NOTES AND SKETCHES ON NAPKINS

Looking back at the days in quarantine, do you think you discovered something new about yourself?

I realised that I had more patience than I thought. Waiting, resting and being alone made me feel good. When work ceased and I finally got some time on my hands, I was able to reflect and think. I noticed that my laziness had distanced me from the kitchen. So, this was a period during which I spent more time cooking. Sports was part of my daily routine before the pandemic. I realised how important sports is for me in its absence during lockdown.

You mentioned taking notes and making sketches on napkins during the lockdown. What triggered you to do that? How did these notes inspire you?

The quarantine took me by surprise. I confess I wasn’t prepared for it. I was planning to move house and had already packed up half of my stuff when it all happened. That is the state I was left in. Unable to find my notebooks, I started writing on napkins. In due course, I felt good about my notes and sketches. They became collectables for me. Sometimes I have difficulty in reading these notes but their sensation made a place in my mind. Something else that sticks to my mind is the constant announcements made from Bebek Mosque, urging people to stay at home.

If there was three more months of quarantine in September what kind of architectural measures would you take at home?

No more quarantine! But if it is inevitable I would have a better equipped kitchen, a bigger TV and a fireplace that is ready to light up. During the lockdown our homes became some kind of sanctuary. People’s perspective towards their homes changed. From now on, our homes will become more inclusive both structurally and in terms of equipment. The feeling we get from our homes has become much more important. Interpreting this new norm will be a welcome change.

How will creative output change in this world of confinement? Exciting times await us. Design will no longer be enough on its own. The story behind the design, functionality and conscious consumption will become more prevalent. The pace of change will accelerate. Good presentation will remain important but the meaning, clarity and message in the presentation will become a priority. I am sure this new normal will have profound effects on food, furniture, art, architecture and much more.