Nicoleta Rugina

Her project Urban Fractal explores the revival of traditional Turkish craftsmanship through the lens of muqarnas, a decorative architectural element known for its intricate, geometrical design. By investigating the scalability of muqarnas components at different levels-ranging from city objects to structural elements-the project aims to reimagine its role in contemporary architecture. In doing so, it bridges the gap between historical techniques and modern design, while fostering a deeper connection to cultural heritage and promoting sustainable, locally-rooted practices in the evolving architectural landscape of Turkey. The potential of this project is to expand as a result of craftsmen revolution against mass production and the reincorporation of the crafts profession mixed with advanced technologies. The new explorations and geome- tries that can come from human work and machine can give birth to a sculptural language as a reflection of skill, culture and innovation.