ŞANALarc is a knowledge-centric design practice focused on civic and civil architecture, research and city-design situated in Istanbul. The firm explores how unique qualities of place, intertwined with technology, art and social life, generate distinctive and expressive environments. Intensifying space, celebrating the natural environment, and delighting the imagination are valued in each of the practice’s architectural endeavors. Professional efforts are focused on design as a contributor to civic society and nature by exploring cultural values, sustainable design principles, local ecology, natural light, geometry, local materials, and available craft and dexterity in construction methods.
Superpool is a research-based architecture practice initiated by Selva Gürdoğan and Gregers Tang Thomsen in 2006 in Istanbul and in 2017 in Copenhagen. Superpool is interested in local practice and its contribution to global discourse. It tries to understand, remember, inspire the city and its future.
The office has done this through its own projects as well as running intivativs such as Studio-X Istanbul.