Eastern Mediterranean University focuses on critical thinking in architecture education

Nazife Özay, an Assistant Professor in the Department of Architecture at Eastern Mediterranean University (EMU), has outlined the evolving philosophy of architectural education. She emphasizes that architecture is not merely a profession for building design, but a discipline that shapes human lifestyles, social relationships, and urban identities.

According to Özay, modern architects perform diverse roles, including urban analysis, cultural heritage preservation, and the development of sustainable environments using human-centered technology. Consequently, architectural training must go beyond technical instruction to foster a culture of critical thinking. The goal is to produce designers who can research, question, and provide creative solutions to global challenges rather than simply memorizing ready-made solutions.