The flat located in a high-rise building in Istanbul was chosen by our client as a location because of good transport facilities and other advantages. The flat was designed in keeping with the lifestyle of a businessman who leads a demanding working life, so as to meet his needs and increase comfort levels. A design criterion was adopted that was plain, free of decoration, and emphasized the natural aesthetic inherent in the materials.

In the first stage of the architectural design and implementation project, the usual contractorfocused
planning was ignored, and the flat approached afresh with the personal needs of the client in mind. Spaces were reprogrammed and residual areas were included into the total living space to create a practical, spacious and pleasant main living room. A wooden block furnishing over the fireplace, which has a concealed bar unit, turns its back on the passage leading to the new kitchen, and plays a central role in making more space in the room. The potential view was brought out to the full. Former inner walls that closed the exterior façade were pulled down, bringing the view of the Bosphorus and Islands into the living room in particular, so creating spaces that are a delight to live in. In the final touches, the technical infrastructure that defines the comfort of the flat was redesigned so that it is invisible, and uncompromisingly follows the concept of ecological sustainability. The bedroom was replanned to include a study, dressing room and bathroom. The glass partitions around the bathroom were specially designed to increase natural light levels and transparency between bathroom and bedroom. The guest room was located opposite the main bedroom to facilitate circulation with the shared bathroom. The position of the kitchen area, which would be in use for a relatively shorter time, was altered so as to define its use by night and day, and the kitchen was made smaller but at the same time more compact and practical, so allowing for an enlarged living area. A door that can be closed at night divides the hall from the living area. An infrastructure was created so that the space can not be seen directly, and can be used for different purposes by night and day, either as a leisure or TV area or for parties. Iconic furniture forms were selected for all the rooms, and care was taken that their designs should have a masculine character. The wooden block furniture separating the living area from the hall contains a wine cooling cupboard, bar and area for hanging coats. The space between a custom-made fitted furniture unit hanging from the ceiling and the floor was filled with a chimney-less fireplace.