- Project: Zula Zorlu
- Architect: URBANJOBS
- Location: Turkey, Istanbul
- Year: 2020
- Photography: Emre Dorter
URBANJOBS has designed Zula Zorlu, a restaurant in Istanbul that embodies restraint and authenticity. Instead of competing for attention, the project expresses a calm, functional, and minimalist voice—neither overdesigned nor decorative, but focused on the essence of dining.
The Pursuit of Pure Simplicity
The design for Zula Zorlu asks a fundamental question: Is it possible to create a space that is aesthetically refined and functional without becoming overdesigned?
URBANJOBS approached this by stripping away all unnecessary elements. What remains is a purely functional volume dedicated only to cooking, serving, washing, and eating. Each area is carefully planned, resulting in a restaurant defined by clarity, efficiency, and calmness.
An Alternative to “Instagram Architecture”
In an era where restaurants often compete with bold, photogenic interiors, Zula Zorlu offers an intentional contrast. Its design is the antithesis of Instagram-driven architecture:
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Plain forms and naked rhythms
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No chaos, no unnecessary assertion
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A neutral atmosphere limited to what the eyes see and ears hear
The project highlights four core design values—strength, function, beauty, and emotion—delivered with selective precision.
For related inspiration, see 15 Minimalist Restaurant Interiors.
Focus on Atmosphere and Experience
Though minimalist, Zula Zorlu is not empty. Distinctive chairs and bar stools add subtle variation, while targeted lighting on the tables draws focus to the act of dining itself.
The design avoids spectacle; instead, it creates ambiance through presence, not decoration. Customers experience a space that neither screams for attention nor disappears—it simply supports the food, the people, and the atmosphere of shared meals.
A Rare Model in Turkey’s Restaurant Culture
As the third location of the Zula brand, Zula Zorlu represents one of the rare models in Turkey where sterile simplicity is embraced over decorative layering. This clarity makes the restaurant stand out not by trying to impress visually, but by being exactly what it needs to be—a thoughtful, honest space for eating.
