WE ARE IN DIALOGUE WITH AYÇA AKKAYA KUL AND ÖNDER KUL
We continue our dialogue this month with Ayça Akkaya Kul and Önder Kul, one of the founding partners of Mimaristudio, in our “Dialogue” interviews, where we host our industry stakeholders and chat about Lighting Design.
Lighting design with Mimaristudio partners, Architect - High Industrial Product Designer Ayça Akkaya Kul and Master Architect Önder Kul, who have been carrying out design work for the sector for many years, with the main purpose of providing unique, innovative, contemporary and high-level services for each employer in the fields of architecture, interior architecture and industrial design. we talked about.
1. How does light affect your lifestyle in your life, work, or home?
Light is a concept that has been with us and in our lives since our existence, causing a positive or negative effect on people physically and mentally, directly affecting their well-being. The light, which helps us to perceive and define the space we are in, almost gives life to that space, is an important element that gives personality to the space and changes its face.
At this point, the concept and use of natural light is very important. Being able to get the natural light to the maximum extent during the day directly affects the happiness and well-being as well as the morale and motivation of the person. For this reason, we pay attention to the maximum use of daylight in our workplace and home, which is our living space, and the color, intensity and placement of light in the use of lighting other than daylight.
2. Which of the following is included in your Lighting Design project/investment? Why?
• Science
• Technical
• Art
Science: As you know, the concept of "well-being", which has been used frequently recently, can be described as the state of physical, mental and spiritual well-being of a person. Light is one of the most important criteria of this state of well-being. Studies have shown that for many years, light has a direct effect on the users of the space. For this reason, a human-centered lighting design approach in the light of scientific data should be considered within the projects from the planning stage. We also pay attention to include the lighting design process from the very beginning of the process in our projects, and we strive to bring the projects to life in a human-centered design approach, with the data and directions we receive from scientific data.
Technique: A correct and healthy living space can be achieved with the correct use of light. The lighting design process should be handled by experts on the one hand, by using the right techniques, calculations and methods, and on the other hand, by adhering to the space design. We pay attention to the fact that all projects that come out of our office, which produces projects on working areas and continues the design process by focusing on human health and well-being, are fully compatible with all technical inspections, calculations and requirements of the lighting design process.
Art: Art is the expression of our feelings, thoughts and dreams in an aesthetic language. Lighting design, on the other hand, is the artistic reflection of the light on the space itself, through the plan and the project. In our projects, we see lighting design not only as a technique and necessity, but also as a part of the space and an aesthetic complement to the space design.
3. Do you think Architectural Lighting Design can add value to the project?
Light is an important tool that completes the architectural and interior design and brings an aesthetic integrity, giving the space identity and character. Adapting the quantity and quality of light to the subject and program of the project by passing through the filter of lighting design not only adds value to that project, but also helps to reveal a user-friendly, human-centered design approach.
4. What do you think the process of working with the Lighting Designer contributed to you as an investor/manager?
Long-term user satisfaction after the completion and implementation of the project is important to us in all the projects we undertake, both architectural and interior design processes. The role of human-centered lighting and light is also great in order to achieve the satisfaction we have emphasized within the well-being and biophilic design approaches that we have included in our projects for a long time. For this reason, it is a method we prefer to continue the lighting design process, which we have outlined and decided to plan and visual work within our design, with a lighting designer, in order to reach the ideal in terms of speed, quality, aesthetics and technical requirements as well as sharing our workload.