A strategic move from the natural stone industry to host WAF in Istanbul
A call to world-renowned architects: “Let’s meet in Istanbul.”
The Istanbul Mineral Exporters’ Association (İMİB) has taken a significant step toward bringing one of the most prestigious events in the global architecture scene, the World Architecture Festival (WAF), to Türkiye. As part of this initiative, WAF Program Director Paul Finch, Commercial Director Frazer Stokes, and Business Development Director Damien St. George visited Istanbul upon İMİB’s invitation. During the program, Istanbul’s architectural strength and capacity to host international events were presented on site. İMİB Board Member Funda Bekişoğlu emphasized the strategic importance of the visit, stating, “This visit represents a concrete and strong step toward hosting WAF in Istanbul.”
Positioned as a global platform where cities and brands gain international visibility, the World Architecture Festival stands out as one of the most prestigious events in the architecture world. As part of the visit, Istanbul’s historical heritage, architectural diversity, and strong infrastructure were introduced directly to the WAF delegation. The city’s cultural layers and architectural richness were highlighted, while potential venues for hosting the festival in Türkiye were also thoroughly evaluated.
A Critical Step at the International Level
Underlining that these engagements are a clear indication of Türkiye’s ambition to become a stronger player not only in natural stone but also in the global architecture ecosystem, Funda Bekişoğlu stated: “This initiative by İMİB strengthens the possibility of hosting a prestigious organization like WAF in Türkiye in the future, while also elevating the international positioning of the Turkish Stones brand.”
A Comprehensive Promotion Program Conducted
Bekişoğlu also noted that Türkiye has recently drawn attention at WAF—recognized as one of the most prestigious global platforms for architects—with the steps it has taken in recent years: “Our goal is not limited to simply taking part in this stage. As İMİB, we aim to bring this global event to Türkiye. In this context, we hosted the WAF management in Türkiye and carried out a comprehensive promotional program to support the possibility of organizing the festival here in the future.”
Strong Presence in Singapore and Miami
Recalling that İMİB, together with the Aegean Mineral Exporters’ Association (EMİB) and the Western Mediterranean Exporters’ Association (BAİB), has previously achieved strong visibility at WAF through the Turquality-supported “Land of Stone” project led by the Ministry of Trade, Bekişoğlu continued: “Positioned under the ‘Land of Stone’ approach, our Turkish Stones brand has established direct connections with leading figures in the architecture world. Through our sponsorship of the ‘Best Use of Stone’ category, we have also highlighted the strength of Turkish natural stone in architecture on an international scale. We have had a strong presence in the last two editions held in Singapore and Miami. Now, it is time for Istanbul. By bringing WAF to Istanbul, we aim to bring together world-renowned architects and continue our efforts to increase the use of Turkish stone in projects worldwide.”
Will Contribute to the City’s Tourism Potential
Bekişoğlu emphasized that hosting WAF in Istanbul would bring significant benefits not only to the natural stone sector and the architectural community, but also to Türkiye’s global event-hosting capabilities and city branding: “Organizing such a prestigious event in Istanbul will enhance the visibility of our country’s ability to host international events and strengthen the city’s global profile. At the same time, this international movement centered around architecture, design, and culture will make a meaningful contribution to Istanbul’s tourism potential.”
