- Project: Scalla Restaurant
- Architect: URBANJOBS
- Location: Turkey, Beykoz, Istanbul
- Year: 2025
- Photography: İbrahim Özbunar, Ece Pekbaşaran
URBANJOBS, the acclaimed Istanbul-based multidisciplinary design studio, has unveiled Scalla, a 120-seat luxury Mediterranean restaurant located in the coastal district of Beykoz. Designed with a philosophy of spatial fluidity, material honesty, and sensory engagement, Scalla is more than just a dining destination—it is a complete architectural journey.
The restaurant’s name, inspired by the Italian word scala (staircase), reflects the project’s layered philosophy of shifting perspectives. At the heart of this design is the Glass Curtain, a groundbreaking curvilinear architectural system that dissolves traditional boundaries and creates a seamless dialogue between form, function, and materiality.
The Glass Curtain: Redefining Restaurant Architecture
Instead of relying on rigid column grids, URBANJOBS designed the Glass Curtain as a three-dimensional curved structure, inspired by the undulating Mediterranean coastline. This copper-coated aluminium profile system bends inward and outward to define flexible zones, blurring the line between enclosure and openness.
The result is a breathable, fluid shell that echoes Beykoz’s natural textures while providing technical and aesthetic innovation. The Glass Curtain not only acts as a structural boundary but also defines the restaurant’s identity—an architectural language of movement, rhythm, and discovery.
A Social Heart: The Central Bar
Anchoring Scalla’s spatial narrative is its centrally located bar, conceived as both a functional and symbolic landmark. Visible from multiple vantage points, the bar provides orientation while also serving as a social magnet. Its design—accentuated with blue marble-effect cabinetry, copper details, and bespoke lighting—reinforces the restaurant’s crafted identity.
Founder and lead designer Murat Dede describes the guest journey as a deliberate sequence of framed experiences:
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Passing the bar and kitchen window on entry
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Ascending to upper levels for a shift in perspective
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Reconnecting with the bar and wine cabinet on the return path
This circulation strategy transforms movement into memory, ensuring each element becomes imprinted on the guest experience.
Layers of Atmosphere: Ceiling and Lighting Design
The ceiling at Scalla is treated as a unifying architectural surface, alternating between elevated sections, woven leather inserts, and lowered beams that create intimacy. Lighting plays a central role, shifting from daylight filtering through the Glass Curtain by day to a dramatic theatrical ambiance at night.
Custom-made sconces, table lamps, and integrated LEDs emphasize the fluid geometry, creating a rich sensory environment that evolves over time.
Material Palette: Warmth, Tactility, and Sustainability
URBANJOBS selected a refined palette of wood, leather, marble, and copper to craft a warm yet contemporary Mediterranean atmosphere. Every piece of furniture was designed bespoke for Scalla, from engraved copper plaques to Ralph Lauren and Dedar fabrics.
Highlights include:
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Copper-toned hardware by Turnstyle Designs
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Geometric tile flooring for rhythm and continuity
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Wallcoverings by ARTE and Phillip Jeffries
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Upholstered seating for tactile richness
The color palette draws inspiration from Mediterranean landscapes, blending earthy beiges, sand tones, and copper with refreshing blue accents. Local materials emphasize sustainability while reinforcing a sense of place.
Outdoor Experience: Curves in Nature
The restaurant’s outdoor terrace extends the design language with a pergola structure, echoing the curvilinear forms of the Glass Curtain. Landscaping by renowned plant designer Yunus Karma enhances the setting with sculptural greenery, integrated lighting, and acoustic comfort solutions—creating a microclimate for relaxed outdoor dining.
A Sensory Dining Experience
Scalla is not just a restaurant; it is an immersive architectural narrative. From the sweeping gestures of the Glass Curtain to the crafted bespoke details, every design decision fosters intimacy, discovery, and connection. Guests are invited to slow down, explore, and engage, making each visit unique.
By dissolving rigid boundaries and embracing fluidity, URBANJOBS has created one of Istanbul’s most compelling hospitality destinations—a space where architecture, gastronomy, and human experience converge.
