(October 2012) „Tweak“ is the name Alicin Erdas, Mustafa Özkurt and Yusufhan Doğan gave their designer bicycle-stand made of stone which took first prize at a design competition in Turkey.
The block is 75 cm high, 52 cm deep and 20 cm wide and tips the scales at 20 kg so it can do without much anchoring. Stowing away a bike is easy. There’s even a provision for locking it. The designers even thought up a cost-efficient method of mass production.
The competition ran under the auspices of Istanbul Mineral Exporters Association, İMİB in cooperation with Minmar Sinan University of Fine Arts and a development agency. Submissions came from a number of universities, vocational schools as well as career new-comers.
The exercise was to design every-day, household products in natural stone. Prizes were from 12,000 to 2,000 Turkish Lira (TYR) (~5,100 € to ~850 € / ~6,200 US-$ to ~1,110 US-$).
Runner up was Kemal Şahin Yılmaz for „Proformalin“ chunks of stone are incorporated in liquid Plexiglas.
After hardening the plates are solid allowing for a variety of light effects.
„Warm-Touch“ was the name Rifiye Funda Doğru gave her transportable heat source: the pebbles which readily absorb heat when placed on the radiator can be used e.g. in treating cramps.
The little brown stones plates seen in the draft serve as hot-plates. The fixed stone plates around radiator pipes also store heat for extended periods. The idea took the 3rd prize.
Designers Büşra Nur Güleç and İsmail Arpacı demonstrate how tradition combines with modern forms in „Seblevi“: the arched form is reminiscent of a whirling Dervish. The dance or ritual dates back to the Persian mystic and poet Dschalal ad-Dhin ar-Rumi (1207-1273), Turkish: Mevlânâ, whose school of thought strives for harmony among people as well as with nature and God.
In this sense the designers had others in mind next to those wishing to quench their thirst. The fountain’s runoff flows down the pipe where it exits at the bend for thirsty animals. The form of the fountain is hollow, composed of 4 stone plates. At its base, a metal sheet serves as tray upon which food can be placed.
„Fix“ by designer Esin Ekincioğlu, provides an ideal use for recycled pieces and can be manufactured in thick or thin varies for flooring and walls. The shape of the tiles allows interesting and aesthetically pleasing design ideas in a variety of colors.
Büşra Mehlika Kurt, Fulya Certel and Sencer Özdemir are jointly responsible for „Escada“ (Stairs) which owes its name to the various strata of the benches which center on a miniature obelisk doubles as a table. The seats are made of stone, the base and legs are of steel for ease of transport and comfort.
„Geometry Collection“ is the name Semiha Kahn gave her living accessories ranging from candleholders to mortar and pestle with matching receptacle for spices to name but a few.
„Twist“ is the name which Mustafa Özkurt and Yusufhan Doğan gave their umbrella stand. We already made their acquaintance earlier in conjunction with 1st prize.
A total of 64 submissions participated in the competition. The concept behind the project with the original title „Doğal Taş Kullanımında Ezberleri Bozmak“ (New ideas for natural stone in everyday life) is explained by İMİB-CEO Mehmet Özer in a brochure: 2023 will see the 100 year jubilee of the Turkish Republic. By then, it is hoped, the country will have reached a place among the 10 exporting countries with some 500 billion US-$ in export turn-over. . İMİB aims to contribute 15 billion US-$, the rest of the stone industry another 7 billion.
The core concept is that Turkey earns a greater profit margin with value-added products and the competition an attempt at bringing creative minds from across the country together around natural stone.
For further information: İMİB, (Mail)
