Sultan Çetin
Designer | Architect | PhD Candidate


Welcome to Sultopia
Sultopia is my personal digital space where I share the things I like with other people.
Here is a little bit about me.
My name is Sultan. Most of my friends call me Tuty. Funny nickname, isn't it?
I grew up in a small neighborhood in Ankara, the capital city of Turkey, where my twin brother and our best friend created funny games from idle objects. We used to spend the entire day outside, climb trees, play with crown caps and run after the ball. This playful experience had a huge impact on my creative development when I studied Architecture, I noticed after years. That's why perhaps I always liked natural materials, simple and playful architecture.
My unflagging enthusiasm for learning made me earn two bachelors degree, in Architecture and in Civil Engineering, and later on a masters degree in Building Energy Performance. Currently, I am pursuing a PhD degree in Housing Management at the Delft University of Technology.
In between studies, I practiced as an architect for seven years in various countries. My first international professional experience was a hotel building construction in Sochi, Russia. Then, I moved to Azerbaijan and got involved in amazing projects: Shahdag Tourism Complex, Baku National Stadium, Trump Tower Baku and 1st European Games opening ceremony. In 2016, I moved to the Netherlands. While studying masters at the Eindhoven University of Technology, I worked as a concept developer at Bloc. At Bloc, I met amazing people with inspiring ideas and designed my first circular building in the Netherlands.
My desire for making the world a better place drew me for applying for a PhD position at TU Delft. I am researching how we could make use of digital technologies to ease the implementation of the Circular Economy in the social housing sector. As my PhD receives funding from an NWE Interreg project called CHARM, I attend and organize international events to spread what we learn at CHARM.
Apart from these, I like to make black and white pictures, cooking, reading and playing with my little son.

