Undergraduate Interior Architecture and Environmental Design Student İrem Berfin Yüce’s Project to Be Used for the Redesign of Dedeman Palandöken Ski Lodge Hotel

The Department of Interior Architecture and Environment Design at Özyeğin University has entered into a comprehensive collaboration with Dedeman Hotels Resorts International to bring the inspiring and creative ideas of prospective young interior designers into the tourism sector.

As part of this project, senior students from the Interior Architecture and Environmental Design Department at Özyeğin University redesigned the “Dedeman Palandöken Ski Lodge” hotel during their 2023-2024 Fall Semester studio course. This opportunity allowed students to design an actual building for a client from the industry before graduation. On January 9, 2024, a final jury made up of Dedeman Hotels & Resorts International Deputy Chairman Murat Özmestçi, architectural team leaders, and brand standards manager selected İrem Berfin Yüce’s project as the winner from among 28 projects. Dedeman purchased the intellectual property rights of the project, with plans to implement it in one of their hotels in the future.

As a testament to Dedeman’s commitment to education and youth, the signing ceremony of the project took place on June 5, 2024. Attendees included Banu Dedeman, Deputy Chair of the Dedeman Holding Board of Directors and a member of the Advisory Board of the Faculty of Applied Sciences at Özyeğin University, Ergün Demiray, Dedeman Hotels & Resorts International Chairman, Murat Özmestçi, Dedeman Hotels & Resorts International Deputy Chairman, Sinem Toy, Dedeman Group Architectural Consultant, Prof. Aslıhan Ünlü, Dean of the Faculty of Architecture and Design at Özyeğin University, Dr. Zeynep Ceylanlı, Head of the Department of Interior Architecture and Environmental Design at Özyeğin University, and the project’s creator, senior Interior Architecture and Environmental Design student İrem Berfin Yüce, alongside other guests. Following İrem Berfin Yüce’s project presentation, the signing ceremony was held to transfer the intellectual property rights to Dedeman.

During the ceremony, Dedeman Holding Deputy Chair Banu Dedeman expressed her long-standing desire to develop and implement projects that bring together the business world with academia. Remarking that she endeavors to make meaningful contributions as a member of the Advisory Board of the Faculty of Applied Sciences at Özyeğin University, Banu Dedeman said: “This partnership recently emerged while discussing different projects. We want to embrace a fresh outlook. As you can see, our chairman is a visionary harnessed with diverse perspectives. I want the business world and academia to collaborate more. I congratulate İrem Berfin Yüce for her outstanding performance and successful project at such a young age before graduation. I wish you success and all the best throughout your career journey. I also congratulate our esteemed professors who have trained you.”

Prof. Aslıhan Ünlü, Dean of the Faculty of Architecture and Design at Özyeğin University, remarked: “We are here for the closing event of the collaboration launched in the 2023 Fall semester between Dedeman Hotels & Resorts International, one of the strongest branches of the Dedeman Group, and the Özyeğin University Interior Architecture and Environmental Design Department. However, this is not just a closing event; I see it as a new partnership and beginning. Offering architectural and design education in collaboration with the industry is invaluable. In our studio course in collaboration with Dedeman Hotels, our students gain significant experience working with industry professionals before graduation. Offered jointly with our Interior Architecture and Environmental Design Program and Hotel Management Program, this projects is a solid testimony of our interdisciplinary education approach at Özyeğin University.”

Dr. Zeynep Ceylanlı, Head of the Department of Interior Architecture and Environmental Design at Özyeğin University, also explained that the idea for collaboration arose in March 2023 and the project began in August 2023. Ceylanlı mentioned that they started working and designing with 28 students between October and December. “We held the final presentations in January, and I am very pleased that our INAR 401 Interior Architecture Studio V course yielded such an outstanding outcome. As part of the studio course, we asked our students to develop site-specific and context-specific solutions for the Palandöken Ski Lodge hotel in alignment with Dedeman’s identity. Additionally, we emphasized that the users are guests and hotel employees in charge of the operations, providing students with a real-time scenario and design problem. Such a unique pre-graduation experience significantly contributes to our students who will become professional interior architects. In the meantime, we strive to make these collaborations permanent to support the sustainability mission of our university, faculty, and department. I want to take this opportunity to thank our students for their unique projects and my colleagues and team members who have greatly contributed to our students’ development,” said Ceylanlı.