Collective Operations is an agile and highly specialized architectural design & execution practice founded in 2009- distinguished by a uniquely compact team and highly integrated-comprehensive collaborative model.
Our expertise and know how spans in-between architectural design, urban design & research, real estate development, and construction.
At Collective Operations, we craft tailored visions for each project, harmonizing the interests of all stakeholders involved.
This integrated, collaborative approach has allowed us to effectively organize and oversee investments exceeding several hundred million dollars.
With successful project deliveries in diverse global locations—including Istanbul, Bodrum, Almaty, Hong Kong, Shenzhen, Tianjin, Shanghai, Ningbo, New York, and Nice—we possess extensive hands-on experience managing complex undertakings at every scale, from billion-dollar urban developments to detailed interior executions.
Committed to genuine, sustainable investments, we consciously steer clear of speculative ventures.
Our comprehensive, hands-on methodology ensures meticulous oversight from initial concept to final delivery; overseeing and getting involved in every aspect of design and execution.
We pride ourselves on our proven capability—from guiding multi-billion-dollar urban developments to meticulously designing interior details—and manage every stage with precision, dedication, and a commitment to quality.
Deep expertise, real experience: Mastering complexity from concept to completion
Capabilities & Experience
Our experience-driven approach ensures effective integration of diverse expertise, harmonizing client visions, regulatory requirements, and practical execution challenges into seamless, highly successful outcomes.
We strategically collaborate with carefully selected consultants, handpicked to perfectly align with the unique vision, objectives and requirements of each specific project.
Real Estate Development:
Overall Development Management
Project Initiation
Land Identificatin and Acquisition
Vision and Strategy Formation
Expert Team Assembly
Budgeting and Cash Flow Management
Land Planning and Permitting
Legal and FInancial Structuring
Construction Permitting
Competitive Bidding
Project and Construction Management
Comprehensive Process Management
Client Management
Occupancy Permitting and Project Delivery
Urban Design and Masterplanning:
Strategic Planning and Territorial Design
Comprehensive Masterplanning and Urban Design
Regulatory Coordination
Infrastructure Planning and Integration
Design Consultancy:
Vision Formation and Design Brief
Evaluation and coordination
Design Management and Coordination
Architectural Design:
Conceptual and Schematic Design,
Detailed Architectural Planning and Design,
Tailor Made Construction Documentation,
Regulatory Compliance and Approvals
Multidisciplinary Design Team Coordination
Interior Design:
Conceptual and Schematic Design
Comprehensive Space Planning and Design
Material and Finish Selections
Custom Design and Bespoke Solutions
Tailor Made Construction Documentation
Comprehensive Coordination with producers and contractors
Site Supervision and Quality Control
Design/Selection and coordination of FF&E and OS&E packages
Turn-Key Construction and Fit-Out:
End-to-End Project Execution
Construction and Project Management
Fit-Out and Interior Implementation
Quality Control and Assurance
Procurement:
Global and Local Sourcing
Strategic Vendor Management
Cost Management and Optimization
Scheduling and Timely Delivery Coordination
Design/Selection and coordination of FF&E and OS&E packages
Collective Operations leverages deep-rooted industry relationships and multidisciplinary expertise, consistently delivering innovative, benchmark-setting projects uniquely tailored to their context.
Location
Team
Over the years, we managed to keep our team very small but solid. We understand the value of collaboration and the importance of nurturing individual talents. We expand the team only according to the unique needs of our projects.
Our teams are carefully crafted for each project, empowering designers and architects to follow their unique creative paths.
Since 2020, our primary focus has been on designing and coordinating the turnkey delivery of Six Senses Residences, villa by villa, in close collaboration with the property owners.
All our team members are designing and coordinating a wide range of works and responsible for both proper documentation and execution of the projects.
Everyone in the team works between the site and the studio.
