Dr Senem Zeybekoglu Sadri is a lecturer and multidisciplinary researcher, with over 25 years of experience in architectural education across Turkey, Northern Cyprus and the UK. She completed her undergraduate, master’s and PhD studies at Yıldız Technical University, Istanbul. Her doctoral research examined urban regeneration in Istanbul through the lens of the right to the city. During her PhD, she was a Fulbright Visiting Researcher at SUNY Binghamton, USA, investigating large-scale urban flagship projects and gentrification. She undertook her postdoctoral research at the City College of New York (CUNY) as a TÜBİTAK fellow (Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey), focusing on grassroots housing organisations, and community-based planning and design.
Senem’s research sits at the intersection of social and spatial justice, grassroots organising, systems thinking and design. Her publications address urban transformation and regeneration, urban social movements, the politics of public space, the right to the city and rights-based architectural education. As a trained Permaculture Designer, ecological designer and Certified Passivhaus Designer, she brings social justice and environmental perspectives together through ecological, regenerative and participatory approaches to architecture and urbanism. She is currently working as a co-investigator on a RIBA Research Funded project “To Build is to Become: Co-Creating the Self, the Earth, and Kinship” which investigates how co-building practices transforms individuals and communities.
Her teaching spans undergraduate and postgraduate levels, with a particular focus on social and spatial justice, ecological and regenerative design, and community-based and participatory practices. At Birmingham City University (BCU), she has led the school-wide live projects module since 2022, enabling students to collaborate with external partners and engage with real-world challenges, clients and communities.
Senem has held several academic leadership positions, including Head of Interior Architecture and Director of Graduate Studies at Girne American University (Northern Cyprus) and Course Director for Design for Future Living and Program Coordinator for the WMCA-funded Retrofit the City Skills Bootcamp at BCU. She was also co-founder and former director of Ecodemia©, an ethical and socio-ecological academic initiative providing educational programmes in ecological and regenerative design.
- Interior Design Major Project
- Urban regeneration and the right to the city
- Social justice in the city
- Community based and participatory design
- Social and political construction of space
- Regenerative & ecological design
- Design thinking
- Design studio teaching
- Passivhaus design
- Permaculture design
- Live projects
- PhD in Architecture, Yildiz Technical University, Istanbul, Turkey
- MSc in Architecture, Yildiz Technical University, Istanbul, Turkey
- BSc in Architecture, Yildiz Technical University, Istanbul, Turkey
- UIA-Chamber of Architects Turkey, since 1999.
Climate justice (with a special focus on overheating and multiple vulnerabilities in cities); community based retrofit in cities and neighbourhoods; live projects pedagogies.
EDITED BOOKS
- Sadri, H., Zeybekoglu, S. (eds) (2022) Cities Without Capitalism, Routledge, Abingdon, OX & New York, NY. ISBN: 978-0-367-37060-2
- Zeybekoglu, S. (ed) (2020) Architecture and Urbanism in the Age of Planetary Crisis, International Conference Proceedings, ECODEMIA, ISBN: 978-1-304-56797-0
- Sadri, H., Zeybekoglu Sadri, S. (2018) Miniatecture: Transition Town Design, GAU Centre for Habitat Studies, ISBN: 978-1-387-48899-5
- Sadri, H., Zeybekoglu Sadri, S. (2018) Architecture, City and Human Rights, GAU Centre for Habitat Studies, ISBN: 978-1-365-95391-0
BOOK CHAPTERS
- Zeybekoğlu Sadri, S. (2017) Kentlerin Dönüşümü ve Kent Hakkı (Title in English: Transformation of Cities and the Right to the City), in Kentsel Dönüşümde İnsan Hakları (Title in English: Human Rights in Urban Regeneration) Turkish Chamber of Architects, Adana Branch, Adana, TURKEY, ISBN No: 978-605-01-1031-9
- Zeybekoglu Sadri, S. (2013) Kentsel Dönüşüm ve Kentte İnsan Hakları (Title in English: Urban Transformation and Human Rights in the City), in Kentsel Dönüşüm ve İnsan Hakları (Title in English: Urban Transformation and Human Rights), pp: 1-16, Bilgi University Publications, Istanbul, ISBN: 978-605-399-274-5
- Zeybekoğlu Sadri, S. (2013) Kent, Kentsel Dönüşüm ve İnsan Hakları(Title in English: City, Urban Transformation and Human Rights). In Sadri, H. & Zeybekoğlu-Sadri, S., Mimarlık, Mekan – Kent, Kentsel Dönüşüm ve İnsan Hakları (Title in English: Architecture, Space – City, Urban Transformation and Human Rights), pp: 35-58, Antalya: Antalya Chamber of Architects. ISBN:9786050104448.
