A youthful touch to stained glass art

Izmir University of Economics (IUE) organized a special workshop titled ‘Anlam Pencereleri’ (Windows of Meaning) to convey the importance of stained glass, defined as decorative glass art, in interior architecture and cultural heritage to its students. Prof. Dr. Zsuzsanna Böröcz, a faculty member at the University of Antwerp and President of DOCOMOMO Belgium (an institution focused on preserving modern heritage) known for her successful works in the field of art, came to the city as a guest of IUE to share her knowledge and experience with students. During the program, which was attended by students from the Department of Interior Architecture and Environmental Design as well as the Design Studies graduate program, visits were made to URCA Glassblowing Studio, Alemdar Stained Glass and Ege Stained Glass Workshops, and St. John's Church, which houses notable examples of stained glass.

NEXT YEAR IN BELGIUM

Students developed original designs for contemporary uses of stained glass and prepared presentation posters. Certificates were presented to the participants at the end of the event. As part of the program, ideas were also exchanged regarding new collaborations to be developed between the University of Antwerp and Izmir University of Economics. During the discussions, an Erasmus BIP (Blended Intensive Programme) agreement was signed through the IUE Office of International Affairs, and it was decided that the next meeting would take place at the University of Antwerp in April 2027.

“A POWERFUL DESIGN TOOL”

Prof. Dr. Deniz Hasırcı, a faculty member at the IUE Department of Interior Architecture and Environmental Design, stated that she and Prof. Dr. Böröcz have shared a long-standing collaboration and friendship. Emphasizing that stained glass should be considered a powerful design tool experienced more inside a building than from the outside, Prof. Dr. Hasırcı said: “Stained glass is an established art form created by assembling colored or painted glass pieces using various techniques, generating a constantly shifting effect based on light. The light filtering through the glass creates distinct colors, shadows, and atmospheres depending on the time of day and the space it occupies. In this respect, stained glass does not merely decorate a structure; it directly influences how a space is perceived, as well as its soul and memory. We wanted our students to gain knowledge and develop themselves in glass art and stained glass, which have a significant history in our country, and to explore and design based on what stained glass can offer in modern design applications.”

“ENHANCED DESIGN DEVELOPMENT SKILLS”

Prof. Dr. Hasırcı stated that theoretical knowledge was reinforced through field studies and design activities during the workshop, saying: “Our students had the opportunity to observe firsthand the relationship between materials, light, color, space, and cultural heritage. They then developed their own interpretations and transformed the experiences they gained into original designs. We would like to thank Prof. Dr. Zsuzsanna Böröcz for sharing her knowledge and experience with our students and making valuable contributions to our workshop. We would also like to extend our thanks to our esteemed faculty members Prof. Dr. Ender Yazgan Bulgun and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Emre Ergül; Prof. Els de Vos, Head of the Department of Interior Architecture at the University of Antwerp, who accompanied the visit and provided significant support in strengthening the collaboration; our Director of International Relations, Hülya İncekara; members of the organizing team, Asst. Prof. Dr. İdil Bakır Küçükkaya, Research Assistant Elif Gündoğdu, and Secretary İpek Uyarer; all those who kindly hosted us during our visits; our second-year team; and our students. We believe that this gathering will also serve as a strong starting point for new academic initiatives and student collaborations to be developed between our universities,” she said.