Team members;
Ahmetcan Dursunoglu, Joined 2021, Architect
Melike Yazici, Joined 2021, Architect
Elif Aksoy, Joined 2022, Architect
Cem Celik
1995-2001
Worked as a free lance designer with involvement in various scales of projects within Turkey
2001-2006
Worked as urban designer and as a free lance consultant to EDAW/ AECOM New York, HongKong and Shanghai offices for major urban development and revitalization projects- one of the lead designers of Tianjin Hai River revitalization program that have transformed the city into a global metro area.
2006-2009
Partner at BOD&COO ,design and consultancy firm, led a variety of ongoing works at the time of involvement, including finishing of Atyrau and Aktau Rennaisance Hotels, Kazinvest Bank Headquarters, Almaty, Restoration of Rizzo Apartment, Istanbul.
2006-2010
Managing Director at Capital Partners, Turkey, focused on establishing the benchmark coastal development, Kaplankaya, together with a wide range of architects, consultants and colleagues.
2009 - ongoing
Established Collective Operations as a design and development firm on the move.
2020 - 2025
Got re-involved into the development of Kaplankaya, Turkey, during the pandemic and worked very closely with the developer on the organization and helped on variety of topics.
2009-2013 & 2017-2020
Advanced Design and Research Studio Director at Bilgi University Graduate Architecture Department focusing on the intricacies of urban development and architectural medium through out the geography of Istanbul.
Built Work
Kaplankaya Masterplan
500 Hectares, Partially Built and Under Development
Kaplanaya Six Senses Phase-2
16 Hectares Land, 25,000 M2 composed of 78 Villas
Kaplanaya Six Senses Villas
Designed and built total of 36 villas, provided full scope services- architectural and interior design, construction, procurements of OSE, FFE and furnitures, totaling more than 10,000M2
Teos HiddenBay Residences, Izmir, Turkey
20 Hectares Land, 40,000 M2 composed of 30 Villas, 10 room hotel, bespoke fitness and spa facilities, a waterfront park and restaurant, sports facilities,
Tienshan Gardens Residences, Almaty, Kazakhstan
18,000 M2 apartment composed of 13 units,
NO25
Serdari Ekrem Avenue, Galata , Beyoglu
Kamondo Building
Serdari Ekrem Avenue, Galata , Beyoglu
Rizzo Building
Aslanyatagi Street, Cihangir, Beyoglu
Private Residences
Nice, Almaty, New York, Istanbul
Tianjin Hai He River Development
Construction of 8 km long HaiRiver embankment in Downtown Tianjin.,China
Education
Master of Architecture in Urban Design, (MAUD) Harvard University, 2001
Bachelor of Architecture, Mimar Sinan University, Istanbul, Turkey 1999
Honors + Awards
Honorable Mention International Urban
Design Competition for the construction of
Osong Biovalley , Southern Korea, 2011
4th prize İnternational Urban Design Competition for Gadeokdo island, Busan, Southern Korea, 2010
1st Prize, International Urban Design Competition for Jiangmen Riverfront Regional Plan, China, 2005
1st Prize, International Urban Design Competition for Ningbo Yinzhou New Urban Area, China, 2004
1st Prize Overall Embankment Design Masterplan for HaiRiver, Tianjin, China 2003
1st Prize, International Urban Design Competition for Nansha. Guangzhou, China, 2002
1st prize, Wanchai Waterfront Landscape Master plan competition, Hong Kong, China, 2002
Honorable Mention, International Airport Main Terminal Design, Competition Entry, Ankara, Turkey, 1998
Honorable Mention, International Congress Complex Design Competition Entry, Bursa, Turkey, 1997
Competition Entries
Arnavutkoy City Center, Istanbul, 2012, Invited Competition
International Airport Main Terminal Design, Izmir, Turkey 1998
International Airport Main Terminal Design, Bodrum, Turkey 1998
Masterplan for the Transformation of Docklands, Istanbul, Turkey 2001
Masterplan for the new waterfront development zone of Izmir, Turkey, 2002
Masterplan for the city center of Bosnia Herzogova, 2000
Copenhagen Royal Theater, Denmark,2002 ( Final Round)
Nam Jun Paik Museum, Seoul, Korea, 2003
Registrations
Registered Architect under Chamber of Architects, Section of UIA Turkey,1999