About Us

PRACTICE

Internationally renowned, Istanbul-based multidisciplinary design studio Autoban was founded in 2003 by Seyhan Özdemir and Sefer Çağlar, and later joined by Efe Aydar. Now employing 40 staff, Autoban works across architecture and interiors, product and experiential design, forging a reputation for thoughtfulness, experimentation and craftsmanship. Approaching each project initially as storytellers, their work seeks to understand the character and context of each project. Each element is informed by a uniquely space-centric approach, blending wit with sophistication, and minimal forms with rich materials.

With a portfolio that includes transportation, commercial, retail, and office developments, Autoban's work is typified by familiar forms and materials repurposed in vital, contemporary ways. Their work has redefined Istanbul’s cityscape, including numerous hospitality, retail, residential and public realm developments, and is now also found in London, Madrid, Hong Kong, Moscow and China, as well as Azerbaijan. Autoban's signature furniture and lighting range is sold at 60+ points around the world.

TEAM

Seyhan Özdemir & Sefer Çağlar

Seyhan Özdemir and Sefer Çağlar studied architecture and interior design respectively at the Fine Arts Academy of Mimar Sinan University. In 2003, the duo co-founded Autoban, and from their initial studio in Galata, Istanbul, started designing the studio's first interior projects, which was followed by the launching of debut Autoban product collection at Maison et Objet Paris in 2004.

In 2005, Autoban was named ‘Best Young Designers’ by the Wallpaper* magazine, and in 2006, their MüzedeChanga project was awarded ‘Best Restaurant’ by the same title. In 2009, Autoban moved in to their new studio in Beyoğlu, and received their first overseas commison to design the award-winning 208-Duecento Otto restaurant in Hong Kong in 2010. The commision was followed by another overseas F&B project in Madrid. In 2014, the studio received Red Dot Design Award in recognition for their work at the Heydar Aliyev International Airport in Baku, Azerbaijan.

Seyhan Özdemir and Sefer Çağlar have participated as keynote speakers and jury members at significant architecture and design events worldwide, including iF Product Design Awards, Downtown Design Dubai and Milan Design Week, as well as showcasing their product designs internationally at major trade shows.

Efe Aydar

Interior Architect / Partner

Efe studied Interior Design at the Anadolu University, and worked at Aldo Rossi Office in Genova for several years prior to joining Autoban in 2004 where was named partner in 2009.

Bilal Aydın

Interior Designer

Bilal received his B.A. degree in Interior Architecture at Mimar Sinan University in 2010. Joining Autoban in 2010, he has been an active team member in a wide range of projects for the practice, including the Kitchenette and The House Cafe branches.

Buğra Bilgen

Interior Architect

Buğra holds a B.A. degree in Interior Design from Anadolu University. He has completed Interior Architecture programme at Kauno Kolegija in Lithuania. He joined Autoban team in 2016.

Yunus Emre Uzun

Interior Architect

Emre received his B.A. degree from Izmir University of Economics Interior

Architecture and Environmental Design program in 2014. After working in several

design offices in Izmir, he joined Autoban team in 2018.

Şila Siva

Architect / Project Manager

Şila graduated from Istanbul Technical University Architecture Department and studied Urban Design & Spatial Planning at the Sint-Lucas School of Architecture in Belgium. Participating in architecture and interior architecture projects of various scales since 2009, she has joined Autoban in late 2015 as Project Coordinator.

Pınar Gürsoy

Architect

Pınar graduated from Istanbul Technical University Architecture Department and studied Architecture at ENSA Montpellier in France. Since 2014 she has been working on various architectural and interior design projects. She joined Autoban team in 2017.

Deniz Sak

Architect / Project Manager

Deniz graduated from Istanbul Technical University Landscape Architecture and holds a BA. degree in Interior Design from NABA Italy. Starting from 2017 she is a member of Autoban team.

About Us

PRACTICE

TEAM

Seyhan Özdemir & Sefer Çağlar

Efe Aydar

Bilal Aydın

Buğra Bilgen

Yunus Emre Uzun

Şila Siva

Pınar Gürsoy

Deniz Sak

Ismail Çolak

Serdar Yüksel

Sedat Coşkun

PRESS

AWARDS

CLIENTS

CONTACT

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