Interviews with Saffet Dikmen

I completed my four-year degree in Architecture at the Faculty of Architecture, Dokuz Eylül University, in 1997. I have worked in architecture since 1993. Throughout my professional practice, I have worked on architectural and interior projects as well as furniture and bespoke design details. My approach brings together users’ needs, comfort, function and aesthetics. Creating distinctive, understated spaces enriched by detail remains central to my work.

One of the things that motivates me most to design is understanding users’ needs and creating spaces that make a meaningful contribution to their lives. Bringing function and aesthetics together to create comfortable, understated spaces enriched by detail is at the heart of my design approach.

Art, architecture, different design disciplines, and material research continually nourish this process. Finding solutions that respond to each project’s particular needs and conditions while maintaining the integrity of my architectural approach is another aspect of the profession that motivates me.

I work primarily in architecture and interior design, across residential, hospitality, commercial and other projects of varying scales. Furniture and bespoke design details are also part of my practice.

For me, understanding users’ needs and bringing function and aesthetics together matters more than the type or scale of a project. I approach each one according to its own conditions and identity.

I believe young designers should support their creativity with technical knowledge and practical experience. Understanding materials, studying details and experiencing a design from its initial idea through to implementation are important parts of professional development.

A good designer should also be a good observer. Following different disciplines, researching, asking questions and remaining open to learning are invaluable. Developing one’s own architectural approach takes time, experience and a deeper understanding of the thinking behind the work.

A good designer can create successful aesthetic and functional solutions. What distinguishes a great designer is the ability to go further: to understand the user and the needs of the space, and to preserve the integrity of a design down to its smallest detail.

I believe a successful design is not only impressive at first sight; its value becomes apparent through use, and it maintains its quality over time.

For me, good design begins with a proper understanding of users’ needs. Function, aesthetics, and comfort should be considered together, so that a space is strong not only visually but also in use.

Every decision, from the choice of materials to the smallest detail, should work in harmony. I believe good design should retain its value and identity over time, beyond passing trends.

I do not assess the value of good design through aesthetics alone. Responding to users’ needs, improving quality of life and retaining functionality over many years are just as important as appearance.

Investing in good design is an investment in everyday comfort, the quality of a space in use and its long-term value. To me, successful design brings aesthetics and function together and establishes a meaningful relationship with its users.

I place importance on understanding users and their needs, and on treating function and aesthetics as inseparable. Every project has its own conditions and identity, and I aim to develop solutions accordingly.

I believe the care given to everything from material selection to implementation details determines the integrity and quality of a design. What matters to me is creating distinctive, understated spaces enriched by detail.

I believe every project has its own value and design process, so I prefer not to single out one work as my greatest achievement.

Among our successes on international platforms, I could mention Port House receiving an A’ Design Award and İnci Nefes Shopping Center being recognised at the Wonder Global Design Awards 2026. Such achievements are valuable as recognition of the work behind our projects and our architectural approach across different audiences.

Professional experience across different projects, alongside material research and attention to implementation, has contributed to the development of my approach.

Design brings function and aesthetics together in response to the user and the space. I value restrained spaces that are simple in expression yet rich in detail.

Art, architecture, and different design disciplines have always been important sources of inspiration for me. Travel and design books, discovering new materials, and researching different production techniques also feed this process.

Working on projects of different scales and functions over the years has also played an important role in developing my professional perspective. The particular conditions and needs of each project have enriched my experience and design approach over time.

At BODA, we continue to work on architectural and interior projects of different scales and functions.

Our current work includes Yahşi Suites in Bodrum and İnci Nefes Shopping Center, alongside new projects that have recently joined our portfolio. We approach each project in line with its particular needs, conditions, and identity, considering function, aesthetics, and user experience as a whole.

At BODA, we continue to develop projects of different scales and functions. I believe each new project should be approached in line with its particular needs and conditions.

My design approach is based on considering users’ needs, comfort, function, and aesthetics as a whole. While the design process may take different directions according to a project’s requirements, I take care to maintain the integrity of my architectural approach. Creating distinctive, understated spaces enriched by detail, which retain their value over time, remains central to BODA’s architectural philosophy

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Design influences everyday comfort, resource use and our relationship with the environment. Considering sustainability and people’s needs from the beginning is an important part of responsible architecture.

