As part of the "Design Talk" event organized by Antalya Bilim University's Interior Architecture and Environmental Design Department, an inspiring journey into the world of Osman Hamdi Bey was undertaken on November 28, 2024. The event was held within the scope of the IAED 1001 Space Design Studio I course, led by Asst. Prof. Dr. Buket ŞENOĞLU, Lec. Parla ÖZKUL, Lec. Dr. Arzu ÇAKMAK, and Lec. Canan BEDUR providing a remarkable opportunity for first-year design studio students.
One of Turkey’s leading historians, Prof. Dr. Edhem Eldem, known internationally for his extensive research on Osman Hamdi Bey, presented a lecture focusing on the historical process of Sidon Ancient City and its sarcophagi. Prof. Dr. Edhem ELDEM, a faculty member at Boğaziçi University’s History Department, also teaches at prestigious institutions such as Berkeley, Harvard, and Columbia. His academic focus spans Ottoman cultural, social, and economic history, the historical archaeology and museology of the Ottoman Empire, Istanbul, Orientalism, and significant figures like Osman Hamdi Bey and Prince Selahaddin Efendi.
During the event, Prof. Dr. ELDEM delved into how Osman Hamdi Bey became involved in the excavations of Sidon Ancient City, the challenges encountered during these excavations, and the extraction and preservation process of the sarcophagi—one of the most significant archaeological discoveries of the era.
Osman Hamdi Bey was not only a painter and archaeologist but also a pioneer who introduced Turkey’s cultural heritage to the world by blending the art and archaeology of the East and West in a unique synthesis. In this context, the discovery of the Sidon Sarcophagi during the Sidon King’s Tomb Excavation, led by Osman Hamdi Bey, is a monumental historical milestone. Currently exhibited at the Istanbul Archaeology Museum, these sarcophagi showcase the artistic and historical richness of the period, offering an important perspective for the design world.
During the conference, students had the opportunity to explore these unique artifacts, analyzing how form, space, and art harmoniously intersect. This process contributed significantly to first-year design studio students’ understanding of design thinking and expression methods. The event aligns with the course’s objective of observing, discovering, and applying design methods to understand relationships between living beings, artifacts, spaces, and their extended environments. It offered a creative, process-oriented perspective to comprehend how fundamental design principles can be utilized within a project through historical and artistic contexts.
The intricate details of the sarcophagi, and their impact on form and spatial perception, provided students with an inspiring example of how depth is created in design. This approach encouraged both critical and creative thinking, enabling students to integrate these insights into their design projects.
.png)
.jpeg)
.jpeg)