The Design Story of a Lifetime
The life of 90-year-old interior architect Bediz Koz, one of the pioneers of modern furniture production in Türkiye, has been turned into a book. Authored by academics from Izmir and shedding light on the recent past, the work was published by Izmir University of Economics (IUE) Press and met with readers. Thoroughly discussing Bediz Koz’s identity as a designer, the book contains oral history interviews, delightful anecdotes, and furniture and interior architecture projects, making it the first comprehensive study to bring the master’s unforgettable memories and inspiring experiences to the present day.
The book was prepared as part of the projects “DATUMM: Documentation and Archiving Modern Furniture in Turkey” (datumm.org) and “Reading the History of Furniture and Interior Architecture in Turkey through Oral History Method”, which were initiated to examine the transformation of modern furniture design and production in Turkey. It was written by project coordinators Prof. Dr. Deniz Hasırcı (Faculty Member at IUE Department of Interior Architecture and Environmental Design) and Prof. Dr. Zeynep Tuna Ultav (Faculty Member at Yaşar University Department of Interior Architecture and Environmental Design), alongside Assoc. Prof. Dr. Deniz Avcı from the same department at IUE and Dr. Melis Örnekoğlu Selçuk, a lecturer at Ghent University.
THEY PRESENTED THE BOOK
Published as the sixth book in the “Reading the History of Furniture and Interior Architecture in Turkey through the Oral History Method” series, the work received great acclaim from readers. Prof. Dr. Hasırcı and Prof. Dr. Tuna Ultav visited Bediz Koz, who resides in Ankara, and presented the book to her. During the emotional meeting, Koz expressed her satisfaction and gratitude to everyone who contributed to bringing the book to life.
A RICH RESOURCE
Prof. Dr. Deniz Hasırcı stated that although women played formative roles in the history of modern interior architecture in Turkey, these contributions have not been adequately recorded. Prof. Dr. Hasırcı expressed that as a result of oral history research conducted by the DATUMM team, they interviewed Bediz Koz, who, together with her husband Azmi Koz, founded the company Butik A in Ankara in 1958 and later MPD (Furniture, Planning, and Decoration), and designed the homes of famous artists like Suna Kan and Ulvi Cemal Erkin, as well as her clients, colleagues, students, and family members. Stating that they gathered numerous visual documents and included them in the book, and created a documentary film and international publications alongside it, Prof. Dr. Hasırcı noted that they produced a rich resource for interior architects and students.
“HOLDS A SPECIAL PLACE”
Expressing that Koz holds a special place in Turkey’s design history through her approach to her profession, her strong bond with production, and her quest for innovation throughout her life, Prof. Dr. Hasırcı said, “Bediz Koz’s life story offers a deeply valuable testimony that enables us to understand the development of modern interior architecture and furniture design in our country. Through her experiences, we can observe how a designer’s cultural background and creativity reflect onto materials, production, and daily life, and how design shapes the lives of users. With this book, we have not only recorded the memories of an important professional figure, but also passed down a body of design heritage to future generations that had remained insufficiently visible for many years.”
“MORE BOOKS TO COME”
Prof. Dr. Hasırcı concluded as follows: “I believe Bediz Koz’s courage, productivity, and visionary approach will inspire young designers. More books in the series are to follow. Beyond designers, I invite anyone who wishes to closely discover the history of modern furniture and interior architecture in Turkey to get to know Bediz Koz, and I warmly recommend the book series. It is possible to purchase our books via yayin.ieu.edu.tr or through bookstores.”