Experience
Co-founder, DiCE Lab
December 2021 - now
Digital Circular Economy Lab is an initiative of TU Delft and ETH Zurich that offers a platform for academics, practitioners and policymakers to connect and exchange knowledge in the fields of digitalization and circular economy. Check dice-lab.com for more information.
PhD Candidate, TU Delft
March 2019 - now
I am currently working as a PhD candidate at the Delft University of Technology, in the Netherlands. My research focuses on digitalization for a circular economy in social housing. Check my academic publications on Google Scholar.
Parent
April 2019 - now
Parenthood is one of the most precious jobs on Earth. During the past three years, I've learned an abundance of things about life, love, physiology, brain development, human behavior, and personal development. I discovered new ways of learning and teaching.
Design consultant, Design of Things
November 2018 - March 2019
DoT (Design of Things) was a one-person company that I founded to enlarge my portfolio toward circular product and building design.
Concept Developer, Bloc
Feb 2017 - November 2018
Next to my master's study at TU Eindhoven, I worked as a concept developer at Bloc. Bloc is a Dutch project development agency located in Rotterdam. I was involved in iconic projects like the Dutch Mountains and circular projects like Gallery II (See selected projects).
Intern, bGrid (Deerns)
May 2017 - December 2017
As part of the master's program at TU Eindhoven, I did an internship at bGrid on Estimating Energy Saving with Occupancy Data in a Smart Office Building. bGrid is a start-up company that has spun off of Deerns, an 85-year-old Dutch engineering consultancy.
Student Assistant, TU/e
June 2017 - July 2018
During my master's education, I worked as a student assistant of prof dr Jan Hensen at the department of Building Physics and Services.
Intern, BAM
Feb 2016 - September 2016
Before starting my master's degree at TU Eindhoven, I got a chance to do an internship at BAM Advies en Engineering. This internship was formulated around a EU-funded project called Rennovates. I learned the basics of energy simulation and smart building innovations for energy renovation.
Production Manager, Five Currents
May 2015 - October 2015
I was involved in the opening and closing ceremonies of the first European Games in Baku, Azerbaijan. I was responsible for the stage production of the Mud Men scene. Watch the highlights of the event.
Design Manager, Mace Construction
June 2014 - June 2015
I worked as an architectural design manager, representing the design team on site, at the Trump Tower and Residence project in Baku, Azerbaijan. My role concerned design coordination and collaboration with various key stakeholders such as designers, contractors and Trump Hotel management.
Design Office Architect, Tekfen Construction
January 2014 - June 2014
I was involved in the first national Olympic stadium construction project in Azerbaijan as a design office architect. I was responsible to manage the BIM model of the stadium, and a few work packages such as rails, expansion joints, and wet areas. Check the timelapse of this amazing project.
Project Architect, Siya Constuction
July 2011 - January 2014
Siya Construction is a Russian-Turkish company operating in Russia, Azerbaijan and some other Asian countries. I worked as a project architect and involved in several large scale projects such as hotel buildings and supermarkets.
Junior Architect, TH& Idil Mimarlik
February 2011 - July 2011
This was my first professional experience as an architect. TH& Idil Mimarlik is a known architectural office located in Ankara. As a junior architect, I supported design team with design visualization with 3D modelling.
Various internships related to study
February 2009 - February 2011
Starting form the third year of my bachelor study, I did several construction internships.
Education
2019 - now
PhD, Delft University of Technology
Management in the Built Environment
Topic: Digitalization for circularity in the social housing sector
2016 - 2018
Master's Degree, Eindhoven University of Technology
Program of Architecture, Building and Planning | GPA 8.40
Graduation topic: Net-zero energy renovations of high-rise apartments in The Netherlands
2017 - 2018
Bachelor's Degree, Eskisehir Osmangazi University
Architecture | GPA 8.9 | Top scoring student
Graduation topic: Architectural Design of the Central Train Station in Eskisehir
2005 - 2012
Bachelor's Degree, Eskisehir Osmangazi University
Civil Engineering | GPA 8.40
Graduation topic: Designing university campus for bike transportation
Academic Activities
2019-now
Upcoming (May 2022)
DADS '22 Seminars | Istanbul Technical University | Digitalization for Circular Built Environment
Invited Speaker
Upcoming (May 2022)
DiCE Lab webinar: IoT for a Circular Economy | RSVP
Co-Organizer
Upcoming (May 2022)
Speaker
Data for Circularity International Conference | TU Delft & Rijkswaterstaat | What data do we need in a circular built environment? | See the programme
April 2022
DiCE Lab Researcher Meetup
Co-Organizer
March 2022
DiCE Lab Webinar: Blockchain Technology for a Circular Economy | Watch online
Co-Organizer
March 2022
Lecture
Circular Economy Leadership and Organisational Transitions | Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology, Ireland | Digital Technologies for a Circular Economy in the Building Industry
February 2022
DiCE Lab Researcher Meetup: Data flows and digitalization in circular processes
Co-Organizer
February 2022
Lecture
Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS) Master Track | Erasmus University Rotterdam | Circular Economy in Social Housing
February 2022
Co-Organizer
Ecocity World Summit 2022 | Workshop: Socio-spatial consequences of transitioning to a circular built environment: towards new research agendas | Link
January 2022
DiCE Lab Webinar: Digital Product Passports for a Circular Economy | Watch online
Co-Organizer
December 2021
Conference Presentation
2nd International Conference on Circular Systems for the Built Environment, TU Eindhoven | A Conceptual Framework for a Digital Circular Built Environment: The Data Pipeline, Passport Generator and Passport Pool
December 2021
Conference Presentation
2nd International Conference on Circular Systems for the Built Environment, TU Eindhoven | How Can Digital Technologies Support the Circular Transition of Social Housing Organizations? Empirical Evidence from Two Cases
October 2021
Panel Speaker
Distributed 2021: Miro’s third annual virtual event | Collaboration for a Circular Economy (with Miroverse creators)| Check my Miroverse template
June 2021
CHARM Co-Creation Day (online) | Circular Digital Built Environment: Digital Platforms
Workshop
June 2021
MBE Research Bootcamp at TU Delft | Delphi Method and its application | (co-organized)
Workshop
June 2021
Presentation
CHARM Inspiration Days (online) | Towards Circular Social Housing:
Practices, barriers, and enablers
May 2021
Roundtable discussion
NWE networking event #1: A Greener North-West Europe (online) | Material Exchange Platforms: against downcycling...
February 2021
CHARMing Talks #4 | Energy Renovation vs. Circular Economy | Watch online
Co-Organizer
December 2020
Digital Circular Housing: Workshop with sector professionals (online) | Watch online
Workshop
November 2020
Speaker
Social and Cultural Aspects of Circular Economy: A Global Zoom Workshop, University of Helsinki | The Social Impact of Circular Housing: A Study of Tenant Engagement and Impact in Europe
November 2020
CHARMing Talks #3 | Circular Maker City and Circular procurement | Watch online
Co-Organizer
September 2022
Lecture
Aviation Game Week | Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences, Netherlands | Circular strategies and business models
September 2020
CHARM UK Inspiration Days | Circularity for whom? Social impact and the role of residents
Workshop
September 2020
CHARMing Talks #2 | Smart water management & circular social housing | Watch online
Co-Organizer
June 2020
CorpoNet, The Netherlands | KennisBite #11 Closing the loop
Webinar
July 2020
CHARMing Talks #1 | Watch online
Co-Organizer
February 2020
Workshop
CHARM Inspiration Days, Belgium | Workshop: What data do we need for a circular housing management?
December 2019
Presentation
European Federation for Living- Digitalisation Seminar | Digital Technologies for Circular Asset Management

Publications
Çetin, S., Rukanova, B. D., De Wolf, C., Gruis, V. H., & Tan, Y. (2022). A Conceptual Framework for a Digital Circular Built Environment: The Data Pipeline, Passport Generator and Passport Pool. In S. Shahnoori, & M. Mohammadi (Eds.), The state of circularity: The content of "the 2nd International Conference on Circular Systems for the Built Environment" (pp. 97-106). Technische Universiteit Eindhoven. ResearchGate link
Çetin, S., Straub, A., & Gruis, V. H. (2022). How Can Digital Technologies Support the Circular Transition of Social Housing Organizations? Empirical Evidence from Two Cases. In The state of circularity: The content of "the 2nd International Conference on Circular Systems for the Built Environment" (pp. 210-224). Eindhoven University of Technology. ResearchGate link
Sacranie, H. & Çetin, S. (2022). Towards a Socially Inclusive Circular Economy: A Study of Tenant Engagement in European Social Housing Organisations. Ed. Viktor Pál. Routledge. (forthcoming). http://dx.doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.2.33093.17127
Çetin, S.; De Wolf, C.; Bocken, N. (2021). Circular Digital Built Environment: An Emerging Framework. Sustainability, 13, 6348.https://doi.org/10.3390/su13116348
Çetin, S.; Gruis, V.; Straub, A. (2021) Towards Circular Social Housing: An Exploration of Practices, Barriers, and Enablers. Sustainability, 13, 2100. https://doi.org/10.3390/su13042100
Çetin, S., & Vervoort, J. (2021). Potentiële stimulerende digitale technologieën voor circulaire installatietechniek. TVVL Magazine, 2021(5), 32-37.