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Introducing the Turkish designer whose first-ever furniture design pays tribute to the longevity of nature
For Arda Yeniay, nature is a cause for wonder. Of course, it can also be brutal – the interior architect and designer, whose eponymous studio is based in Istanbul, is, he says, ‘in an indefinable amount of pain for the tens (possibly hundreds) of thousands of people who lost their lives, and those who lost their homes, families, everything in the recent earthquake.’ His marble ‘Universe’ coffee table was, he tells us, inspired ‘by the concept of infinity and continuity in the natural world’. ‘The never-ending, looped form at its centre serves as a metaphor for the boundlessness of the cosmos,’ he adds. ‘It is meant to evoke a sense of curiosity about the mysteries of the world we live in.’
It’s this inquisitive tendency that first prompted Yeniay to study design – first via a degree in interior architecture at Bilkent University in Ankara and then a Master’s in product design at Milan’s Domus Academy. ‘The idea of creating new things has always been my creative trigger,’ he explains. For him, designing interiors and furniture works hand in glove. ‘Product design is the artistic touch that adds personality and uniqueness to my interiors. By making memorable and expressive pieces, we can create more dynamic and engaging spaces,’ he says.
