AN ENCHANTING BREAK AT ISTANBUL AIRPORT
Located in the Istanbul Airport International Terminal, one of the busiest transport hubs in Europe, at an unavoidable location for both departing and arriving passengers, Sanayi313’s latest Project Kaimakk is a brand new restaurant, patisserie, and coffee spot concept that is intended as a place for pleasure and pause in the fast-moving world of the airport. Standing out with its unique identity and presence, Kaimakk is shortlisted for the 2024 Restaurant & Bar Design Awards in Another Space category; which is the most important and influential design competition for food and beverage spaces worldwide. Restaurant & Bar Design Awards Ceremony 24 will take place in Barcelona on October 31st.
Sanayi313 aimed to blend ancient tradition with contemporary design when creating the blueprint for Kaimakk. Once it was settled that Kaimakk would be an up-to-date reflection of the wealth of Turkish culinary culture, architecture, and artisanal craftsmanship, “repetition and recurrence” became the keywords that informed the studio’s approach, manifested in the layout, design and materiality of the project. Staying true to their “maximalist expressions in minimalist details” mantra, the studio has created a light-filled oasis in contrast to the hectic surroundings of the airport, showcasing a clear dialogue between modernity and inspiration from the traditional Mesopotamian culture imbued with a fairytale theme.
Prior to the project starting, as part of their initial research, the studio paid several visits to Mardin, Diyarbakır, and Gaziantep provinces in southeastern Turkey, where traces of ancient Mesopotamian civilizations are still evident. Visiting historical sites and holy places, along with restaurants, coffee vendors, bazaars and shops, the studio aimed to get an understanding of the region’s characteristics as a cultural melting pot and reimagined their findings in a modern metropolis like Istanbul.
The project features 527 square meters of space, divided into a series of connected atmospheres with different uses and with subtle transitions between them, including an à la carte restaurant, a patisserie/brasserie area, a sherbet bar, a kiosk for to-go orders, the kitchen and a range of working areas for the travelers. Sanayi313’s design seeks to create a refined yet approachable environment and an efficient customer journey all throughout the space.
Featuring a sumptuous mix of high-quality materials such as calacatta viola marble used in abundance and bespoke furniture laid out over micro topping cement flooring, the space feels both feminine and masculine with circular and angular forms creating a strong visual contrast.
Situated slightly off the main project area is a kiosk – an ultra-minimal monolithic structure in the form a triangle with rounded edges and with an overhead canopy supported by a Mardin-inspired pillar. The Kiosk is designed to serve packaged foods for to-go orders and the restaurant’s prep kitchen is cleverly hidden at the rear end of the triangular structure.
On the two side facades of the Kiosk, a relief ornament of a magnificent phoenix, one of the branding elements of Kaimakk along with the peacock, keeps with the fairytale theme.
Kaimakk is accessible from various points but the main entrance is through a remarkable gate or “the gate to paradise” as the studio likes to call it, made of wrought iron with peacock motifs with a pair of draped navy stripe curtains behind it.
Situated at the center of the project site, the main dining hall of the restaurant, a rectangular space framed by the pillars and arches, features a variety of seating arrangements. At each corner of the space, L-shaped banquette seating offers nice viewing points to take in the design elements of the venue. The 68-seat dining hall also has freestanding tables with metal tabletops inspired by sini – the large round trays traditionally used for serving meals. Here, the flooring is entirely marble mosaic, adding to the magical atmosphere. The centerpiece of the restaurant is a spectacular fountain installation made of mouth-blown glass and traditional travertine stone, evoking an aura of tranquility.
Spatial symmetry is one of the key features of the project and it is most evident at the patisserie/brasserie, as two oppositely positioned L-shaped volumes, marble serving and display counters with glass showcases, define the space. Inside the glass showcases, layers of traditional sweet and savory pastry varieties create an awe-inspiring sight as if they are food installations.
Playing an important role in Ottoman social life, fountains were traditionally built in public squares and in the courtyards of mansions for people to gather around to celebrate, feast or chat in privacy, with the flowing water providing natural sound insulation. Designed by Sanayi313 and dubbed as the “fountain of life”, the astounding fountain was commissioned to the Turkish contemporary glass artist, Derya Geylani, who worked glass into amorphic shapes that resemble splashes of water. The fountain’s travertine body was hand carved by artisan marble-mason, Atalay Kömürcü.
One of the key features of the Project is the marble mosaic pathway incorporating an intricate geometrical pattern with stars that draw inspiration from the One Thousand and One Nights – a collection of Middle Eastern folktales also known as the Arabian Nights. Entirely handcrafted, this striking pathway snakes around the space, discreetly mapping the customer journey.
For more information: restaurantandbardesignawards.com