Murat was born in Istanbul in 1969, has a BArch (’93) from Yildiz Technical University and an MArch (’95) from UCLA. He is a co-founder of SANALarc’s knowledge-centric studio focused on civil and civic architecture, research and city-design based in Istanbul. Murat’s observation of his city’s complexity and his initial practice in Colorado and LA enhanced his vision of design as a holistic and collaborative process with an individual and collective value. His recent works highlights his approach of utilizing state-of-the-art technologies, listening to the timeless know-how of local craftsmen while persevering a firm commitment to the natural environment. Murat is both an architect and sustainable design innovator. Through the design studio he co-founded in 2002, he pursues a design practice both situated in its context and pioneering new horizons of expression generated from situational multi-disciplinary design processes and advanced construction methods. It is his boundless curiosity and his background in parametric design and sustainable building systems that hinge SANALarc’s sturdy adherence to innovation in building technology, employment of state-of-the-art technologies/methods in design practice, as well as a strong engagement to nurture nature. His upbringing in Istanbul grounds his dexterity to work hand-in-hand with traditional small/medium size trades as well as the advance of the capabilities within Turkey’s dynamic advanced manufacturing sector.Murat’s observation of his city’s complexity during his YTU undergraduate helped him to raise his awareness that design was not the only input for a good built environment. Upon completion of his MArch at UCLA in computational design, he focused on gaining design experience in extreme constraints in Colorado mountains in design-build practice Pierce Segerberg followed by his further practice in Los Angeles at Moore Ruble Yudell, where he collaborated to multidisciplinary overseas projects and had the opportunity to enhance his vision on the value of design experience as a holistic process from the inception phase till the realization.Murat had a very specific and defined career path with a commitment to develop robust trans-disciplinary design-processes as well an architectural formalism grounded on ‘the peculiarities of a particular place’.  With this perspective, he has led integration of corporate and individual clients and local industry as collaborators to reflect on Region’s culturally diverse aesthetics towards a generation of a reflective architectural experience and expression. And, on the every-day of practice he has a particular interest in celebrating natural light, working hand-in-hand with craftsmen and observing through drawing places.Murat’s award-winning works with SANALarc like Sishane Park, SALT Research, Kuthaya Pazar and 2nd St Makery, as well as creative campus designs like BU Rasathane Master Plan, Bomontiada, and Sumerbank District Cultural Center each reflect how the design of an interconnected public realm can shift possibilities and create a participative platform for advancing communities’ shared futures.  His academic experience includes teaching studios in Istanbul Bilgi University, YTU, assisting workshops in Aachen Technical University Germany, Laval University Québec, Canada ‘Murat has been an organizer of European Architectural Students Assembly in Cappadocia, The International Symposium on Architecture of Tourism in the Mediterranean’ YTU; ‘Space and Modeling’ Bogazici University, Istanbul. Murat Sanal’s studio practice has been recognized internationally receiving awards from the American Institute of Architects, the Turkish Chamber of Architects and nominated for the Meis van der Rohe award and European Prize for Urban Public Space.​