Yunus Emre Kara
CO-FOUNDER · INTERIOR ARCHITECT · DESIGN STRATEGIST
Yunus Emre Kara is an Istanbul-based interior architect and designer, and co-founder of icollectist, a multidisciplinary design practice working across architecture, interiors, objects, and spatial experiences.
His work explores the relationship between people, space, and the wider cultural and technological conditions that shape the built environment. With a particular interest in healthcare architecture, he approaches design as a process that connects spatial experience, human behaviour, material exploration, and technical knowledge.
Kara studied Interior Architecture at Anadolu University’s Faculty of Fine Arts and continued his education at HAWK University of Applied Sciences and Arts in Hildesheim, Germany, where he explored interior architecture, graphic design, and applied design.
He joined Zoom/TPU in 2010, led its design department from 2012 and served as Partner and Design Director from 2017 until the end of 2024. During this period, he contributed to a broad portfolio of healthcare, hospitality, commercial, and cultural projects, including Liv Hospital Ulus, Memorial Bahçelievler Hospital, Medicana Ataköy Hospital, and Doruk Nilüfer Hospital.
Projects from this period received international recognition: Liv Hospital Ulus was shortlisted at the World Architecture Festival 2011, and Doruk Nilüfer Hospital, on which he served as one of the lead interior designers, was shortlisted at WAF 2024 and received IDA Gold. Projects developed during his career have appeared in Dezeen, Domus, ArchDaily and other international architectural media.
Beyond architectural practice, his interests extend to furniture and lighting design, installations, emerging technologies, and the evolving relationship between design and society. His work and perspectives have been presented through exhibitions, publications, lectures, and academic engagements.
In September 2024, Kara co-founded icollectist with architect Sinemis Sarıgül Kara, establishing an independent platform for design, research, and interdisciplinary collaboration. Through icollectist, he continues to investigate how spatial design can move beyond conventional typologies, bringing together conceptual exploration, practical knowledge, and an interest in the future of the built environment.