+ Post-Doc, KU Leuven (University),  LUCA/ Sint-Lucas School of Architecture (Promoter: Prof. Dr. Johan Verbeke)
 + Researcher, Texas A & M University VIZlab and Carnegie Mellon University, Computational Design Lab
 + PhD in Architecture, Istanbul Technical University (Co-advised by Prof.Dr.Ömer Akın / Carnegie Mellon University)
 + Master of Science in Architectural Design Computing, Istanbul Technical University
 + Bachelor of Science in Architecture, Yildiz Technical University
 + Secondary Education, TED Ankara College

Burak Pak's research and professional interest areas are digital design and education, design computing, generative design, design technologies and virtual environments.
After two years of professional architectural practice 2000-2002, he was employed by Istanbul Technical University as a design consultant and research associate. He contributed to various international and local conferences about design computing and information technologies as a member of the organization and reviewing committee. As an adjunct lecturer in ITU Faculty of Architecture, he actively involved in design studios and visualization courses.

He attended to architectural competitions and worked freelance for architectural offices like Kisho Kurokawa, Doğan Tekeli - Sami Sisa.

Burak Pak was employed as a member of the founding committee and lecturer in the ITU Information Technologies in Design Graduate Program for five years.

He continued his research for 12 months as a Visiting Assistant Professor in Texas A & M University VIZlab and later, in Carnegie Mellon University, Computational Design Lab.

Burak Pak has completed his PhD thesis in Istanbul Technical University Faculty of Architecture. He was co-advised by Professor Arzu Erdem (ITU) and Professor Ömer Akın (Carnegie Mellon University). His thesis involved a comparison of "Design Activities and Decisions in Conventional and Computer Aided Architectural Design Processes".

In January 2009, he received a three-year research grant from the Brussels Regional Government to work as a Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Sint-Lucas School of Architecture, KU Leuven (University) on a research project about design and evaluation of experimental virtual environments that support decision making (cordis.europa.eu Link of the Research Program).

He has been teaching in Sint-Lucas School of Architecture Research Training Sessions (for PhD students) with Professor Ömer Akın since 2008 (more info: http://designcognition.info).

Member of eCAADe, ACADIA, UNICEF donors and The Richard Dawkins Foundation for Reason and Science (richarddawkins.net)
 

http://blog.associatie.kuleuven.be/burakpak/
http://www.architectuur.sintlucas.wenk.be/burakpak

Research Project Report

PAK, B. 2012. A Virtual Environment for Analysis and Evaluation of Alternative Urban Development Projects for the Brussels Capital Region, Institute for the encouragement of Scientific Research and Innovation of Brussels, Prospective Research for Brussels Project 2012. (430 pages)


Book Chapters

PAK, B., NEWTON, C. (2012) Eversion as a Generative Metaphor for Situating Virtual Worlds in Architecture and Urban Design Education, Virtual Worlds in Online and Distance Education,  Planned for publication by Athabasca University Press as an Open Access publication (online and print) in the Issues in Distance Education series edited by Terry Anderson (Athabasca University, Canada)  (accepted-forthcoming). 

NEWTON, C.,PAK, B., (2013-forthcoming) Integrating critical (design) thinking into virtual learning environments: an exploration of the possibilities through theory and design,"E-learning" edited by Petar Jandric & Damir Boras, to be published by Polytechnic of Zagreb.

LANDRENEAU, E, OZENER, O, PAK, B, AKLEMAN, E, and KEYSER,J, 2006 Interactive Rule-Based Design - An experimental interface for conceptual design, Van Leeuwen, J.P. and H.J.P. Timmermans (eds.) Innovations in Design & Decision Support Systems in Architecture and Urban Planning, Dordrecht: Springer, ISBN-10: 1-4020-5059-3, ISBN-13: 978-1-4020-5059-6, p. 433-446.

Book Editing
AG-UKRIKUL, C., PAK, B., 2011, Brussels/canal: Everyday spaces in transition, uAD studio 2010-11, International Program Urban Architecture Design Track, Semester 01, Sint-Lucas School of Architecture Publications, Brussels/Belgium, ISBN:9789081323833. (Available as a print book)


Journal Papers

PAK, B.,  VERBEKE J. (2012-accepted and forthcoming) Design Studio 2.0: Augmenting Reflective Architectural Design Learning Using Social Software and Information Aggregation Services, Journal of Information Technology in Construction (ITCon) Vol. 17 ISSN 1874-4753.

PAK, B, OZENER, O,ERDEM, A, 2006 Utilizing customizable Generative Design Tools in Digital Design Studio: Xp-GEN experimental form generator, International Journal of Architectural Computing vol. 4 - no. 4, pp. 21-33.

