Learning from Turkish modern furniture design

Abstract

Furniture, as a design element is an important part of design theory as well as design history. It has acted both as a part of the architectural context and individually in history. It reflects the context of the time, lifestyles, choice and behavior. The manifestation of modernism at the beginning of the 20th century can be indicated as a milestone regarding the whole history of furniture. However, when the history of furniture in Turkey during this time is analyzed, it is observed that one can only come across limited literature. Departing from this lack of historic writing and rewriting, a scientific research project, “DATUMM: Documenting and Archiving Turkish Modern Furniture”, was initiated based on exhibiting, documenting and archiving the history of modern furniture design in Turkey. The aim of this project is to highlight the modern furniture designed and produced in Turkey in the modern periods that can be defined as 1930’s “Cubism” or “Functional Architecture Period”, and the period of “International Style” in 1950s, 1960s and the 1970s. The sense of a comprehensive experience was needed to tell this story, and that is why it is composed of a variety of methods and related outcomes. With the array of outcomes planned to take its place in memory, the aim is to enable a remembered and developing process filled with significant moments to not only put together a collection, but to provide an inclusive impression. The methods and products -online archive, documentary film, catalog, colloquium, and exhibition work together to fulfill this aim. The first stage of the project has now been completed and has brought designers as well as furniture designs of the time together. The paper includes the assessment of the process, as well as the strategies for the future to enable the continuation of the success of the project.Keywords: Turkish modern furniture design, design heritage, design history, archiving, documentation, exhibition