SALT’s activities are distributed between two landmark buildings.
The first building, SALT Beyoglu, is on the pedestrian street Istiklal Caddesi. SALT Beyoglu’s interiors are mostly occupied by exhibition and event spaces. The second building, SALT Galata, is the former 19th century Imperial Ottoman Bank headquarters designed by Alexandre Vallaury. SALT Galata houses a specialized public library and archive; spaces dedicated to research, workshops, exhibitions and a conference hall; as well as the Ottoman Bank Museum.

The signage elements were developed taking the cultural and visual legacy
of Istiklal Caddesi (Pera) as inspiration for circulation and display of programmatic information throughout the building.

SALT Beyoglu hosts 1130 square meters of exhibition space on three levels. Acting as an interface between the institution and the street is the Forum, SALT Beyoglu’s entry space.

The typeface, Kraliçe, which was created by type designer Timo Gaessner for Project Projects which was commissioned for the visual identity design if SALT.

Following the salad servers, Koray Ozgen designs appetizer bowl, spatulas and cooking brushes for ODUN.

The Toolives kitchen & table top utensils collection is made out of wood collected from seasonal pruning of olive trees from the Aegean shores of Anatolia, one of the oldest regions of olive tree cultivation in the world. The wood was normally used as firewood by local people for heating in winter time. Intended to be burnt, the precious wood comes back to life as unique and durable kitchen tools.

*odun ince isler is a new brand created by an olive oil producing company in a village on the Aegean shores of Anatolia with the aim of bringing together olive wood and design ideas.

Homage to working children
Koray Ozgen created this “monument-object”, for a commission in the context of Istanbul, 2010 European Capital of Culture. Seven contemporary Turkish designers were invited to create objects on the theme “Istanbul Otherwise”.

Without a name / Koray Ozgen
When set out to think with an Istanbul Otherwise” approach, the shoe shine box can lead the designer to different concepts. Literally, this object suggests those large shiny boxes that tourists coming to Istanbul are accustomed to see in the lobbies of grand hotels. Yet, as a matter of fact, as we roam the sidewalks or squares of Istanbul, we often come across children who shine shoes using small boxes and brushes made suitably for their small hands. In such context, the designer may express him-/herself through an object, by detaching that object from its contemporary cultural marketing typology with an intervention that establishes a link between the past and the present. One way to cherish in our minds these shoe shine boxes that are identified with children working as shoe shiners deprived of their homes, schools, and non-existent toys during significant periods of their lives, may be to turn them into “monument-objects”. Objects which represent the possibility of a life equal to the respect they deserve as human beings and an “Istanbul otherwise” where they would not have to shine shoes. Objects we can even install in places in Istanbul that have witnessed this “sadness”.

www.istanbulotherwise

Koray Ozgen designed the visual identity and scenography of the “Istanbul Contrast” exhibition which took place within in the framework of the Turkish Cultural Season in France.
www.en.istanbul2010.org

Located at “Hall des Maréchaux” of the Musée des Arts Décoratifs, the scenography of the exhibition had a prior engagement to respect the historical and prestigious nature of the setting. The scenography made a basic use of paper and light to put on stage the collection of the fashion designers Dice Kayek inspired by the multiple facets of the city of Istanbul. The major elements of the scenography were lighted walls enlighting Istanbul themed photographs by S. Kösemen, podiums upon which dressmaker forms and digital information panels were installed, lighted columns carrying the exhibition information and special lighting effects. Rose flavoured lokoums were served to guests and fresh tulip decorations installed to reinforce the multi-sensorial effect along with background tunes from Burhan Öcal.

Ays tumblers

Ambiente Trends2010

Ays tumblers designed by Koray Ozgen have been selected for the Ambiente Trends 2010 exhibition in Frankfurt.

Document/magazine holder
Epoxy laquered steel.

Range-documents/porte-revues
Acier laqué epoxy.

Ad Vitam (Magnifying) mirror. Solid oak.
“My son and Dad”, a group exhibition during Istanbul Design Weekend 2009.
18 June – 6 July 2009, Lush Hotel, Istanbul.

Blue Topaz
Brand identity

Following the corporate design of Topaz Restaurant at Gümüssuyu in 2007, Ozgen Design Studio designed the corporate image of Blue Topaz which was opened in the hotspot multi-venue club “Reina” at the Bosphorus waterfront, in May 2009.