“Merhaba” Graduation Project Awards Supported by Young Talent Sponsorship

Kastamonu Entegre continuing to support young architects

A leader in the wood-based panel industry, Kastamonu Entegre empowers the “Merhaba” Student Graduation Project Awards 2025 organized by the Izmir Association of Independent Architects (Izmir SMD), as the “Young Talent Sponsor.” The competition brings the creative initial projects of young architects into the spotlight.

As a pioneering brand in the wood-based panel industry, Kastamonu Entegre announced its support for the “Merhaba” Student Graduation Project Awards 2025 as the Young Talent Sponsor. The program, which has been organized annually since 2017, aims to showcase graduation projects of undergraduate students from architecture schools in Izmir, while encouraging young architects and fostering an inspiring professional environment.

Graduation projects: the first step in a professional journey

The competition highlights graduation projects that use design as a creative means of expression and establish strong connections with their context. Using the motto “Merhaba: not Just a Competition, but a Threshold to the Profession”, the competition is open to fall and spring semester graduation projects, conducted in a single stage and entirely online.

Participants submit their applications free of charge and without pre-registration on Izmir SMD website, and deliver their projects digitally.

This year’s awards include two equivalent prizes of TRY 30,000 each, as well as the Burcu Özen Kundak Special Award of the same value. In addition, seven projects will receive exhibition awards. Award-winning projects will be displayed at a ceremony organized by Izmir SMD, printed on exhibition panels. These projects will later be featured across all the association’s printed and digital publications. Additionally, all submitted projects will be archived on Izmir SMD website, creating a permanent resource.