Emre Osmanlar: Bronze Dreams and Concrete Poetry
people • DESIGNERS
Cypriot-born designer Emre Osmanlar moves fluidly between scales, mediums and worlds. From his headquarters at the historic Hôtel Particulier in Istanbul to studios in Dubai and beyond, his work spans interiors, architecture, jewellery and lighting. Osmanlar’s practice embodies a refined duality: modern clarity anchored by ancient rhythm, proportion and light.
Rooted in Mediterranean warmth and informed by European discipline, his aesthetic fuses history with imagination. In this exclusive Designeers interview, he reflects on cultural identity, sustainability and the enduring dialogue between heritage and innovation that defines his vision.
Words: designeers
OCTOBER 2025
WEBSITE: emreosmanlar.com
INSTAGRAM: @emreosmanlar
DESIGNEERS
You’ve described your upbringing as a blend of cultures and stories. How do those roots surface in your work today?
Emre Osmanlar
I grew up between worlds, the Mediterranean warmth of Cyprus, the historic layers of Istanbul, and a European design education. That cultural duality shaped my way of seeing and continues to define my creative identity. My work is, in essence, a journey through art, architecture, and craft, where classical proportions, balance, and symmetry meet contemporary design expression. I often approach interiors as a kind of surrealist narrative, where memory, modernity, and materiality coexist - creating spaces that feel both timeless and deeply personal.
DESIGNEERS
If you could capture Istanbul in a single material or object, what would it be?
Emre Osmanlar
Bronze - aged, luminous, and imperfect. It captures the soul of Istanbul: timeless, layered, and constantly in motion. Like the city itself, bronze carries traces of history and craftsmanship, yet remains alive and evolving. Its warm patina mirrors the shimmer of light over the Bosphorus, a reminder that Istanbul, much like bronze, never truly ages, it transforms, reflecting both permanence and change.
DESIGNEERS
Your studio spans interiors, architecture, jewellery, and now lighting. Do you see these as separate languages, or one continuous conversation?
Emre Osmanlar
For me, it’s all one continuous conversation, expressed at different scales. Whether I’m shaping an interior, a piece of jewellery, or a lighting object, the intention remains the same - to explore proportion, light, and emotion. Each discipline informs and elevates the others, creating a holistic design language and a sense of total artwork where architecture, art, and craftsmanship seamlessly connect.
DESIGNEERS
What excites you most about working at the scale of a building one day, and a ring or lamp the next?
Emre Osmanlar
Designing across scales allows me to move between worlds, from architecture to intimacy. A building is about creating atmosphere; a lamp or a jewel is about distilling that emotion into something you can hold. That shift of scale keeps the work alive; it’s an elevation of the soul through different mediums.
“I reinterpret classical order, proportion, symmetry, and craftsmanship through a contemporary lens. The secret lies in finding equilibrium: respecting heritage while allowing space for new expression.”
Emre Osmanlar
DESIGNEERS
Your projects often balance modern luxury with ancient narratives. What’s the secret to making that dialogue feel timeless rather than nostalgic?
Emre Osmanlar
It’s about understanding the past without imitating it. I reinterpret classical order, proportion, symmetry, and craftsmanship through a contemporary design lens. The secret lies in finding equilibrium between heritage and innovation, respecting tradition while creating space for new expression. Timeless design isn’t about repetition; it’s about reinvention, where modern luxury and cultural memory coexist in harmony.
DESIGNEERS
Sustainability is central to your work. What’s one small design decision that can have a big impact?
Emre Osmanlar
Choosing longevity. I believe the most sustainable thing is something that never goes out of style. When an object is crafted with care, using honest materials that age beautifully, it earns permanence, and that’s the true definition of sustainability.
DESIGNEERS
Dream dinner guest?
Emre Osmanlar
Andrée Putman. Her work transcended style; it had intellect, restraint, and soul. I would love to discuss how she balanced timelessness with modern clarity.
DESIGNEERS
Favourite hotel in the world?
Emre Osmanlar
Aman Venice. It’s an extraordinary balance of past and present, frescoes, water reflections, silence, and light. It reminds me how beauty can be both historical and contemporary at once.
DESIGNEERS
Design hero you’d love to collaborate with?
Emre Osmanlar
Tadao Ando. His architecture feels meditative, like breathing in space. I would love to create an interior that resonates within his concrete poetry, something tactile, sensual, yet profoundly quiet.
DESIGNEERS
A city you’d love to design for but haven’t yet?
Emre Osmanlar
Kyoto. There’s an unspoken dialogue there, between spirit and discipline, emptiness and form. It’s a city where design becomes almost a philosophy, and I’d love to explore that conversation.
