Zeynep Ünsal

As a co-founder and project manager at Aks Creative Hub — a strategic design studio working in the field of CCI, I lead interdisciplinary projects at the intersection of architecture, planning, design and sustainability since 2019. Notable projects include the “EU Youth Forum - NEB Days: Renewal for Resilience” and the “Once Waste: Collaborative Recycling Pavilion” at the New European Bauhaus Festival. In 2022, I represented Turkiye at the Mediterranean Worlds Forum, France and contributed to global dialogues on design and sustainability.

I hold a Bachelor’s degree in Architecture from Çankaya University (2021) and completed my Master’s degree (2025) with a thesis entitled "Bruno Taut's City Crown (Die Stadtkrone) Utopia and Its Reflections in Ankara." My academic research primarily explores modern architecture, architectural history, creativity, design thinking, and urban utopias. In addition to my studies, I have served as a teaching assistant at Çankaya University, where I contributed to courses in architectural design, building materials, and cultural heritage, further enhancing my academic and pedagogical experience.

Through my Erasmus+ internship at BASIS Vinschgau Venosta, (2024) I gained hands-on experience in ecological and socio-economic development. I further expanded my expertise through the British Council's Creative Economy Online Learning Programme (2023).

Areas of Expertise: Sustainable Design Approaches in Architecture, Cultural and Creative Industries, New European Bauhaus, Sustainable Development Goals, EU Funds & EU Policies, Urban Policies and Participation, Design Thinking.