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The effects of the coronavirus pandemic felt in many sectors, started to affect the architecture sector. Architect Şerif Soğukbulak evaluated the effects of the pandemic, which is manifested by disruptions in cash flow, on the architecture, interior design and design sectors.

*** This release is originally published in Turkish.
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ISTANBUL (TR) - Regarding the effects of coronavirus on the architecture and interior architecture sectors, Artstyle Architecture founder and architect Serif Sogukbulak said, “There is a serious cash-flow problem in the related sectors, primarily in architecture and interior architecture. This causes projects to slow down or stop. Private architecture projects seem to be more affected by the pandemic.”

Mentioning the importance of government incentives and supports due to the pandemic, Sogukbulak said, “Other incentives and supports may be needed due to coronavirus. Companies have to leave their employees for free leave. This should be handled from a national perspective. Young architect slowed down their domestic projects due to coronavirus, they had to stop their projects abroad.”

“The effects of the pandemic can continue for another 3 to 5 months”

Architect Sharif Soğbulak stressed that coronavirus is deeply affecting the architecture sector and its effects will be seen in the coming months. The young architect recalled that Milan Design Week and Venice Architecture Biennial were postponed and that the “MIMARSIV Selection 2020” event, which was planned to be held in Istanbul in March, was postponed to a later date.

Şerif Soğukbulak pointed out that all these delays gave an idea about the progress in the architectural sector and stated that; “The coronavirus has also created a negative situation in our industry. The fact that European countries became the center of coronavirus disrupted the business of companies that export interior architecture and design to Europe or abroad like us. We have suspended our projects in European countries. For now, we cannot make any predictions about the recent history; but we hope that we will continue with our overseas projects, which are unfinished in the summer months.”

Şerif Soğukbulak made the following predictions about the effects of the pandemic on the sector; “There is a serious cash-flow problem in the related sectors, especially in architecture and interior design. This causes projects to slow down or stop. Private architecture projects seem to be more affected by the pandemic. I believe the effect of the pandemic will continue for another 3 to 5 months.”

“No job is more important than human life”

“In the construction sector, which is linked to the architectural sector in Turkey 1 million 200 thousand workers are employed. Government incentives are very important for these sectors, which have an important contribution to the national economy, to survive.” Soğukbulak said, "About 70 percent of the business world in Turkey, according to the research are very concerned about the impact of coronavirus. It is unthinkable not to worry about the pandemic that affects every area of ​​our lives. We cannot go abroad due to travel restrictions. If there is also a long curfew, we will have to be completely covered. Of course, the important thing is that the pandemic ends. Things can somehow recover; no job is more important than human life.”

“Other government incentives and supports may be needed”

Stating that there are more chaotic scenarios, the architect Sogukbulak continued as follows; “There are those who think that the effect of the virus will last more than 7 months. The architecture and construction industry is currently in a waiting position. But first we have to wait for the outbreak to come out of our lives. Currently, overseas projects have stopped. This also means that foreign currency inflow to the country will drop. Projects slowed down or stopped in the domestic market as well. In other words, the economic losses of the pandemic will be on the agenda of the world and our country for a while. But I hope that we will overcome this problem with government incentives and our national struggle.”

Şerif Soğukbulak also emphasized the importance of government regulations, incentives and supports for companies due to coronavirus, and said, “Stock financing support was also important in the slowdown in exports. However, other incentives and supports may be needed due to coronavirus. For example; companies have to leave their employees for free leave. So there is a cash bottleneck. I think the government should handle this situation from a national perspective.”