines at Istanbul Medipol University. Prof. Bahar Güntekin, Head of the Department of Biophysics at the School of Medicine and Program Director of the Institute for Health Sciences and Technologies Research (SABITA), presented research on the effects of environmental sound and light stimuli on the human brain.

Meanwhile, Assist. Prof. Nevin Esin Tekin Bellibaş from the Department of Architecture at the School of Fine Arts, Design and Architecture participated in the roundtable session titled "Human-Centered Design" where she evaluated the relationship between human data, design, and spatial experience.
 

INTERNATIONAL RESEARCHERS GATHERED IN ISTANBUL
The symposium brought together leading researchers, academics, and professionals from around the world. Participants included Davide Ruzzon (IUAV, Politecnico di Milano, ANFA), Sarah Robinson (Aalborg University, IUAV), Nour Tawil (Max Planck Institute for Human Development), Yasemin Afacan (Bilkent University), Yaren Şekerci (Antalya Bilim University), Giovanni Vecchiato (CNR, eCampus University), Saleh Kalantari (Cornell University), Fiona Zischand Hugo Spiers (UCL), Panos Mavros (Télécom Paris, Institut Polytechnique de Paris), Burcu Ayşen Ürgen (Bilkent University, UMRAM), Prof. Bahar Güntekin (Istanbul Medipol University, SABITA), Firas Safieddine (Spatial Forces, Urbanitarian, NeuroTechBCN, IAAC), Leman Figen Gül (Istanbul Technical University), Abigail Scott Paul(Heatherwick Studio), Isabella Bower (Deakin University, CAIN Lab, ANFA), Natalia Olszewska (Impronta, IUAV), and Federica Sanchez (Lombardini22, NE+AR), who shared their research and diverse perspectives with participants.

Throughout the three-day symposium, the latest research in architecture and neuroscience was examined under the themes of "Theory", "Methodology" and "Professional Practice" with contributions from experts representing a wide range of disciplines.
 

ACADEMIA AND ARCHITECTURAL PRACTICE MET AT THE SAME TABLE
Roundtable discussions held on the final day of the symposium explored the potential of collaboration between research and design.

The sessions featured Melike Altınışık (Melike Altınışık Architects), Murat Tabanlıoğlu (+Murat Tabanlıoğlu Architecture), Natalia Olszewska (Impronta), Assist. Prof. Nevin Esin Tekin Bellibaş (Istanbul Medipol University), Konuralp Şenol (GAD Architecture), Özer Arusoğlu and Hakan Padar (ARUP), Firas Safieddine (Spatial Forces) and Federica Sanchez (NE+AR Lab). Discussions focused on the future of Human-Centered Design and Research-Based Design practices. 

The sessions examined how research findings can be integrated into architectural design processes, how data on human experience can support design decisions, and how emerging technologies are expected to transform the architectural practice of the future. New approaches that could strengthen the interaction between academic research and professional practice were also brought to the forefront.
 

AN INTERNATIONAL AND INTERDISCIPLINARY RESEARCH ENVIRONMENT
Focusing on interdisciplinary research at the intersection of architecture, neuroscience, technology, and human experience, NEAR Frontiers 2026 brought together researchers, designers, academics, and professionals from different countries in Istanbul, creating a platform for the development of new research collaborations and partnerships.

The event was hosted by Istanbul Technical University and ITU ARI Teknokent, organized in collaboration with the ITU School of Architecture NEAR Lab, Aalborg University BBAR Lab, and the Istanbul Medipol University School of Fine Arts, Design and Architecture, with support from TÜBİTAK, the ITU Development Foundation, and Technobee.

The organization of NEAR Frontiers 2026 was supported by Prof. Attila Dikbaş, Assoc. Prof. Dilek Yıldız Özkan, Assoc. Prof. Zakaria Djebbara, Assist. Prof. Tülay Karakaş, Research Assistant Ecem Karabay, Research Assistant Betül Uçkan, Research Assistant Umutcan Pektetik, Berkay Coşer, Elif Yumurtacı and Shahad Al Samarraie, as well as the organizing committee and the ITU ARI Teknokent team.

NEAR FRONTIERS 2026 CONTINUES WITH ITS WORKSHOP PROGRAM
Following the symposium, NEAR Frontiers 2026 continues with a workshop program taking place between July 30 and August 21, 2026. The workshops aim to translate the questions explored during the symposium into practical studies through experiments, measurements, and collaborative research processes.