ofist embeds penthouse loft for a bachelor into the heart of istanbul

ofist embeds penthouse loft for a bachelor into the heart of istanbul
photo © koray erkaya
all images courtesy of ofist

‘karakoy loft’ by ofist is a 180m² penthouse belonging to a 45-year-old bachelor, in the heart of istanbul, facing an old armenian church with galata tower in the background. the location of the house, as well as the personality, way of living, and needs of the client, were the main parameters of the project. the site has always been the center of the commerce for the country. nowadays, the old neighborhood is becoming more active with art galleries, boutiques, restaurants, and hotels. meanwhile, the resident’s love of the outdoors drove the material selections and formal manipulations, resulting in a natural, neutral, comfortable and practical atmosphere.

entrance
photo © koray erkaya

the structural approach of the house was to open up the space in a way that would provide more sunlight and views. the previous small openings on the front façade were enlarged, and folding window frames slide the width of the building to transform the living room into a balcony, since the apartment is missing one. in addition, a large rectangular skylight was inserted just below the peak of the pitch to provide a dialogue with the mezzanine.

(left) view from the  mezzanine
(right) living room
photo © koray erkaya

the architectural scheme of the house however was ‘not to have too many ideas’. ofist evaluated the entire dwelling as a whole and single space since its layout was to be arranged for a single person’s use, and all the programs were planned to be entwined together. there was no need for dividing the volume into many small rooms. therefore, they didn’t need different design ideas for each room. instead, the work was directed by several objectives that are used consistently throughout the interior.

living room 2
photo © koray erkaya

one of the longitudinal wall has been resolved by allowing it to function as storage. it uses a simple system of iron rods that climb two floors and run the length of the house, without categorizing zones as a living room, kitchen, library, or bedroom. correspondingly, 12mm and 16mm tubes connected to one another form a 60x60cm grid over the surface. various shelving units and accessories were constructed to fit these components, such as a single shelf, double- or triple-storey shelves, vertical separators, or hanging units. the user may arrange and utilize these features however he likes; as a library, a woodshed, kitchen pantry, or a wardrobe.

bedroom
photo © koray erkaya

on the other end of the apartment, another longitudinal wall has been imagined with the least amount of movement possible. this creates a serene side covered with natural stones of all shapes and sizes. the effect starts in the living room and continues all the way up and through the bedroom. the downstairs floor repeats this rock patterning at an irregular angle continuing to the guest bathroom, where it is replaced by wooden slats facing north.

(left) looking down the length of the kitchen
(right) view of the minimalist staircase
photo © koray erkaya

all through out the mezzanine, the surfaces were covered with a cement-based material, uninterrupted, for a pleasant feeling for the naked feet. with this understanding, the architects have used this ingredient for the shower and the block, which nestles the bed and the bathtub. apart from practicality, the warmness that the house needed was achieved with a continuous flow of iroko wood, that navigates from the ceiling to the wall and towards the floor to manifest itself in a wide seating unit in front of the window for crowded gatherings. finally, the cast-concrete kitchen counter framed in an iron structure, steps down to form a cantilevering dining table and ends up as a short plinth and the hearth, which also allows for extra occupants.

fireplace and kitchen with the table extending from the counter
photo © koray erkaya

view from mezzanine
photo © koray erkaya

bathroom
photo © koray erkaya

bathroom 2
photo © koray erkaya

project info:

location: karakoy, istanbul
type: residential interior design
client: timur saglam
design office: ofist
design team: yasemin arpac and sabahattin emir
project date: july 2011
construction date: september 2012
total construction area: 185m2
electrical works: birtes elektrik
mechanical works: DSM muhendislik
wood works: aren dekorasyon
metal works: sen metal
stone works: oktay yegin
paint works: ali aksu
cement based surface: hit design
photography: koray erkaya

designboom has received this project from our ‘DIY submissions‘ feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.