- Zeybekoglu Sadri, S. (2009) Heritage vs. Living Culture: The Fener-Balat Districts Rehabilitation Project in Istanbul, in Frank Eckardt & Luise Nyström (Eds.) Culture and the City (pp: 103-117). Berlin: BWV Berliner Wissenschafts-Verlag. ISBN: 978-3-8305-1640-8
- Zeybekoglu, S. (2009) Erken Cumhuriyet Döneminde Sanayi Komplekslerinin Mekansal Analizi: Nazilli, Kayseri, Bursa, Eskişehir (Title in English: Spatial Analysis of Industrial Complexes of Early Republican Period: Nazilli, Kayseri, Bursa, Eskişehir)”, in Ali Cengizkan (ed.) Fabrikada Barınmak Erken Cumhuriyet Döneminde Türkiye’de İşçi Konutları: Yaşam, Mekan ve Kent(Title in in English: To settle in the Factory Workers’ Houses of Early Republican Period in Turkey: Life, Space and the City), pp: 215-253, Arkadaş Yayınevi, Ankara. ISBN: 978-975-509-606-3
- Zeybekoglu, S. (2008) Regenerating Public Istanbul. Two Projects on the Golden Horn, in Frank Eckardt and Kathrin Wildner (eds.) Public Istanbul: Spaces and the Spheres of the Urban, pp:163-185, Transcript Verlag, Bielefeld. ISBN: 978-3-89942-865-0
ARTICLES
- Zeybekoğlu Sadri, S. Sadri, H. (2019) Miniature as a way of representation in design studio: a case study, in Archnet-IJAR International Journal of Architectural Research, Voume 13, issue 2.
- Sadri, H., Zeybekoğlu Sadri, S., (2019) İstanbul’u Kentsizleştirme Atölyesi Sonuç Raporu (Title in English: The Final Report of De-Urbanizing Istanbul Workshop), XXI Magazine, September 2019.
- Sadri, H., Zeybekoğlu Sadri, S. (2018) De-Urbanization and the Right to the De-Urbanized City, in Anduli, Social Science Journal, No:17. ISSN: 1696-0270 (Print), 2340-4973.
- Zeybekoğlu Sadri, S. (2017) Oeuvre vs. Abstract Space: Appropriation of Gezi Park in Istanbul,in Journal of Contemporary Urban Affairs, V:1(2), pp: 1-10. ISSN: 2475-6156 (print), 2475-6164 (online).
- Zeybekoğlu Sadri, S. (2017) The Scale of Public Space: Taksim Square in Istanbul,in Journal of Contemporary Urban Affairs, V:1(1), pp: 67-75. ISSN: 2475-6156 (print), 2475-6164 (online).
- Zeybekoğlu Sadri, S., Sadri, H. (2017) Learning Through Activism: Design of Alsancak National Freedom Park in Cyprus, in XXI Magazine, August 2017, http://xximagazine.com/c/learning-through-activism-design-of-alsancak-national-freedom-park-in-cyprus
- Prehl, S. & Zeybekoğlu-Sadri, S. (2014) Istanbul – City of Risk: Public Space Planning for Risk Mitigation,in Derive, 54, 27-31. ISSN: 1608-8131.
- Sadri, H. & Zeybekoğlu-Sadri, S. (2013) Özgürleştirici Mimarlık Eğitimi (Title in English: Liberating Architectural Education),in Eleştirel Pedagoji (Title in English: Critical Pedagogy), V:28(July 2013), pp: 60-66.
- Sadri, H. & Zeybekoğlu-Sadri, S. (2010) İnsan Hakları Odaklı Tasarım Atölyesi (Title in English: “Human Rights “Based Design Studio) in TMMOB Mimarlar Odası Ankara Şubesi Bülten (Turkish Chamber of Architects Ankara Section Bulletin), V:84, pp: 42-43.
- Zeybekoglu Sadri, S. (2008) Evaluation of Fener and Balat Rehabilitation Program in Context of Right to the City, in Sigma Journal Papers Produced from PhD Theses Presented at Institute of Science and Technology Yildiz Technical University, V:1(1), pp: 49-65.
CONFERENCES
Proceedings
- Sadri, H. & Zeybekoğlu-Sadri, S. (2012)The Right to Appropriation: Spatial Rights and the Use of Space. In Proceedings of [Re] Appropriation of the City Tirana Architecture Week Scientific Conference (p:93), organized by Tirana Polis University. Tirana, Albany: Botime Afrojdit. (ISBN:978-9928-4053-9-5).