In the coming years, I would like to see sustainability and advances in material and building technologies gain greater prominence in design processes.

I believe design decisions, from material selection and energy use to functionality and longevity, should be considered as a whole. I also value the contribution technological developments can make to creating more considered, high-quality spaces that respond to users’ needs and demonstrate environmental responsibility.

I believe technology and artificial intelligence will play an increasingly important role in architecture and design. Digital tools and new material technologies offer opportunities at many stages, from design development to implementation.

However, I see technology not as design itself but as a tool that supports and advances the design process. People, users’ needs, and the relationship between space and everyday life should remain at the centre of architecture.

The time needed to complete a project varies according to its scale, scope, technical requirements, and implementation conditions. It would therefore be misleading to give a standard timeframe for every project.

We allow for the time required at each stage, from initial design to detailing and implementation. For me, what matters is not simply completing the process quickly, but doing so without compromising the integrity of the design or the quality of its execution.

I begin each project by seeking to understand the user, their needs, and the particular conditions of the space. Its location, surroundings, function, and user expectations form the starting points of the design process.

Once these factors are considered together, the architectural approach begins to take shape. What matters to me is that design decisions emerge from the project’s real needs rather than aesthetic preferences alone.

I value following developments, new approaches, and trends in the design world. Different perspectives and evolving material and construction possibilities are important sources of inspiration.

However, I believe every project has its own needs and identity. I therefore evaluate contemporary approaches in relation to the project’s requirements and my architectural philosophy. What matters to me is creating spaces that retain their function and aesthetic value over time.

I see technology as an important tool that supports and advances the design process. Digital design and visualisation tools help at different stages, from developing ideas to evaluating details.

At the same time, I believe technological tools should not take precedence over architectural thinking. What matters is making use of these possibilities while preserving design integrity, users’ needs and the distinctive character of a space.

We use digital drawing and modelling tools, three-dimensional visualisation techniques and material research throughout the design process. These help develop ideas, assess alternatives, and make design decisions more tangible.

Material samples and construction details are equally integral to the process. It is important to me that designs developed digitally remain consistent with real materials and production conditions.

I consider colour and material choices fundamental to a space’s identity, rather than decorative decisions made at the final stage of design.

The relationship between textures, colours, light and materials directly shapes a space’s atmosphere. What matters to me is considering all these elements within an architectural whole, offering users a balanced experience in terms of both aesthetics and comfort.

I value preserving the integrity of the architectural approach and the design. At the same time, bringing a project to life requires different areas of expertise to work in harmony.

The care, knowledge, and support of the people I work with are valuable to me. I believe this mutual understanding is the foundation of successful collaboration.

Working on projects of different scales and functions over the years has played an important role in my professional development. Each project’s particular needs, material choices, and implementation processes have helped shape my perspective on design.

I continue to follow art, architecture and different design disciplines, and to research new materials and developing technologies. I believe professional experience and contemporary developments should inform one another.

Having a project recognised on international platforms is certainly valuable. For me, however, awards are not an objective that design sets out to achieve, but a recognition of the thought and effort behind the work.

What matters most is creating spaces that touch their users’ lives, are strong in function and aesthetics, and retain their value over time. Seeing a project resonate with different audiences is another rewarding part of that process.

A new design day begins by revisiting ongoing projects, considering details and setting priorities for the day.

Different design disciplines, new materials, and the details encountered along the way feed the creative process. Developing solutions to each project’s particular needs and seeing ideas gradually take shape as real spaces are also important sources of motivation.

I believe technology, artificial intelligence, new material technologies and sustainability will play an increasingly significant role in the future of architecture.

As these developments open up new possibilities for design and production, I believe people’s needs, ways of life, and relationship with their environment will retain their central importance in architecture. Technology, rather than becoming design itself, will play an important role in enabling more considered and higher-quality spaces.

