Integrating Contemporary Methods with the Rowena Reed Kostellow Methodology, Workshop & Exhibition, Bilkent University, Ankara, Turkiye, January–February 2026

By Karen Stone and Munire Kirmaci

"Integrating Contemporary Methods with the Rowena Reed Kostellow Methodology, Workshop & Exhibition
Bilkent University, Ankara, Türkiye — January–February 2026

This exhibition presents the outcomes of a Three-Dimensional Design Workshop held at Bilkent University in Ankara, Türkiye, exploring the integration of contemporary methods with the design methodology developed by Rowena Reed Kostellow.

The workshop engaged ninety Interior Architecture and Environmental Design students in a two-week intensive investigation of form and spatial relationships through both physical and digital modes of making. Working with tactile materials alongside digital modeling and visualization tools, students examined the reciprocal relationship between hand-based processes and computational methods. This integrated approach strengthened spatial reasoning, encouraged experimentation, and fostered creative confidence.

The exhibition presents selected student work and process documentation demonstrating how foundational studies of form and space can evolve through contemporary tools and technologies. By revisiting Rowena Reed Kostellow’s principles within a current design context, the project highlights how traditional studio practices can complement and expand digital exploration. The work reflects the students’ engagement with three-dimensional form, conceptual frameworks, and iterative experimentation in their fourth year of study.

Objectives
• Showcase student work illustrating the interplay between tactile experimentation and digital exploration.
• Encourage dialogue about hands-on investigations of form and space and the application of conceptual design frameworks.
• Highlight applications of Rowena Reed Kostellow’s foundational principles through both physical and digital methods.

The exhibit will share on-going discussions and visits, continuing throughout SPR 2026, fostering conversation and collaboration around foundational design pedagogy and its value in contemporary practice, with the following universities;
• Middle East Technical University, Ankara
• Istanbul Bilgi University, Istanbul
• Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim
• Oslo School of Architecture and Design, Oslo
• Konstfack University of Arts, Crafts and Design, Stockholm

Through these visits, the aim is to expand dialogue and renew the teaching of foundational design principles for contemporary design education."