Competition Theme

The AMORF VI. Natural Stone Design Competition is being held this year under the theme "The Transformative and Healing Nature of Stone."

Stone is formed over millions of years by compression, kneading, and layering. In this sense, it is not merely a building material; it is the earth's way of recording time. Time can be read in the surface, texture, weight, and strength of stone. This temporality bears a strong parallel to the long-term relationship humans have with health and life.

Humans are living beings that exist over time and strive to maintain their health and well-being within this continuity. Health and well-being require continuity, resilience, and a balanced living environment rather than rapidly consumed, temporary solutions. For this reason, stone has been one of the most fundamental and indispensable components of spaces that people have associated with health and quality of life throughout history.

Under the theme "The Transformative and Healing Nature of Stone," this year's participants are invited to approach natural stone not merely as an aesthetic element, but as a design component that supports well-being through its structural, spatial, and sensory qualities, embodying elegance within its historical continuity.

Within this scope, participants are expected to develop holistic design approaches that address the following points together:

• Physical properties of natural stone (strength, density, abrasion resistance),
• Sensory qualities (texture, thermal sensation, surface contact),
• Spatial potential (mass, void, stratification, light and shadow relationships),
• Construction and service life (long-term performance, maintenance requirements, aging patterns).

Design proposals are expected to be developed at a spatial scale, particularly through scenarios focused on interior space usage, while considering production processes, feasibility, and scalability criteria. 

Experiments can be conducted with the combined use of multiple natural stone types, different surface treatment techniques (cutting, carving, honing, burning, etc.), and modular–monolithic construction approaches.

During the competition process, design decisions should be evaluated based on:

• their contribution to user health and comfort,
• temporal continuity and durability approach,
• spatial experience and scale relationship,
• original and correct use of natural stone,
• sustainability,
• potential for production and widespread use

Expectations of the Natural Stone Sector

• To develop projects that are strong in design, producible, high in added value, environmentally conscious, and sustainable for natural stone exports,
• To increase competitiveness in natural stone exports,
• Contribute to the development of the sector and the national economy,
• Bring together professionals from disciplines that support multidisciplinary work with companies in the natural stone sector and professional designers, architects, and interior designers interested in the sector, and reward successful designers in this field,
• To contribute to the building culture in Turkey and experimental material studies based on natural stone, to support creative ideas and projects,
• To promote design and application in the Turkish natural stone sector,
• Creating contemporary designs for the future, taking into account the historical use of natural stone in Anatolia,
• Contributing to the development of future lifestyles by utilizing technological capabilities (Internet of Things, smart building projects, etc.).

Expectations from Designers

Projects/designs participating in the 6th AMORF Natural Stone Project and Design Competition must be designed in the areas specified below. The designs to be created are expected to be exportable, increase export competitiveness, be producible, and contribute to the development of the sector and the country's economy.

• Landmark structure
• Urban furniture
• Furniture (interior and exterior)
• Partitioning element (interior and exterior) (removable)
• Cladding (interior and exterior)
• Accessory
• Design projects related to the evaluation and economic utilization of marble waste
• Experimental research, ideas, and designs focused on natural stone (studies that support innovative sustainable ideas for the reuse of waste and facilitate the development of these ideas)

Application Requirements

The competition participation requirements are listed below. 

• Born between December 31, 1975, and January 1, 2000.
• The competition is open to anyone who, as of the application date, holds a four-year bachelor's degree from a design-related department within a university unit offering education in architecture, interior architecture, architecture and engineering, art and design, fine arts, and design; or who holds a master's or doctoral degree from a related field of study; or who is currently enrolled as a master's or doctoral student in a related department within such a unit. Participants may enter the competition individually or as a team. A team may consist of up to 3 members. Each team member must have graduated from one of the above-mentioned undergraduate or graduate programs. Applications submitted by candidates who do not meet the graduation requirement will not be considered valid.