PAK, B., ERDEM, A. 2010 Design Decisions in Computer-Aided and Conventional Architectural Design Processes, ITU Journal of Architecture ISSN: 1303-7005.

ERDEM, A, PAK, B, 2005, Information and Communication Technologies in Design Studio: New Tools, Strategies and Techniques at Work, ITU Journal of Faculty of Architecture Volume 2 / No 3-4 - spring - fall 2005 ISSN 1302-8324.


International Conference Papers

PAK, B., VERBEKE, J.  (2012) , A Web-based Geographic Virtual Environment for the Analysis and Evaluation of Alternative Urban Development Projects Prepared for Brussels, ACADIA 2012 Annual International Conference Synthetic Digital Ecologies October 18-21,  San Francisco, California.

PAK, B., VERBEKE, J. (2012), Virtual Worlds and Architectural Education: A Typological Framework,  Education and Research in Computer Aided Architectural Design in Europe (eCAADe) Conference, Czech Technical University  Faculty of Architecture, Prague.

PAK, B., VERBEKE, J. (2012), Affordable Web-based Collaborative Mapping Environments for the Analysis and Planning of the Green Networks of Brussels,  Education and Research in Computer Aided Architectural Design in Europe (eCAADe) Conference, Czech Technical University  Faculty of Architecture, Prague.

WÜRZER, G., PAK, B., (2012), Lawnmower: Designing a web-based visual programming environment that generates code to help students learn textual programming,  Education and Research in Computer Aided Architectural Design in Europe (eCAADe) Conference, Czech Technical University  Faculty of Architecture, Prague.

PAK, B., VROUWE, I. 2011 Design and Development of Low-Cost Portable Immersive Spaces, ACADIA Conference 2011 Integration Through Computation University of Calgary, Canada

PAK, B., VERBEKE, J. 2011,Usability as a Key Quality Characteristic for Developing Context-friendly CAAD Tools and Environments, Education and Research in Computer Aided Architectural Design in Europe (eCAADe) Conference, University of Ljubljana (UL), Slovenia

PAK, B., VERBEKE, J. , AG-UKRIKUL, C. 2011 An “Open-Source” International Urban Design Studio organized in Brussels, Utilizing a Web-based Geographic Virtual Environment Prototype for the Collaborative Analysis of a Fragile Urban Area, Education and Research in Computer Aided Architectural Design in Europe (eCAADe) Conference, University of Ljubljana (UL), Slovenia

PAK, B., VERBEKE, J. 2010 A Virtual Environment Model for Analysis and Evaluation of Future Development Projects for a European Capital, Education and Research in Computer Aided Architectural Design in Europe (eCAADe) Conference, ETH (Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule), Zürich

PAK, B., VERBEKE, J. 2010 Models for Creating the Prospective City: Opportunities and Challenges of 4D GIS and Virtual Environments, Education and Research in Computer Aided Architectural Design in Europe (eCAADe) Conference, ETH (Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule), Zürich

GLANVILLE, R., PAK, B. 2010 Quasi-Entailment Mesh, European Meetings on Cybernetics and Systems Research, 2010, Vienna/Austria

PAK, B., KUHK, A. 2009 Re-inventing Brussels: how knowledge on alternative urban development projects can alter urban policies, The 4th International Conference of the International Forum on Urbanism (IFoU), The New Urban Question, 2009. Amsterdam/Delft, p.1421


Design Periodicals

PAK, B. 2009. Challenging the Cultural Frameworks: a Dialogue with George Legrady, XXI Architecture Design Periodical, Istanbul. Vol 75 February 2009, ISSN: 1303-9598

PAK, B. 2009 Cutlery, Shoes, Faucet and UFO: Antwerp Port Authority Building. Yeni Mimar, Istanbul, Vol 75 July 2009. URL:http://www.yenimimar.com/index.php?action=displayArticle&ID=757

PAK, B, A review of Marcos Novak's latest exhibition "TURBULENT TOPOLOGIES" and interview with the artist. (XXI Architectural Design Periodical, July 2009)

ERDEM, A, PAK, B, 2007. A New Paradigm in Architecture: Real or Virtual? (Yeni Mimarlık Paradigması: Gerçek mi Sanal mı?), Arredamento Architecture Journal, December 2007, No. 208 pp.64, Boyut Publications, Istanbul

PG.W is a workshop organized at Istanbul Technical University, Faculty of Architecture in 2004. The workshop aims to focus on possible implementations of 3d modeling methods widely used in entertainment industry. By integrating 3d modeling means to the design environment, it is possible to enhance creativity and record design history, in other words, document and evaluate all stages of development independent of chronological time. Another consequence could be integrating these design environments to CAM environment thus, attaining a continuous design and manufacture cycle.