ISTANBUL-HISTORICAL PENINSULA; Design Tour

Undergraduate students from Monterrey Tech University in Mexico visited us last month. It was a pleasant and different experience for both us and them. We took a trip to the Grand Bazaar and the Hanlar district.

We want to talk about this beautiful trip.

Undergraduate students came to Istanbul for a project carried out by Işık University . The subject of the project is; Sustainability of Production. They spent a pleasant day with Özlem Tuna, who is also known for her work and projects for traditional production in these historical places.

We can easily see that there is no small-scale production in the metropolises anymore. It has started to disappear day by day. Small-scale production is unique in the Historical Peninsula, in Istanbul. Metal and jewelry masters have been working and producing for centuries. This traditional production, which comes from Byzantium and the Ottomans, is trying to survive despite the factory system.

We met in Çemberlitaş and later had lunch at a small restaurant in Yağcı Han.

After lunch, we visited Zincirli Han, Çukur Han, Büyük Yeni Han and Büyük Valide Han. We introduced the undergraduate students to the masters who produce using traditional methods in these inns. They had the chance to see their works live. They showed great interest in what the masters did and it was not easy to leave the masters' side. The rooftop view of Büyük Valide Han was the best memory for all of us.

Photos were taken with a blue cloudy background and the view of the Golden Horn in Istanbul. It was an unforgettable day for them and for us.

Ozlem Tuna