Every city has a story to tell, and so has Istanbul. When internationally renowned floral artist Tomas de Bruyne thinks of this beautiful city, he relies on his experience visiting years ago. Key concepts such as 'celebration', ‘the Blue Mosque', 'Ottoman Emperors', ‘bazaar', and 'the junction of the two continents of Europe and Asia' come to mind. Ciragan Palace Kempinski was for sure one of his inspirations as well. These chandeliers (made by a Belgium Company) made a big impression on Tomas. It's one of his favorite hotels in Turkey. Istanbul, Capital of Celebrations. A true fusion of history and modernity.
Tomas de Bruyne in Istanbul
The implementation of these elements was his inspiration to start designing as a guest designer at the Table Design Exhibition Event, Istanbul 'Capital of Celebrations'. He is happy to be able to work with passionate people to put together this design project, from the event organizers to the members of my team, the distinguished event designers: everybody is bringing the best of them to work to make Istanbul shine on the map of floral design.
Inspiration - The Story Behind Tomas de Bruyne in Istanbul
Inspired by the city of Istanbul's rich cultural and historical heritage, they created a floral story that merges the design signature style of de Bruyne with emblematic symbols of this one-of-a-kind City of Celebrations. Everything in Istanbul is a source of inspiration! The fact that it physically connects two continents transforms it into a model of cultural affluence, creating opportunities for people from all over the world to experience it in a unique way.
'Capital of Celebration' is the perfect description for this fantastic city, which influenced the world with its beauty, richness, and dynamism for centuries. De Bruyne envisioned a design for the Table Design Exhibition that blends into Istanbul, by borrowing specific symbolic elements such as colors or motifs and integrating them into the lush, unique style of floral architectural creations he is known for. The final outcome tells a story of uniqueness and dedication, cultural fusion, and worldwide collaboration. By presenting the unique beauty of the most exclusive flowers in the world, de Bruyne brings to life a dream design by merging styles, connecting people, and creating an unimaginable experience.
What Went into The Design
8,000 flowers.
10 team members from 5 different countries have traveled more than 6,500 miles to bring the installation to life.
The Tomas de Bruyne team has more than100 years of experience in floristry between the team members. EMC Graduates enjoyed bringing their theory to life. Among them is Turkey's home-based Tuba Belgin Oskan.
Responsible cultivation of the flowers was important to the team, which is why they worked with growers who grow flowers with the ecological impact in mind. Alexandra Farms sent more than 4,000 garden roses from Colombia for this installation.
