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Turkish architect and sustainability expert Mina Hasman has been awarded an OBE in King Charles III's 2026 Birthday Honours list for her services to architecture and sustainable design, marking a major recognition for her work on climate-focused architecture in the United Kingdom.
Hasman, who serves as Sustainability Director at Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, was named among six members of the Royal Institute of British Architects recognized in this year's honors.
The OBE, or Officer of the Order of the British Empire, is one of the main ranks of the British honours system and is awarded for outstanding contributions in areas such as public service, culture, science, business and civil society.
Speaking in London, Hasman said she was surprised when she first learned she would receive the honor. She described the award as both a personal recognition and a responsibility, especially because it highlights the role of sustainable design within architecture.
"I feel very lucky to have been deemed worthy of this award. I hope this sets an example and gives hope to many Turks living in Türkiye or abroad and to younger generations, especially women," she said.
Hasman has lived abroad for nearly 30 years. She said her interest in architecture began at a young age, shaped by her love of drawing and mathematics. After studying architecture in the United States, she worked there for two years before moving to the U.K. to deepen her education in sustainability.
Hasman said her understanding of sustainability developed strongly in the U.K., where she learned from leading figures in the field before joining SOM in 2012.
RIBA said Hasman is one of the most influential figures in global architecture today, noting that she authored the RIBA Climate Guide for practices aiming to deliver sustainable projects and meet the RIBA 2030 Climate Challenge. She also helped establish RIBA's Mandatory Competence Requirements for Climate Literacy.
Hasman said the award has been given to architects before, but that its recognition of sustainable design makes it especially meaningful in her case.
"This award has normally been given to architects who have spent many years in the profession and produced projects with very major impact. For the first time, it is being given to an architect in the field of sustainability, and I am one of the younger members of the architecture field. That makes it a privilege for me but also a responsibility," she said.
Hasman stressed that sustainability should not be treated as an optional or secondary issue in architecture and construction. She said waste, water, energy use and carbon emissions must be better understood if the sector is to respond more effectively to the climate crisis.
She also said not everyone needs to become a specialist, but professionals should have a basic level of climate literacy. According to Hasman, architects, engineers, urban planners, lawmakers, decision-makers, and investors all need a shared understanding in order to speed up effective action.
Hasman said she values education initiatives for this reason and wants to contribute to sustainability and climate literacy programs in Türkiye as well.
Hasman also underlined that sustainability is not only an environmental issue but also an economic and social one. She said climate change, biodiversity loss, resource limits and rising inequality create risks for economies, societies and security.
At the same time, she said the transition can open up new areas of work, business models and entrepreneurship, especially through renewable energy, building renovation and climate adaptation systems.
"I believe sustainable perspectives and approaches will make a very major contribution to our economy and society," she said.
Hasman's OBE is expected to be formally presented in the coming months by King Charles III or another member of the royal family, though the ceremony date has not yet been announced.
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