With the booming Turkish construction industry , one knock on effect has been the positive impact on the design services.
Turkish interior designers
The Turkish construction industry has been enjoying a huge boom of late. With the increased rate of new buildings popping up every year, one knock on effect has been the positive impact on the design services, leading to the emergence of innovative, new and creative interior designers all over Turkey.
When we think of traditional Turkish design, an image that many people conjure up is of the Ottoman period with luxurious furniture and lavish fabrics, with an exotic flavor. For many years, instead of looking to its own traditional design, the country’s creative industry looked to the west for inspiration.
But over the last few years, Turkey has firmly established its own style and launched the careers of some rising stars in the interior design world.
Zeynep Fadillioglu from ZF Design is one of Turkey’s leading interior designers. In 2009 she was the first woman to design a mosque and through studying in London, she recognized her own heritage in traditional Turkish textiles and objects and has incorporated it into her most modern designs.
Her work includes traditional materials, colours, textiles and textures and styles but with a contemporary twist but still displaying a distinctly Turkish feel.
As well as designing for many other people, Fadillioglu has also released a range of products that people can buy to create a touch of high design in their own homes. Her beautiful work has been featured in many prestigious international press publications including Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar, The Sunday Times, Elle Décor and New York Times.
Traditional design
Turkey is famous for rugs throughout the world but now designers are looking at ways to update this traditional favorite to appeal to ever more sophisticated buyers. Umut Demirel Design Studio exchanged the somewhat dated and complicated patterns of rugs for a more contemporary and geometrical motif. Made of wool and dyed with natural colours, the pieces are cut and then freely assembled with ten interchangeable pieces to create a modular design.
Turkish people love their tea and it is a huge part of everyday life and their culture. Ceren Basgoze who co-founded LaBtasarim Studio (LAB) has taken this popular pastime to create contemporary tea tables, many of which have been upcycled using antique materials. The LAB design approach often use different materials, both old and new, to form designs that resonate with people. LAB believes that every design should tell a story and fit within our lives.
Much of traditional Turkish design will use the Mosaic technique. Industrial designer Sule Koc has replaced the traditional rectangular, square and circular pieces with oblong forms much of it made from natural stone to create an intricate yet simple design.
Cultural influences
Many traditional homes will have wood based furniture with gold lining but there are many highly contemporary homes that feature the extensive use of glass and more industrial materials.
But whether the home is traditional or modern, the way people live and interact with their family together with cultural influences have a direct impact on home design.
Turkish people love to entertain and have friends over so in many houses the sofa is a real feature to accommodate guests. There is also a need for a large table and chairs for entertaining guests for dinner. It is common when visiting Turkey to receive many dinner invitations and Turks think nothing of preparing dish after dish for their guests. Turks are the most hospitable people in the world and their homes reflect this love of entertaining.
The future
The turning point in Turkey’s design journey came in 2010 when Istanbul was named the European Capital for Culture. With a largely young population, it is the perfect environment for modern design to grow and prosper.
There is an increasing desire for high quality interior design in Turkey and the future of this sector looks to be in high demand. One of the most influential design companies in the last few years is Autoban founded by Seyhan Ozdemir and Sefer Caglar in 2003. As well as being prolific in Turkey, Autoban have designed an airport in Azerbaijan, and three restaurants in London.
In the future, Autoban believes the type of design will be influenced by the large amount of craftsmen and skilled tradesmen in and around Istanbul and other Turkish areas.
Traditional materials and techniques are being used but in a very modern fashion that resonates with the mostly young population who are fashion forward and enjoying Turkey’s financial growth.
Interior design trends
Predictions from Turkish interior design firm diseno:
Painted walls – a move from bright primary shades to soft pastel colours and soft reds, blues and pinks.
National identity – designers are incorporating traditional themes into their work that reflect the heritage of the country. This includes opulent use of materials such as copper, gold as well as intricate patterns on rugs or traditional tiles.
Ottoman-style design – although the rest of the world has enjoyed this style of design, in Turkey, where it originated, it has not been widely used. Predictions say that will change and it will become a major trend.
Top names in design
Want some designer pieces for your home? No need to look anywhere other than Turkey with these inspirational design companies:
Office furniture – for a stylish working environment from home, Nurus prides itself on creating design solutions that are both innovative and sustainable.
Modern furniture - Koleksiyon designs headed up by Faruk Malhan is able to produce a high volume of furniture with its own fully automated production line. Here you will find furniture that combines modern technology with craftsmanship.
Glassware – for glassware with a timeless beauty with a contemporary feel, check out designs by Ilio, a small design team from Istanbul.
Sustainability - changing the way you think about design, Antrepo challenges people’s perceptions about the world around them. The company specialises in using recycled materials and creating pieces with a sustainability conscious.
Product design – based in Istanbul, Zift gives everyday objects and furniture a twist creating fun, bright pieces with often surprising results. The company also works on bespoke interior design projects.
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