AMORF Natural Stone Project and Design Competition, organized for the 80th time with the theme of "Add Art to Stone", with the support of the Ministry of Trade, by Aegean Mineral Exporters' Association, which is the leader in Turkey's natural stone exports and exports 4% of its exports as processed products. Applications close on 9 October.
For the first time this year, before the final, a technical trip was organized with the competitors to Marmara Island, the birthplace of marble, on August 22, and to Şenler Marble showroom, Eminoğlu SBV showroom and production factory, Ege Natural Stone mine quarry in İzmir on August 24.
İbrahim Alimoğlu, President of the Aegean Mineral Exporters' Association, explained that they organized the AMORF Natural Stone Design and Production Competition for the 4th time this year, which acts as a bridge between the natural stone industry and architects and designers, in order to increase the export of value-added products:
“In the January-July period of 2023, Turkey's overall natural stone exports amounted to 1,2 billion dollars. Processed product exports, on the other hand, amounted to 7 million dollars in the 715-month period. The share of processed product exports was 66 percent. In the Aegean, the share of processed products has increased from 75 percent to 80 percent in recent years. We aim to increase this to 90 percent with our Amorf Natural Stone Design Competition. We held the award ceremony of our competition, which received more than 400 applications last year, with a large participation. A total of 1220 people applied to our competition in three years. We expect a large participation this year as well. With the designers and architects who applied to our competition, we organized a technical trip to Marmara Island, İzmir and Manisa, the birthplace of marble, where Turkey's most valuable natural stone comes from and marble has been produced for 4000 years.”
President Alimoğlu said, “Amorf is a competition opened to all departments related to design and production, where we aim to use natural stone in all areas of life. Therefore, our technical trip was very productive in order to increase the applicability of the project drawn by our competitors on the map to real life and to make more applicable and producible designs. While Dereli Marble, Şenler Mermer, Eminoğlu SBV, and Ege Natural Stone companies hosted our competitors, our competitors saw all the stages from the processing of natural stone to the export part, and sustainable mining processes suitable for occupational health and safety in one day.” said.
İbrahim Alimoğlu said, “As one of the oldest marble producers in the world, Turkey offers 150 different kinds of natural stone and 650 color and pattern options to the world. Our competitors offer varieties such as Süpren, Elazığ Cherry, Akşehir Black, Manyas White, Bilecik Beige, Tiger Skin, Denizli Travertine, Aegean Bordeaux, Milas Lilac, Gemlik Diabase and Afyon Sugar, which are among the most well-known marble varieties in the international market, as well as many varieties such as Brazil and South Africa. They had the chance to examine and get information about many processed and semi-processed value-added natural stones in many different colors and patterns, mainly green, white and orange, brought from the country, together with industry professionals. It is a great achievement for them to come together with the leading names of the sector and to provide a strong network. In parallel with the competition, we created a synergy by bringing our designers and engineers together with the industrialists.” he said.
Contest topics and objectives
The projects/designs that will participate in the 4th Amorf Natural Stone Project and Design Competition must be designed on the following subjects. Alternative outdoor designs, interior furniture, accessories, divider elements, including but not limited to design projects, outdoor furniture, landmarks, urban furniture, sculptures, divider elements, coatings, lighting and applications related to the evaluation and economic use of marble residues. Alternative interior designs, including but not limited to coatings, lighting and applications, natural stone-focused experimental research, ideas, designs (works that support innovative sustainable ideas for the reuse of wastes and lead the development of these ideas).
With the Natural Stone Project and Design Competition; Developing strong, producible, high added value, environmentally friendly and sustainable projects in natural stone exports, increasing the competitiveness of natural stone exports, contributing to the development of the sector and the country's economy, companies in the natural stone sector and professional designers, architects and interior designers interested in the sector. Bringing architects and professionals from the professions that will support multidisciplinary work with the industry and rewarding successful designers in this field, contributing to the building culture and natural stone-based experimental material studies in Turkey, supporting creative ideas and projects, emphasizing the importance of design and application in the Turkish natural stone industry and promoting the idea of design. It is aimed to contribute to the development of life styles in the near future (Internet of Things, Smart building projects, etc.) by using technological opportunities.
Conditions of Participation
At the age of 25 as of the date of application to the competition; Not to be over 50 years old. (Being born between December 31, 1973 and January 1, 1998.) As of the date of application to the competition, it is open to graduates of undergraduate or graduate departments of the Faculties of Architecture, Engineering, Fine Arts and Design and design-related programs of other faculties. Participants can participate in the competition individually or as a team. A team can consist of a maximum of 3 people. Each of the team members must have graduated from a bachelor's or master's program. Applications of candidates who apply but do not meet the graduation requirement will not be considered valid.
Awards
Money awards
First prize 125 thousand TL
Second place 75 thousand TL
Third place 50 thousand TL
Production support
Study abroad scholarship award and international promotion award
Application deadline
9 October 2023, 17:00