- Zeybekoglu-Sadri S. & Sadri, H. (2009) Commodification by Conservation: Tourism-led Transformation of Historical Heritage in Istanbul. In Proceedings ofTraditions and Transformations: Tourism, Heritage and Cultural Change in the Middle East and North Africa Region Conference, organized by Centre for Tourism and Cultural Change. Leeds, UK: Leeds Metropolitan University. ISBN: 978-1-907240-01-0.
- Sadri, H. & Zeybekoglu-Sadri, S. (2009) (Re/De) Construction of City and Society: Transitions from Soviet to Post-Soviet Era in Baku City. In Sengul Oymen Gur (Ed.), Proceedings of LIVENARCH IV, (Re/De) Constructions in Architecture InternationalConference (Volume II, pp: 435-448). Istanbul: Vizyon Printing Center. ISBN:97897501716-2-8.
- Onal, F. & Zeybekoglu, S. (2007) The Functional and Spatial Transformation in the Golden Horn. In C.A. Brebbia (Ed.), Proceedings of Structural Studies, Repairs and Maintenance of Heritage Architecture X Conference(pp: 23-32). Southampton: WIT Press. ISBN: 978-1-84564-085-9.
Papers presented
- Zeybekoglu-Sadri, S. (2026) Live Projects in the Face of Housing and Energy Crisis: A Case Study from Birmingham, UK. Contemporary Teaching in a Time of Change: A Focus on Pedagogy 2026 Conference,organised by Universidad Politécnica de Madrid | Routledge | AMPS. A. 24-26 June 2026. virtual madrid focus on pedagogy | amps
- Zeybekoglu-Sadri, S. (2010) Changing Urban Patterns and Human Rights in the City. Social Forum of Architecture, Chamber of Architects Ankara Section, 21-23 October 2010, Ankara, Turkey.
- Zeybekoglu-Sadri, S. & Sadri, H. (2009) Right to the Metropolitan City: Challenges of Democracy in Taksim Square. Metropolitan Desires: Cultural Reconfigurations of the European City Space Conference, Manchester European Research Institute, Manchester Metropolitan University, 8-9 September 2009, Manchester, England.
- Sadri, H. & Zeybekoglu-Sadri, S. (2009) A Human Rights Based Approach to the Politics of Space. The Politics of Space and Place Conference, Center for Applied Philosophy, Politics and Ethics, Brighton University, 16-18 September 2009, Brighton England.
- Sadri, H. & Zeybekoglu-Sadri, S. (2008) Istanbul 2010 and the right to the city: Challenges of the European Capital of Culture. The Right to the City: New Challenges, New Issues Conference, European Science Foundation and Linkoping University, 11-15 October 2008, Vadstena SWEDEN.
Contributed as Invited Speaker
- Zeybekoglu-Sadri, S. (2024) Community Led Initiatives for Regenerative Transformation of Cities.7th International Conference On Contemporary Architecture And Urbanism, organised by Alanya University, 23 May, Alanya, TURKEY.
- Zeybekoglu-Sadri, S. (2021) Regenerative Architecture. ICOLES – 4th International Conference on Life and Engineering Sciences, organised by Fenerbahce University, 24 Sep. 2021, Istanbul, TURKEY.
- Zeybekoglu-Sadri, S. (2020) Resilient Cities and Transition Movement Panel on: “Ecological, Local and Environmental Dimensions of Resilient Cities”, 5th Good Design Izmir Event (online), organized by Izmir Mediterranean Academy, 14 Dec. 2020, TURKEY.
- Sadri, H. Zeybekoglu-Sadri, S. (2017) De-Urbanising Cyprus, Workshop SummerLab2017organized by University
- College London, 20 Sep. 2017, Nicosia, CYPRUS.
- Zeybekoglu-Sadri, S. (2017) The Social Ecology of Urbanisation, SHCAD SEMINAR “Social Scapes”07 Jun. 2017, Home for Cooperation, Nicosia, CYPRUS.
- Zeybekoglu-Sadri, S. & Hossein Sadri (2016) Less Architecture More Ethics. “1st Ethics and the Built Environment Symposium”,organized byUniversity of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA.
She developed and led the , an professional training programme delivered in partnership with the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) and BCU School of Architecture. The programme brought together experts from academia, industry and community organisations to deliver sessions of retrofit across building, neighbourhood and community scales, addressing Net Zero, fuel poverty, sustainable materials, community-led retrofit and green skills. Through expert-led workshops, site visits and practical activities, the programme strengthened knowledge exchange between academia, industry and communities while developing participants’ capacity to apply retrofit principles within their professional practice.
