With over twenty years of experience in the architecture and building industry, Turkan brings a deep passion for technical drawing to everything she does. She genuinely loves the precision, clarity, and craft of drawing—and finds real joy in the process itself.
Universities blame the offices. Offices blame the universities.And in the middle? Young architects. Exhausted, underpaid, and often lost in a system that claims to “form them” but rarely prepares them.
After earning her Dipl.-Ing. in Architecture at RWTH Aachen in Germany, she joined a renowned international firm.
In 2005 she founded dagli+ atelier d’architecture in Luxembourg,
where her studio has since won numerous international accolades, including:
Turkan Nies DAGLI is not only a practitioner but also an active member of the architectural community and related professional circles. Some of her key professional affiliations and roles include:
Dagli is a member of the Ordre des Architectes et des Ingénieurs-Conseils (OAI), the official architects’ association in Luxembourg . Through the OAI, she is recognized as both an architect and an urbaniste-aménageur (urban planner). She is also certified as an Energy Performance Assessor, reflecting her technical expertise in sustainable building standards . Membership in the OAI is compulsory for practicing architects in Luxembourg and underscores her adherence to professional codes and continuing education.
In addition to architecture specific bodies, Dagli is a member of the Fédération des Jeunes Dirigeants d’Entreprise de Luxembourg (FJD) . This organization connects young entrepreneurs and business leaders across industries. Dagli’s involvement indicates her engagement with the broader business and leadership community in Luxembourg – useful for networking and staying attuned to economic and development trends that impact architecture.
Dagli served as a visiting professor at the Trier University of Applied Sciences in Germany (Hochschule Trier) during 2011–2012 . In this academic role, she taught architecture students, sharing her practical experience and design philosophy. Her professorship in Trier aligns with her interest in closing the gap between academia and professional practice. Even after that formal stint, she has continued guest lecturing and mentoring students (for example, she has welcomed interns and “meisterschüler” in her own office to train the next generation).
Türkan Dagli is a regular speaker and panelist at architecture and design events. For instance, in November 2018 she was featured in the JUNG Architecture Talks in Luxembourg – a panel discussion at LUCA (Luxembourg Center for Architecture) where she spoke alongside other European architects about design and technology . Similarly, she co-presented at a Luxembourg Creative Industries Cluster event in October 2018, giving a talk on the continuum between architecture, interior design and product design . In that event, she joined a round-table discussing the “interactivity of creative professions” in design disciplines . These engagements highlight her thought leadership in the field, as she often shares insights on sustainable architecture, the role of creativity, and her experience as a female founder in architecture. Dagli has also represented Luxembourg’s architecture scene at international forums – for example, speaking at trade fairs (Expo Real, MIPIM) and participating in global architecture summits, thereby advocating for innovative design on an international stage.
Beyond mainstream architectural organizations, Dagli is notably a member of the Schopenhauer Society in Frankfurt, Germany. This reflects her personal interest in philosophy (particularly the works of Arthur Schopenhauer) and underscores the intellectual dimension of her approach to architecture. While this is not a typical architecture affiliation, it complements her design ethos, as she often cites philosophical ideas in her creative process. It also connects her with an academic cultural network outside of architecture, which can inspire cross-disciplinary thinking.
Dagli has stated that she avoids superficial trends – for example, her firm’s projects often feature organic forms, warm materials, and references to classical proportions, setting them apart from the generic minimalist boxes seen elsewhere . A consistent thread in the studio’s work is the integration of nature and light; projects frequently incorporate greenery and generous daylight, aiming to “bring nature into” buildings and improve quality of life for occupants . This approach is evident in projects like Golf House, where large windows, garden connections, and custom “dagli frames” on the facade create a unique blend of modern and inviting design.
