Iron A' Design Award Winner 2025
Entering this commercial hospitality interior, one encounters a generous open retail environment extending horizontally across the visual field, the space measuring perhaps forty to fifty feet in width and twenty to twenty-five feet in depth, the viewing position situated within the customer circulation area among café seating in the foreground, the overall impression being one of contemporary warmth achieved through careful material selection and spatial openness. The white ceiling plane overhead, positioned approximately twelve to fourteen feet above the floor, becomes activated architectural surface through dramatic intervention, multiple large circular cutouts approximately six to eight feet in diameter punctuating the white expanse at irregular intervals, these elliptical apertures framed in matte black reveal polished mirrored surfaces recessed above the ceiling plane, the reflective interiors catching ambient light and fragmentary reflections of the space below, creating visual depth and playful doubling effect, supplementing these major circular features, an orderly grid of small black cubic downlight fixtures, each perhaps four to six inches square, distributes across the white ceiling providing functional illumination, their geometric precision contrasting with the organic circular voids. Scanning from left foreground rightward through the composition, the immediate foreground presents café seating consisting of slender round tables perhaps thirty inches in diameter with pale blonde wood tops showing subtle grain, supported by cylindrical black metal bases, paired with elegant black chairs featuring traditional Windsor-style construction with vertical spindle backs, curved horizontal crest rails, and saddle seats, their matte black finish appearing smooth and contemporary, these furniture groupings establishing intimate two-person zones while maintaining visual transparency through open spindle construction. Moving into the middle ground, substantial cylindrical columns clad in warm medium-brown wood veneer rise from floor to ceiling, their surfaces showing horizontal grain patterns in rich sienna, umber, and caramel tones suggesting walnut or similar hardwood, the natural figuring visible as darker and lighter streaks creating organic pattern, these architectural elements providing vertical emphasis and warm organic presence, one prominent column in the central zone adorned with cascading greenery, lush ferns or trailing plants in vibrant green draping down perhaps six to eight feet, the living foliage introducing natural softness and vital color against the warm wood backdrop. The background zone reveals the operational service area, a substantial counter approximately fifteen to twenty feet in length with frontal facade presenting creamy white stone surface with delicate grey veining suggesting marble, the vertical face showing warm wood ribbed paneling creating rhythmic texture, behind this counter rises the back wall finished in dark charcoal or black, large rectangular menu boards with white text on black grounds providing informational graphics, flanking the central service station are floor-to-ceiling shelving units constructed from the same warm wood as the columns, open horizontal shelves spaced approximately twelve to eighteen inches apart displaying white ceramic products or retail merchandise in orderly arrangements, LED strip lighting integrated beneath each shelf creating horizontal bands of warm glow illuminating the displayed items. To the right of the service counter stands a fully decorated evergreen tree perhaps eight to ten feet tall, its dense green branches adorned with spherical ornaments in white, metallic gold or silver, and bright red creating festive chromatic pattern, beneath the tree cluster wrapped gift boxes in coordinating red and white patterned paper. Further right, a striking sculptural chair commands attention, its glossy navy blue shell in vintage barber or salon chair styling with smooth curved pod-like form perhaps four feet tall, cream-colored upholstered seating visible within the dark shell, the highly polished surface reflecting ambient light creating bright highlights suggesting smooth lacquered or powder-coated finish. The flooring throughout presents large-format tiles in soft neutral tones, pale beige and warm grey creating subtle variation, the matte surface suggesting porcelain or natural stone. Describing the colors in sensory terms, the ceiling white appears clean and bright like fresh snow or white paper, the wood tones range from warm honey and caramel like autumn leaves or wheat fields to deeper sienna and umber like rich soil or aged leather, the black elements possess the deep absorption of charcoal or slate without reflectivity, the greenery glows with the vital saturated green of living plants like spring grass or new leaves, the holiday ornaments shine in bright primary red like ripe apples or holly berries contrasting with pure white like cream or milk, the navy blue chair gleams with deep midnight blue richness like deep ocean water under moonlight, and the stone counters present cool pale tones like cream or vanilla with subtle grey whispers like morning mist. The lighting feels warm and welcoming like natural daylight filtering through windows, gentle and even without harsh shadows, creating comfortable ambiance suggesting mid-morning or midday conditions, the integrated shelf lighting adds focused warmth like candlelight or firelight glow on the displayed products. The atmosphere suggests stillness and quiet, the interior space buffered from exterior sounds, the implied environment feeling temperate and comfortable like springtime indoor conditions, the abundance of natural materials and living plants suggesting freshness and organic connection despite the urban commercial context. The spatial relationships position foreground seating as intimate human-scaled zones, the middle ground columns as structural rhythm markers and vertical punctuation, and the background service area as operational theater where transaction occurs, the open sightlines and generous spacing creating sense of welcome and ease rather than crowding or compression, inviting movement through the space along paths that flow naturally around furniture groupings toward the service counter and seasonal display beyond.
Innova is a cafe design that represents innovation, located in the Sancaktepe region of Istanbul. It provides the experience of art, education, having a good time and good coffee. Each part of the space was designed for different functions. It is divided into a reading area, a working area, indoor seating areas and an open garden area. The design language used in the space allows a spacious space to be defined with modernity. The wooden coverings, plant combinations and seating areas used in the interior are planned to make customers feel comfortable and spend long hours.