SCALLA
LOCATION İstanbul. TR
TYPE F&B
COMPLETION 2025
Photographer İbrahim Özbunar – 645 Studio
A luxury Mediterranean restaurant, Scalla is shaped around the ideas of permeability and spatial fluidity. Named after the Italian word scala (staircase), the project translates notions of gradation, shifting perspectives, and spatial discovery into a subtle architectural metaphor. The spatial composition deliberately challenges conventional boundaries. In place of a rigid façade aligned with the column grid, the design introduces the Glass Curtain—an undulating framing system inspired by the Mediterranean coastline.
Folding inward and extending outward, this dynamic surface forms a breathable, flexible envelope that softens the threshold between inside and out.
At the heart of the space, the centrally positioned bar functions as both a social anchor and a point of orientation. By maintaining uninterrupted flow, it becomes more than a functional element, articulating the restaurant’s identity through light, material, and form.
In the pergola-covered outdoor area, curvilinear overhead structures enhance spatial enclosure while supporting lighting and acoustics. Inside, curved separators behind the sofas extend throughout the interior, reinforcing a sense of depth. Crafted with custom aluminium structures clad in copper, wood, leather, and marble, these elements bring together lighting and structural cohesion.
The ceiling design responds directly to spatial needs. Woven leather panels and varied ceiling heights create a carefully balanced atmosphere, negotiating openness and intimacy with quiet precision.
