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Zeynep Tümertekin was born in 1991 in Istanbul and moved to London in 2011 to pursue her university studies at Central Saint Martins (University of the Arts), where she earned her Bachelor of Arts in Architecture in 2015.
After graduating, she worked at Eisenman Architects in New York until 2016.
Zeynep co-founded Studio Mada, an architecture and design office focused on material research and spatial narratives, which is now undertaking the first passivhaus project in Turkey among other commercial and residential projects.
She also co-founded Exhibition Archive, a platform for exhibition design and archiving, which has designed exhibitions for Akbank Sanat, Mixer Gallery, Kendi Collection, and Mamut Art Project.
Between 2016 and 2019, she worked at Mimarlar ve Han Tümertekin, and subsequently joined Han Tümertekin Design and Consultancy firm in 2021, continuing collaborations with the office. She has taught at Kadir Has University Faculty of Art and Design from 2019 to 2021 and at MEF University’s
Architecture Faculty, focusing on exhibition design. Additionally, Zeynep is the co-founder and architectural designer/consultant of Üçüncü Mekan Kemerburgaz, a social space in Istanbul’s City Forest that transforms part of the forest into a multifunctional environment emphasizing social
interaction. This project was exhibited in the Commons & Communities exhibition in both Turkey and Denmark with support from the Danish Cultural Institute.
Zeynep played a significant role in Han Tümertekin’s participation in the 17th International Architecture Exhibition, La Biennale di Venezia 2021, working as an architectural and exhibition designer. The project, ‘Side by Side,’ inspired by everyday urban mobility and transitional spaces, was installed in Istanbul’s Golden Horn in January 2025. It aimed to foster new social interactions and explore the possibilities of urban travel.
She continues to hold a board position at the Tümertekin Archive and Üçüncü Mekan, furthering her impact in the field of architecture and design.