Les Benjamins Celebrates 100 Years of Friendship Turkey & Japan Event Space Design

Brand: Les Benjamins

Season: Fall 2024

Location: İstanbul – Nişantaşı, Soho, The Marmara Pera, Arkestra, Etiler HQ

Creative Team: Tuba Şehitoğlu, Tuğçe Uysal Çakmakçıoğlu

We took on the design of all event spaces for Les Benjamins’ two-day celebration series, commemorating the 100th anniversary of Turkish-Japanese friendship. As part of this special project, we created a unique and transformative atmosphere across the brand’s Akkavak Street store and various locations throughout the city, reflecting the shared values of these two cultures.

In the design process, we were inspired by traditional materials from both Japanese and Turkish cultures, creating a structure that highlights the displayed works and brings new meaning to the space. We stripped the No. 16 building, functioning as a store, of all its functional elements and reinterpreted it with fabric and natural wood as the main materials. The color blue, significant in both Japanese and Turkish cultures, became a dominant feature in the space. Occasional touches of red added a symbolic element, representing the shared color in both countries’ flags.

We drew inspiration from the historical connections between these two cultures in our design. The color blue, symbolizing the bond of the sea between Turkey and Japan, brought together Japanese indigo prints and Turkish amulets and natural dyes, creating a space entirely in shades of blue. To support this ambiance, we added a natural wooden construction within the space, dividing it into different sections like a tent structure. This setup also established functional boundaries for different areas within the event (workshop areas, tea ceremony, photo booth, exhibition space). The lower level was entirely converted into an exhibition area, showcasing works from approximately 18 artisans.

One of the most remarkable features of the design was its modularity, allowing it to be adapted to different spaces. This design, capable of expanding and contracting, was tailored to meet the varying needs of the event. Our key terms for the project were “Ertuğrul Frigate,” “fabric,” “tradition,” and “modernity.” For this special event celebrating 100 years of friendship between Japan and Turkey, we created a timeless, meaningful, and functional design that elegantly embodies the harmony between these two cultures.