Göbeklitepe Inspires Designers

The enchanting energy of Mesopotamia will be reflected in objects. Göbekli Tepe inspired designers A 'Göbekli Tepe Natural Stone Product Design Workshop' was organised by Şanlıurfa Tourism Development Inc. in cooperation with Istanbul Mining Exporters Association, with support from Şanlıurfa Governor's Office, Şanlıurfa Metropolitan Municipality and Halfeti Municipality. Over four days, designers developed designs in natural stone inspired by Göbekli Tepe's monumental structures, figures, geography and landscape. The 'Göbekli Tepe Natural Stone Product Design Workshop', organised by Şanlıurfa Tourism Development Inc. in cooperation with Istanbul Mining Exporters Association (İMİB), was held in Şanlıurfa. The workshop aimed to promote Göbekli Tepe—which overturns known theses in the field of archaeology—to Turkey and the world through design, and to create collection value for Göbekli Tepe, while developing original designs inspired by this unique cultural heritage. Under the curatorship of Nurcihan Beyazıt, designers came together over four days to develop product designs inspired by Göbekli Tepe. These designs will be produced from Turkey's natural stones to create the 'Göbekli Tepe Design Collection'. The collection will also promote Turkey's natural stones through design.

First they studied Göbekli Tepe, then transferred forms to their designs

On the first day, designers gained detailed information about Göbekli Tepe and examined the region and its finds. On the workshop's second day, they attended presentations on Turkey's natural stones and production methods for natural stone. They then visited the traditional Urfa ashlar stone production site—a type of limestone from which the "T" pillars at Göbekli Tepe were made—and inspected mosaic production workshops at the Halfeti Public Education Centre. On the workshop's third day, after visiting the Haleplibahçe Mosaic Museum in Şanlıurfa, a two-day design process began. During the intensive creative process, design ideas were generated and sketches were produced drawing inspiration from Göbekli Tepe's history, geography, landscape, architecture and monumental structures. Designs were developed for daily accessories, desk accessories, implements and objects for various applications, to be produced from Urfa ashlar stone, Karacadağ's lead-coloured basalt from volcanic rock types found in Urfa and its surroundings, and natural stones extracted from various regions of Turkey. The forms of the objects created by designers, inspired by the pillars at Göbekli Tepe, the figures on walls, the relationship between nature and humans, and the rituals of those who lived thousands of years ago, reflect the enchanted atmosphere of Mesopotamia. The original designs of the design team comprising Buket Hoşcan Bazman, Ceren Gürkan, Eli Bensusan, Emre Yunus Uzun, Hazal Balasar, Mustafa Timur and Şule Koç will be produced from Turkey's natural stones.

Turkey's rich natural stone resources

Aydın Dinçer, Chairman of İMİB's Board of Management, describing the work they carried out as 'exciting', said: "Göbekli Tepe represents the latest and most enlightening point of the cultural diversity and richness that these lands possess. We want this wealth to be more present in our lives as objects and accessories, again using these lands' natural stones. To integrate the spirit, culture and worldview of Göbekli Tepe more fully into today's world, and in doing so to use our own natural stones, is extremely exciting. Turkey, which is rich in natural stone, has marble in over 650 colours and patterns. Additionally, our country possesses around 150 varieties of natural stone in travertine, limestone and granite. As an association, we will continue to diversify the ways of presenting and showing this wealth we possess." The Göbekli Tepe Design Workshops, which aim to develop original and export-potential product designs, will continue to be held in different fields within the scope of the 'Göbekli Tepe Design Collection', with the participation of Turkey's leading designers.