March Edition of 'Aydabir' Talk Series Held with the Theme "Architecture and Cultural Heritage"

The twentieth installment of the talk series 'Aydabir', organized by the IDEALIST Interior Architecture Association, sponsored by Bien, took place at the IDEALIST Center of addresistanbul, focusing on the theme of "Architecture and Cultural Heritage". Moderated by Architect Şenay Kahramanoğlu, the discussion featured Interior Architect Osman Murat Akan and Architect-Restoration Specialist Dr. Olcay Aydemir as speakers.

The twentieth episode of the current, socially relevant, and inspiring discussion series 'Aydabir', realized through the collaboration of IDEALIST and Bien, was held on Thursday, March 28th, at the IDEALIST Center in addresistanbul, Şişli, Istanbul, under the theme "Architecture and Cultural Heritage". Moderated by Architect Şenay Kahramanoğlu, the speakers of the discussion were IDEALIST Founding Member Interior Architect Osman Murat Akan and Architect-Restoration Specialist Dr. Olcay Aydemir.

During the conversation, Osman Murat Akan emphasized the importance of architecture as a means of expressing nations and governance styles, highlighting how museums enhance the prestige of cities and countries. He particularly noted the Bilbao Guggenheim Museum as a milestone in museum architecture, igniting an architectural competition driven by artistic structures.

Dr. Olcay Aydemir underscored the significance of preserving cultural heritage, mentioning his involvement in the restoration process of numerous cultural assets in Istanbul and addressing the challenges of conserving civilian architectural heritage. He particularly highlighted the restoration efforts concerning Kavafyan Mansion, emphasizing the importance of preservation alongside its surroundings.

Şenay Kahramanoğlu expressed that cultural heritage carries universal values and its preservation is humanity's shared legacy. She provided a broad perspective, ranging from international collaborations on monument preservation to conservation laws in Turkey and the works of ICOMOS. Additionally, she specifically discussed the historical significance of Kavafyan Mansion in Istanbul and its restoration projects.

At the end of the discussion, which was met with keen interest from university students, the speakers addressed questions from participants regarding our cultural heritage and its preservation.

The Aydabir talk series, featuring speakers from various disciplines, explores contemporary, social, and inspiring topics in a free and candid environment. The next event of the 'Aydabir' discussion series, with a new theme, will take place in April at the IDEALIST Center in addresistanbul. All videos of the 'Aydabir' talk series can be accessed on the IDEALIST Interior Architecture Association YouTube channel.


Şenay Kahramanoğlu
Graduated from the Faculty of Architecture at Mimar Sinan University in 1989, Şenay Kahramanoğlu has worked on various architecture and restoration projects at Dikon Architecture Inc. since 1991. Known for her deep expertise in restoration and architecture, her projects include significant works such as the restoration of Bebek Kavafyan Mansion and the former French Orphanage in Bebeköy.

Osman Murat Akan
Osman Murat Akan graduated from the Department of Interior Architecture at Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University and pursued a master's degree in Museum Management at Istanbul University. With extensive experience in exhibition design, he has served as a design consultant and manager for various institutions. He initiated the "Cultural Heritage Platforms", an important project in the field of cultural heritage. He has also compiled his knowledge and experiences in three books titled "Exhibition Design", "The City in Search of Its Soul: Istanbul", and "Lost History".

Dr. Olcay Akdemir
Dr. Olcay Akdemir graduated from the Faculty of Architecture at Yıldız Technical University in 1997. After completing his doctoral studies on "Urban Life Quality", he gained expertise in architecture and urban planning. He obtained a specialization certificate in restoration from the General Directorate of Foundations and completed his second master's degree on the conservation of cultural assets at Kadir Has University. Leading projects for the preservation of Istanbul's important structures, he served as the Director of Istanbul Survey and Monuments from 2018 to 2021. Focusing on the preservation of cultural assets, Akdemir has been working as a consultant at Zeytinburnu Municipality since 2021.