The Aydabir conversation was held with the theme of "The 100th Year of the Republic"

The 16th edition of the Aydabir conversation series, organized by the Idealist Interior Architecture Association and sponsored by Bien, took place with the theme "The 100th Year of the Republic." The conversation, moderated by the prominent architect Banu Uçak, featured fashion designer Arzu Kaprol, Professor Dr. Arzu Erdem, interior designer Melike Battal, architect Büşra Al, and architect Banu Uçak as speakers.

In collaboration between the Idealist Interior Architecture Association and Bien, the current, social, and inspiring conversation series, "Aydabir," held its 16th edition on October 31st, Tuesday, with the theme "The 100th Year of the Republic," at addresistanbul. During the conversation, the personal and professional lives of five successful women from the design disciplines were discussed in the context of women's emancipation, one of the greatest achievements of the Republic.

Moderator Banu Uçak, a distinguished architect, emphasized that the Republic is not just a form of government but an existential, vital necessity for Turkish women. She highlighted that all women in our country who make choices, work, and produce within the realm of human life are walking the path paved by pioneering Republic women such as Latife Uşşaki, Kara Fatma, Leman Tomsu, Nezihe Muhhiddin, Süreyya Ağaoğlu, Harika Söylemezoğlu, Afet İnan, and Cahide Tamer. Uçak expressed gratitude to Gazi Mustafa Kemal Atatürk and all the heroes who fought for liberation, even at the cost of their lives, for the 100th Year of the Republic. Professor Dr. Arzu Erdem, the first speaker, shared her journey, the values and opportunities of the Republic, the freedom-loving culture that brought her to the field of architecture, and her story of continuing her profession in an academic environment after the private sector. Erdem pointed out the male-centric nature of societal norms, especially in her field of architecture, and humorously highlighted how Leonardo Da Vinci's Vitruvian Man and Le Corbusier's Modulor excluded the female perspective. Erdem underscored the achievements of the Republic in terms of women and emphasized that, even though women make up half of the world's population, they do not have an equal share in life, not only in our country but worldwide.

Melike Battal, an interior designer providing services from her own office since 1998 after receiving fine arts education and cultivating an individual production practice based on her insights, shared examples from her life. She emphasized the struggle of being an individual and its rewards in life and concluded her speech by expressing her belief in the future and addressing the younger generation. Büşra Al, who founded the architectural office PlugOfis five years ago, explained her journey, influenced by her family's background as graduates of the Village Institute, and her childhood spent in Ereğli Iron and Steel Factory. Büşra Al, who has won numerous awards in various architectural and urban design competitions, emphasized the concepts of humility, collectivity, and serving the whole, not only in buildings and institutions but also in people. Arzu Kaprol, one of Turkey's leading figures in the fashion industry, described how her dream, which started with sewing an astronaut costume as a child, led her on her journey. After winning the "Avant-Garde Designer" award from Beymen Academia, she entered the fashion industry, where she maintained the curiosity and excitement of her childhood. She defined her profession today as an "innovation designer for humans" and shared her innovative high-tech clothing designs for the Turkish Armed Forces and Formula 1 pilots, which were inspired by architecture and focused on local materials and sustainability.

The conversation series "Aydabir," which has been ongoing since 2022, will hold its next event with a new theme in November at the Idealist Center in addresistanbul. All videos of the "Aydabir" conversation series can be accessed on the Idealist Interior Architecture Association's YouTube channel.

Arzu Kaprol
Arzu Kaprol, who defines her design as "clothing architecture," graduated from Mimar Sinan University and received couture training at the Paris American Academy. She started her design career by winning the "Avant-Garde Designer" award from Beymen Academia. During her tenure as the Creative Director at NetWork, she established the QUE brand. In 2011, she began presenting her collections in the official calendar of the Paris Fashion Week. She also opened her office in Paris. In 2015, she staged Turkey's first holographic fashion show and in 2016, she presented Turkey's first digital couture show on national and international platforms. In 2015, she introduced one of the first prototypes of smart clothing, the "Smart Jacket," which changes its functionality based on temperature adjustments. These innovations have positioned her among the pioneers in the industry.

Arzu Erdem
Prof. Dr. Arzu Erdem completed her undergraduate, master's, and doctoral studies at Istanbul Technical University (İTÜ). Over her 35-year career, she held various significant positions, including being a dean and vice-rector. In 2012, she was part of the architectural team that received the National Architecture Award in the field of conservation for the Istanbul Water Civilizations Project. Currently, Erdem is involved in research and work related to natural life and biodiversity. She also serves on the boards of the Rubicon Foundation, SEV Foundation, and İŞ GYO Real Estate Investment Partnership. Erdem is a lecturer at Istanbul İstinye University's Department of Architecture.

Büşra Al
Büşra Al graduated from the Yıldız Technical University Department of Architecture in 2008 and completed her master's degree. In 2014, she founded PLUGOFIS. During her student years, she won numerous awards in various competitions. Since 2014, Büşra Al has received various awards for architectural projects in different cities and continues her work at PLUGOFIS.


Melike Battal
Melike Battal completed her undergraduate and master's education in the Department of Painting at Hacettepe University. She has been working in the field of interior design and art since 1997. In 1998, she established her own design office, Melike Battal Tasarım. While continuing her work in public buildings, residences, and office projects, she also engages in painting and installation projects.

Banu Uçak
Banu Uçak, a graduate of Yıldız Technical University's Faculty of Architecture, completed her master's degree at Istanbul Technical University. She has worked in the construction and real estate sector in various managerial roles. Uçak has served as a jury member in both national and international competitions and has produced architectural documentaries. She currently works as a lecturer at Özyeğin University's Faculty of Architecture.