Khairi Atak: "It is extremely important that the materials used correspond to the location and the spirit of the building itself"

Hayri Atak is a Turkish architect who actively applies the concepts of futurism and information technology in architecture. Among his projects, for example, the Squall Tower in New York, which will be able to rotate around its axis and generate energy.

Hayri Atak conducts seminars and is also a guest lecturer at a number of universities in Istanbul. He has been awarded numerous awards at international competitions and is a member of the jury of various national and international competitions.In an interview with 100+, Khairy talked about how he founded his own bureau, why he creates projects that are almost impossible to implement, and what he thinks about eco-friendly construction.

– You created your bureau quite recently, in 2017.  What kind of mission did you envisage for him then? And has this mission changed since that time?

– Before founding our design bureau, I and several of my partners worked in the construction industry. At the end of this journey, I got to know myself better and clearly realized that I was more attracted to the design direction. Anyone is looking for themselves and strives to find the most suitable work environment for themselves. It affects his whole life. When the search is completed, the workflow becomes more and more enjoyable. And the positive effect of this is very noticeable. My search led me to create a more efficient and productive environment. Thus, I would say that the main mission of our office is to create an environment that will bring about excellence and innovation. This approach has not changed since its founding in 2017.

– How did it happen that you moved from interior design to design futuristic skyscrapers?

– Design and creation are two phenomena that are always important to me. In this regard, we work on different scales: from interiors to larger projects. We are looking for solutions where they need to be found. While I was studying for a bachelor's degree in interior architecture, I studied with architects for two years in parallel. I also studied architecture at Auburn University for a year. I have a master's degree in the field of Facade Design Technology. I studied different disciplines and thus formed my vision. There were aspirations of their own. I don't think these two directions are fundamentally different. Our passion is to create ideas of any scale.

– One of your most famous projects is the Cliff Concept Boutique Hotel in Norway. Do you think it will ever be built? And if not in this place, then maybe somewhere else? Many people are skeptical about the project now.

– Cliff Concept Boutique Hotel is a conversation with time on the topic of returning to the essence of man. This is a concept that evokes a sense of remoteness and a desire to return to the roots. It is extremely interesting for us to place the user in such an atmosphere, in another space with a sense of height, beauty of silhouette and place. The construction site is important. There are investors who are interested in this project. Even if it doesn't work out in Norway, we think that the hotel will find its own suitable location.

– Continuing this theme, your concepts often go into the realm of fiction. Are you upset that the probability of their implementation is low? What is the purpose of creating such projects?

– We don't create all projects with the idea "this should be built." One of the main approaches of our office is to keep ideas fresh. To do this, we conduct brainstorming sessions. There are projects that we do not create for investors and customers. Complete freedom. For us, this is similar to the process of an artist working on a painting. No artist paints from a "just to sell" position. Artists are far from this, and therefore their work is moving into the field of art.  I would say that we are following a similar path.

– One of your latest projects is a rotating Squall Tower capable of generating electricity. How did you come up with this idea? According to your calculations, how much will it cost to build the tower and will these investments ever pay off?

– The Squall Tower project was created on the same principle as the Eco-Floating Hotel project, a hotel that would generate electricity by rotating around its axis. The fundamental goal was to create a futurist-style facility that would meet its own energy and efficiency needs. We believe that we have created a project that leaves a unique mark on the architectural appearance of the city and gives new impressions at any time of the day to both users of the facility and passers-by. I would like to add that it is impossible to carry out accurate calculations, because the costs of construction and energy, as well as the subsequent payback, will depend on the potential locations for the facility. The production capacity also depends on the location. We are still in the discussion stage with investors.

– Do you think the future belongs to skyscrapers or ordinary buildings? And why?

– The work of our bureau is a look into the future and what it will contain. Futurism is very close to us. We think that this direction is clearly visible in our work. Nevertheless, we believe that every designer adds something different to the project, because he has his own vision of his work. This vision can profoundly affect the essence of the work itself. Thus, even the concepts of "skyscraper" and "ordinary building" can change dramatically if placed in the context of another story. It is also valuable for us that projects are being created that move society forward. Any project can be implemented on various scales. It all depends on the place that suits his spirit. Thus, along with the development of technology, buildings will also develop, and they will be noticeably different from the current ones.

– Do you think it is possible to call construction environmentally friendly now? Have you thought about what legacy we will leave to future generations?

– There are projects that disrupt the harmony between man and nature. They apply less and less knowledge about interactions with nature and experience in this. Users see nature as a resource for consumption. In this regard, it is important that architects preserve the memory of this knowledge. And it is also extremely important that the materials used correspond to the location and the spirit of the building itself. We create projects that cause minimal damage to the environment, as well as produce energy for ourselves using the necessary technologies. In this way, we embody our current and future vision.

– What topic would you like to speak on at 100+? Why are you interested in this event?

– We would like to talk about our vision of the future and our leading projects. It will be useful to talk about our conceptual projects and future projects. Let's talk about our hotel project on the water. Discussions with investors and work are still ongoing, and this project may become a valuable topic for discussion.