Architectural Workshop for Children from CIU
The Social Responsibility Committee of the Faculty of Fine Arts, Design and Architecture of Cyprus International University (CIU), in collaboration with the Nicosia Turkish Municipality, organized a special architectural workshop for children at the Nicosia Children’s Centre on the occasion of the World Children’s Day. Arabahmet Primary School students attended to the “Architectural Environmental Awareness,” workshop.
The event, planned as a five-stage interactive program, was carried out under the leadership of Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nezire Özgece and Dr. Bedia Tekbıyık Tekin, representing the CIU Faculty of Fine Arts, Design, and Architecture.
The program started with the introduction of the concept of architecture to the children. The children were informed about architectural thought and design principles with questions such as “What is architecture?” and “What does it represent?” Then, the “Take Me to School / Find My School” game, which aimed to develop orientation and logical thinking skills, was played. The children tried to find the school and important structures by following the clues on the model map of the walled city of Nicosia.
At another stage of the game “Guess Where Is It?” aimed at developing observation skills, students were asked to make predictions based on close-up photographs of buildings around the school. In the last part of the program, workshops were held that highlighted children’s imagination and creative design skills. In the activities titled “My Dream School Garden” and “My Dream School Building,” children drew and coloured their school designs and shared and exhibited their ideas.
Mehmet Harmancı, the Mayor of Nicosia Turkish Municipality, who attended the event, presented certificates of appreciation to the faculty representatives at the end of the program.
Asst. Prof. Dr. Nezire Özgece, in her evaluation after the workshop, said, “On this special day as a result of spending time with children, we saw that architecture is not only built with structures but also with dreams. We tried to show them how to read spaces and how to look at their surroundings more carefully. However, we learned from them. This event reminded us all how humane and life-related architecture is.”
Dr. Bedia Tekbıyık Tekin said in his statement, “With this workshop, we organized as part of the World Children’s Day, we aimed to raise children’s awareness of architecture and the environment at an early age. We opened up space for them to think creatively, observe their surroundings, and design using their imagination. Their perspectives inspired us.”