Met Burçak when I was in London and I ran into her instagram account (IG: @burcaksonmez) and found her genuine, warm and friendly. You watch her roll around the streets of London and give you inspiration to get out more and live all the city has to offer and how much you can take in.
Who is Burçak can you tell us a bit about yourself?
Burçak is an architect living in London, but for the past two years she has also been creating content. At the age of 30, she finally stepped out of her comfort zone and moved from Istanbul to London, where she has now been living for six years. She is in a period of her life where she has the chance to explore what else she can do beyond the things she already knows.
Why London? What are the things you love discovering about London?
While researching how and where we could move abroad, we came across the Ankara Agreement, which actually led us to London. I moved here without ever having visited the city,not even as a tourist. But if I had known London before and had the freedom to choose anywhere, this city would still have been my first choice. What I love discovering here are not the tourist spots but the local neighbourhoods where daily life happens, the fact that no matter where I am I always come across a green space, and those unexpected narrow side streets or hidden passages that suddenly appear even in a neighbourhood I thought I knew well.
(Burçak wearing the Ariel Blue Bandana above while working from her home in London)
What does an ideal day look like?
A day when I wake up early by choice, start the morning with some movement—either a walk or a short yoga session—share a coffee with my dear husband, and even if I don’t finish everything on my to-do list, I still make good progress. And of course, I’ve eaten healthy and feel energetic.
What is your favorite spot in London?
I don’t have just one, but the courtyard of the Victoria & Albert Museum is definitely one of the first that comes to mind.
What’s your favorite comfort food that invokes memories of childhood?
Pasta with tomato sauce. It’s the dish I always think of and make whenever I want something delicious without much effort.
What’s a symbol you like keeping in your life?
The sun. Both as a symbol and in reality, it gives me energy and makes me feel good.
Where was your favorite summer holiday, can you tell us a bit about it?
That’s a tough question But the first that comes to mind is the most recent one—visiting three Greek islands in ten days. Especially in Sifnos, where we rented a house without knowing much about it, I found myself in a perfect setting: a wonderful taverna just below, one of the most beautiful seas I’ve ever swum in right in front, a lovely coffee shop we visited in the mornings just 100 meters away, and a great restaurant for evenings. It gave me the slow holiday experience I hadn’t felt in a long time. We hardly left the village where the house was—we didn’t want to. The feelings I had during that part of the trip are unforgettable. It almost felt like being transported back to my childhood.
What 3 things would you like to see more of in the World?
1)People supporting each other,2)Efforts to protect nature, 3)Living in peace, from the smallest to the biggest scale.
What 3 things would you like to see less of in the World?
1)Worldly ambitions that make us lose our humanity, 2)Harm done to nature,3)People smoking while walking on the street.
Anemone Modal Scarf this time used as a pareo, modal pieces are versatile and may be used to keep warmer in the colder months but also can be used in summer.
What are you grateful for?
I am grateful that, despite being someone who has always struggled to step out of my comfort zone, I was able to move to another country after turning 30. I am thankful for the challenges I managed to face during this process, for convincing myself to pursue a career beyond the profession I had devoted years to, and for having the opportunities that allowed me to make all of this possible.
When you think of LAR What’s the first thing that comes to your mind?
Creative energy
What is your all time favorite LAR?
Sculpture One Piece swimsuit. I’ve always been drawn to LAR’s colors and patterns, and on top of that, the way this swimsuit fits me is just incredible.
(Burçak wearing the Sculpture One Piece)
If you were to describe your vibe with one color what would it be and why?
Blue, I think. It’s a color that gives both peace and energy at the same time. And it’s also my mother’s favourite color.
