Keynote Speakers
MELİKE ALTINIŞIK
Founder – Melike Altınışık Architects (MAA)
Melike Altınışık, as an architect and designer, is dedicated to developing innovative and visionary projects in architecture, urbanism, and design. She leads her international architecture practice MAA with offices based in Istanbul, Turkey and in Seoul, South Korea.
MAA’s work includes the CTBUH 2022 “Best Tall Non-Building 2022” winning project with advanced technology and innovation, such as the futuristic 369m supertall Çamlıca Tower in Istanbul and the world’s first pioneering Robot and AI Museum (RAIM) in Seoul.
Her work has been commended with a number of awards, including ’ Europe 40 under 40’ (2018), and she has been listed in RIBA’s book ‘100 Women: Architects in Practice’ (2024).
KONGPYUNG JUSTIN MOON
Assistant Professor – National University of Singapore (NUS)
Kongpyung Justin Moon (문공평), M.Arch, Ph.D., is an assistant professor at the National University of Singapore (NUS), College of Design and Engineering, Division of Industrial Design. His work lies at the intersection of design, digital fabrication, smart materials, and human-computer interaction, with a focus on democratizing access to advanced manufacturing technologies. He develops generative design tools for fabricating thermo-reactive and electrically conductive materials, enabling the creation of interactive prototypes. His projects have been published in leading Human-Computer Interaction venues such as ACM CHI and UIST, and in top engineering journals including Additive Manufacturing. His works have also been exhibited internationally, including Ars Electronica (Austria), Tate Britain (UK), and the Barbican Centre (UK). He holds a Ph.D. in Industrial Design from KAIST, an M.Arch (Distinction) from the Bartlett School of Architecture at UCL, and a B.Arch (Honors) from Middle East Technical University (METU), Turkey.
GÜRKAN AKDOĞAN
General Manager – Polarkon Metal Structures
Gürkan Akdoğan received his B.Sc. (1988) and M.Sc. (1991) in Mechanical Engineering from Middle East Technical University. Since 1995, he has been the General Manager of Polarkon Metal Structures, a company renowned for its expertise in large-span steel structures and digitally fabricated architectural systems.
Under his leadership, Polarkon has completed landmark projects across the Middle East, Europe, and Africa, pioneering integrated design-to-build processes and structural health monitoring technologies such as the patented PYSIS system. Bridging engineering innovation and architectural ambition, Akdoğan brings a unique perspective to computational design practices in construction. His keynote address reflects his long-standing commitment to advancing digital fabrication and structural design in architecture.
