Less or More - New Ideas about Architecture, Design, Art, and Theory

"Rather than the dilemma of whether a building is less or more, its existence is sustained by the distilled characteristics we elucidate in this book. Therefore, the title of this book, rather than the abstraction of architectural minimalism, was chosen as LESS OR MORE with the aim of highlighting 'meaning' and 'resistance' in particular." - Gökhan Avcıoğlu, 2023

The book "LESS OR MORE" by Gökhan Avcıoğlu and colleagues from the GAD Foundation has been published, presenting personal memories, notes, questions, sketches, and designs that explain the efforts of architectural practice within a certain timeframe. "LESS OR MORE" aims to take stock of Gökhan Avcıoğlu and GAD Foundation's works in architecture, design, art, and theory, creating awareness about significant issues related to the architecture of our time. The book not only showcases the works but also presents a multitude of global data, narratives, histories, and milestones related to architectural design.

LESS OR MORE

This book, which we can describe as a kind of "director's cut," includes personal memories, notes, questions, sketches, and designs of Gökhan Avcıoğlu and colleagues, explaining the efforts of architectural practice within a specific timeframe. It aims not only to take stock of our works but also to create awareness about important issues concerning the architecture of our time. In this context, the book presents not only our works but also numerous global data, narratives, histories, and milestones related to architectural design. The promotional boxes that point to the world outside of architecture in this book are designed to provide information to those interested in design practice on such topics.

This book is not just an anthology of GAD's buildings; the structures included in the book have been selected as examples that readers can discuss their existing thoughts and perspectives, whether experimental or in the process of construction, regardless of whether they have been built.

About Gokhan Avcioglu

Gokhan Avcioglu, the founder and director of GAD Architecture and GAD Foundation, has been producing dynamic and innovative concepts for projects ranging from small private homes to large urban planning endeavors worldwide for over 25 years. Avcıoğlu was born in Ankara in 1960. In addition to his education and activities in artistic fields like painting and sculpture, he graduated in architecture from Konya Selçuk University in 1983. He has won numerous awards for his work, including the 1997 Turkish Architects' Award and the Bronze Medal. He established the Global Architectural Development (GAD) architectural firm in 1994 and founded the GAD Foundation in 2014 for research and sharing related to architecture and settlement culture. His portfolio includes office buildings, hotels, cultural centers, public and commercial spaces, and numerous comprehensive residential projects in Istanbul, Bodrum, New Jersey, New York, Washington DC, Virginia, Connecticut, and Moscow. He has also led architectural design studios at universities like Ecole Speciale, UPenn Weitzman Architecture, Yıldız Technical University, and Istanbul Technical University while making significant contributions to architectural theory.