Asu Beşgen

Prof. Asu Beşgen is a distinguished Professor at Karadeniz Technical University's Faculty of Architecture, Department of Architecture in Trabzon, Turkey. With a career spanning over three decades at the university, she has progressed from Research Assistant to her current position as Professor, demonstrating exceptional dedication to architectural education and research. She serves in various leadership roles including Alumni Relations Commission Chairperson and Faculty Board Member.

Her educational journey began at Karadeniz Technical University where she completed her undergraduate studies in Architecture (1989-1993), followed by a Master's degree (1993-1996), and ultimately her Doctorate (1996-2001). Her doctoral thesis, "Concept, Conception, Conceptual Analysis in Aesthetics and Architecture: Sampling on the Works of Architecture after 1980," earned her an international competition award from Building Research & Information in the United Kingdom.

Prof. Beşgen's research interests span the rich intersection of architecture, aesthetics, and cultural theory. Her work explores architectural design, building information, architectural aesthetics, and the dialogue between art and architecture throughout the 20th century. She has made significant contributions to understanding spatial concepts through philosophical frameworks, particularly examining how cinema interacts with architectural space. Her recent work has focused on pandemic-era spatial experiences, collective memory in urban contexts, and the revitalization of historic buildings.

Her extensive publication record reveals a consistent focus on architectural education methodology, with particular emphasis on basic design education, the integration of art into design curricula, and innovative teaching strategies. She has also contributed significantly to the understanding of cultural influences on architectural form, with studies examining everything from Anatolian carpets to avant-garde movements.

• International Competition on Ph.D. Thesis in Architecture (1999) from Building Research & Information

Prof. Beşgen has supervised 18 theses throughout her career, guiding doctoral and master's students through research on diverse topics including space plasticity in architecture, cinematic space production, biennales as manifestos, and the relationship between culture, space, and cinema. She has been instrumental in multiple research projects, most notably the EU-supported "Designtrain: Training Tools for Developing Design Education" project (2006-2008), which developed innovative approaches to design education across European institutions.

She leads architectural design studios while teaching courses in architectural theory, art theory, aesthetics, and the relationship between cinema and architecture. Her professional activities extend to numerous committees focused on accreditation, quality assurance, and faculty development within the university structure.