Architecture is not simply about producing an aesthetic result; it is about understanding the user, interpreting their needs and considering function and aesthetics as a whole.

I believe every project has its own conditions and identity. Drawing on my years of professional experience, creating distinctive, comfortable, and understated spaces enriched by detail remains at the heart of my design approach.

I have been working in architecture and design since 1993. When you spend many years working intensively in the profession, what you want to do and the direction you want to follow become increasingly clear. For me, that experience has been an important part of shaping how I approach design and where I am today. I now bring user needs, function, and aesthetics together, and I believe every project should have its own story and identity.

BODA Design & Architecture is an Izmir-based architecture and design practice focused on creating innovative and functional spaces. Across residential, commercial, and interior projects, we combine creativity with technical expertise. From space planning to bespoke design details, we approach each project as a whole, with a focus on aesthetic, functional, and sustainable solutions.

For me, function and form are not separate in design. At the beginning of a project, I first try to understand the needs of the user and the conditions of the space. What matters is transforming function into a strong and original form while giving the project an identity of its own.

I focus first on user needs and on planning the space correctly. Materials, proportion, light, and details should support that main idea. What matters to me is that all these elements work together as a coherent whole.

A successful design needs more than visual strength. It should be functional, respond to the needs of its users, and maintain a sense of coherence. I value a balanced relationship between aesthetics and function.

When I evaluate a design, I first look at the overall composition and how well it functions. Planning, proportion, materials, and details should support one another. I believe a design should work well in use, not only visually.

For me, a designer's fundamental responsibility is to design practical and sustainable spaces that genuinely respond to user needs.

I believe developments in materials and the growing role of artificial intelligence will have an increasing influence on architecture. Sustainability and environmentally responsible buildings will also become more important. As the world changes, architecture will continue to develop new and contemporary solutions.

I often find inspiration within the project itself. User needs, the conditions of the space, its surroundings, and the way people live all help shape the design. Researching and understanding each project through its own circumstances is an important part of my process.

I would describe my approach as simple but strong, contemporary and timeless. I prefer to avoid what is unnecessary while allowing details, materials, and proportions to give a space its identity. It is important to me that a design maintains its value over time.

Our process begins by listening to the client and understanding their needs clearly. We bring those expectations together with technical knowledge, creative thinking, and material expertise. We aim to maintain the same design coherence from the initial concept through to implementation details.

I begin each project by listening to the user and trying to understand their needs and the conditions of the project clearly. Following the research process, space planning and the main design decisions begin to take shape, while materials, proportion, light, and details develop as part of the same whole. What matters to me is that these decisions do not develop independently, but as parts of a coherent design approach. I value maintaining this sense of coherence and consistency from the initial idea through to the implementation details.

When designing a living space, I make it a principle to bring comfort and function together. I like creating environments that are simple yet rich in detail, peaceful, and enjoyable.

Creativity is important, but it is not enough on its own. Technical knowledge, material knowledge, and implementation experience are also essential parts of design. They need to work together for an idea to be realized properly.

In our projects, we use different digital design tools for drawing, 3D modelling, and visualization. The tools we use vary according to the needs of each project. Material samples, construction details and production knowledge are also an important part of the design process. We value maintaining coherence from the initial idea through to implementation.

Throughout my career, I have worked on many projects of different scales and types for a range of private clients and investors across residential, office, hotel, and hospitality projects.

In the future, I want to continue working on projects of different scales and types, developing new and contemporary solutions with each one. I believe architecture should continue to evolve with a changing world; sustainability, new materials, and the possibilities offered by technology will also be an important part of our work in the coming period.

At BODA, we work as a team. We develop our projects together, with contributions from the team throughout the different stages of the design process.

We are currently working on projects of different scales and types. Yahşi Suites in Bodrum and İnci Nefes Shopping Mall are among our current projects.

You can follow our work and get in touch with us through BODA Design & Architecture’s official website and social media accounts.

I believe every project should have a story and an identity of its own. By understanding user needs clearly, I aim to create spaces that are simple yet strong, rich in detail, and timeless. Creating a strong design language in which function is enriched through form and carries artistic traces is at the core of my approach.