• There are many things we would like to talk about with Laden Köse Göktaş who is the young director of one of the oldest Nicosia’s construction company, Yapım Construction. But there is one project in particular which stands out from the other projects they have completed. Before we come to that, let’s get to know you better. Who is Laden Köse Göktaş?

I come from a family with a history in the construction sector and my father is a contractor architect. My grandfather Ahmet Köse was a builder and my father learnt all he knows from him at a very young age. I, Laden Köse Göktaş was born in Köşklüçiftlik, Nicosia in 1988. After graduating from TMK, I continued with my education at Wolverhampton University where I studied Interior-design from 2005 to 2008. I then completed my architectural studies at CIU in 2011. My career started after graduating from Wolverhampton University. I am married and have two children. I believe, customers need to be impressed with our houses therefore, I try to make them more comfortable and better than previous designs. I try to build houses in which I would live myself.

• When was Yapım Construction established and what type of projects has it completed until now?

Yapım Construction, was established by my father Tekin Köse in 1989. Between 1991 and 2008, our company was part of Öztek Ltd. As second generation directors, my older brother Ceren Ahmet Köse and I, decided to re-establish Yapım Construction with new projects. Although we mainly build in Nicosia, we have projects in many areas of the island. As for our projects, we have private projects and residential projects such as; schools, bridges, villas, apartments, offices, shops, warehouses and showrooms.

• Among all these investments in the construction sector, there is a very interesting project you have completed. This project impressed the jury members of the Propertync Awards this year and was awarded a gold award for best renewable energy project. Yapım Construction received an award for their mushroom plantation. Tell us more about this project.

We have a mushroom plantation, egg farm and vegetable garden. Actually, this was my father’s retirement plan. It began with planting fruit trees in Alayköy, then we started to breed chickens and finally turned it into a mushroom producing plantation. We then decided to set up our solar energy power plant on this site. The electricity produced here will be used in our offices on site which will in return save energy resources. This is our first step in becoming a more environmentally friendly and energy saving construction company. Although at first this project aimed to provide our family and employees’ children with organic products, due to excess production, our products are now being sold around the island. Animals and products found on our farm are chickens, quails, pheasants, rabbits, lettuce, egg plant, 250 different types of fruit trees and of course oyster mushrooms.

• You mean to say that this project wasn’t planned and that by adding solar power energy to the project you created this impressive and unusual system which differs from other companies in terms of sustainability.

Yes this is true. We feed the waste from the mushrooms to the chickens and you won’t believe it but the eggs they lay smell like mushrooms. Also, we use the egg shells as vitamins for the fruit trees. In short, We can say that our system creates a cycle of its own with the help of the solar energy we are producing.

• If I remember correctly, there are also sales of the products produced at your Zeytin Homes project, completed with EMIC (Euro Mediterranean Investment Company). Can you expand on this?

Emyap Development was established through the partnership of EMIC and Yapım Construction. Zeytin Homes project is situated in the Zeytinlik area. It was given this name due to the olive trees in the area. We protected the olive trees while building our project and only 5-6 trees were moved in order to fit into the landscape. Besides this, we built a large incense dispenser at the entrance of the landscape design with the hope of being able to continue the Turkish Cypriot Tradition of burning dried olive leaves (it is believed that it keeps the evil eye away). At this project we collect the olives and make olive oil and olive oil scented soap. New home owners will receive these as gifts.

• As mentioned at the beginning of the interview, you are one of the directors of Yapım Construction and the other director is your older brother Ceren Köse. How do you share the work load?

We are a strongly bonded family and solve problems by talking and listening to one another. This way, less mistakes are made. Also, we make sure we have lunch together as a family everyday. We always get along and respect each others decisions. My brother manages the sales department and I manage the design team in accordance to his with his ideas and the feed back he receives from our clients. I am also the manager of the project and accounting departments.

• Lastly, we would like to ask how Yapım Construction decides on its new projects and if there are any new projects in the near future?

Yapım Construction’s new projects are based on client’s demands and reports from the sales department. Projects are designed according to what our island needs. For example, standards of buildings that can be sold and the necessities of certain locations are discussed with clients focusing on the location of their land. Then, the design team come up with a design and lists of costs, sales and features are prepared. We have many projects in our future plans and new ones are added every month. Both our apartment projects and villas offer investors great opportunities. Clients buying from our residential projects are making large profits.

Thank you Mrs Göktaş for this wonderful interview and congratulations again on the success of your mushroom plantation. We hope this will lead to similar investments in the TRNC.