Press Release
Horizon Finance Hub Open Office by Ece Gulagac and Ozkan Gulagac Receives the Bronze A' Design Award in Interior Space and Exhibition Design
Ece Gulagac and Ozkan Gulagac recognized for interior space and exhibition design by the international grand jury of the 2024 - 2025 A' Design Award & Competition
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
COMO, Italy, April 23, 2025 /DesignNewswire/ A' Design Award & Competition has announced that Horizon Finance Hub Open Office by Ece Gulagac and Ozkan Gulagac, designed for OGE Architects, has been granted the Bronze A' Design Award in the Interior Space and Exhibition Design category. The award was conferred within the 2024 - 2025 A' Design Award & Competition and was determined through blind peer review by an international grand jury panel of established academics, design professionals and press members, who assessed anonymized entries against predetermined criteria.
What the Bronze A' Design Award Means
The Bronze A' Design Award is given to outstanding designs that showcase a high degree of creativity and practicality. It recognizes the dedication and skill of designers who produce work that stands out for its thoughtful development and innovative use of materials and technology. These designs are acknowledged for their professional execution and potential to influence industry standards positively. Winning this award highlights the designer's ability to blend form and function effectively, offering solutions that enhance people's lives and wellbeing.
Regarding Horizon Finance Hub Open Office
Horizon Finance Hub merges cultural heritage with modern office dynamics, drawing inspiration from Turkish Islamic civilizations. The open plan layout enhances collaboration, while structured zones support focused work. CNC milled panels, printed glass partitions, and cultural motifs reinforce corporate identity. Ergonomic furniture, adaptive lighting, and smart office solutions improve comfort and efficiency. Energy efficient systems and recycled materials prioritize sustainability. By blending tradition with innovation, the design creates a dynamic, engaging, and future ready workspace.
About Ece Gulagac and Ozkan Gulagac
Ece Gülağaç is an architect and co-founder of Öge Mimarlık, an Istanbul-based design studio established in 2010 together with Özkan Gülağaç. Their work explores spatial solutions across diverse programs and scales, from cultural and commercial buildings to hospitality and workplace environments. They lead with a research-based, collaborative approach, focusing on how architecture engages with social, cultural, and environmental narratives. Through their practice, they contribute to the built environment by developing projects that prioritize user experience, contextual sensitivity, and long-term adaptability.
Award Record
This recognition makes Ece Gulagac and Ozkan Gulagac a winner of 1 A' Design Award.
About the A' Interior Space, Retail and Exhibition Design Award
The A' Interior Design Award is an international interior design competition recognizing good interior designs by interior designers and architects worldwide. It is organized within the A' Design Award & Competition and is open to interior designers, interior architects, architects and decorators from all countries. Typical entries include residential interiors, restaurants, hotels, offices, galleries and retail stores. The awarded interior designs are published at https://designers.org/design-category/interior
About A' Design Award & Competition
Organized annually since 2008, A' Design Award & Competition is an international, juried design accolade. The competition is open to entries from all countries. The philanthropic mission of the A' Design Award is to advance society through good design, by recognizing and promoting superior products, projects and services that benefit society, and by creating a global awareness and appreciation for good design practices and principles. Nominations are peer reviewed and evaluated anonymously by an international grand jury panel of established academics, design professionals and press members against predetermined criteria such as functionality, ergonomics, engineering, presentation, innovation, usability, sustainability and technology, with score normalization applied to remove biases. Awards are conferred at Platinum, Gold, Silver, Bronze and Iron levels. Eligible laureates receive the A' Design Prize, which includes the award trophy, the certificate of design excellence, the hardcover yearbook, a lifetime license to use the A' Design Award winner logo, exhibition of awarded works, an invitation to the gala night and award ceremony in Italy, inclusion in the World Design Rankings and Designer Rankings, and public relations and publicity services. Registration, uploading a work and receiving a preliminary score are free of charge, and Professional and Digital Edition laureates are not contractually obliged to pay further fees to claim the A' Design Prize. More information is available at https://competition.adesignaward.com
Press Resources
- Winner Page: https://designers.org/162863
- A' Design Award Page: https://competition.adesignaward.com/162863
- Media Showcase: https://www.designnewsroom.com/!162863
- Laureate Profile: https://designers.org/d/356812
- Further Information from the Laureate: http://www.ogemimarlik.com
Media Contact
Giulia Ferrari, Press Office
Designers.Org
Via Leone Leoni 32, 22100 Como, Italy
press@designers.org
+39 031 4491953
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Fact Sheet
The Work
- Project
- Horizon Finance Hub Open Office
- Function
- Open Office
- Category
- Interior Space and Exhibition Design
- Discipline
- Spatial Design
- Industry
- Architecture and Packaging & Retail
- Colors
- Silver, Dark Slate Gray, Black, Light Gray and Saddle Brown
- Images
- 5
- Client
- OGE Architects
The Recognition
- Laureate
- Ece Gulagac and Ozkan Gulagac
- Country
- Turkiye
- Recognition
- Bronze A' Design Award
- Edition
- 2024 - 2025
- Design ID
- #162863
Credits
- Team
- Ece Gulagac and Ozkan Gulagac
- Image Credits
- DESIGN: OGE Architects PHOTOS: Altkat Photography
Design Details
- Unique Properties
- Turkish Airlines Accounting and Financial Control Offices are located in the Cargo Building at İstanbul Atatürk Airport. The project area is 5500 square meters. In this area, which will serve 450 personnel and managers, specially designed areas are equipped with modern technology to increase collaboration, efficiency and communication. We analyzed the users' perspectives on office spaces, working systems and efficiency-production strategies and investigated the relationships between them.
- Inspiration
- We were inspired by regions such as Khorasan, Hejaz, Balkans and Andalusia, which bear the deep-rooted traces of Turkish-Islamic civilizations, and the architecture, local motifs and colors of these places constitute the basic elements of our architectural concept. We integrated the cultural heritage of Turkish-Islamic civilizations with the corporate identity of the user. Additionally, graphics are designed to foster a sense of belonging among employees and strengthen team spirit.
- Research
- This project aimed to seamlessly integrate cultural heritage with modern workplace dynamics to enhance the employee experience. We conducted both qualitative and quantitative research, including user interviews, observational studies, and workplace efficiency analysis. Surveys and focus groups were utilized to gain deeper insights into employee needs, collaboration patterns, and productivity drivers. The research involved 450 employees and managers, whose input directly influenced the spatial organization and functionality. Data analysis highlighted the need for open, flexible spaces that foster teamwork while also providing areas for focused work.
- Challenge
- The main creative challenge was to seamlessly integrate the deep cultural heritage of Turkish-Islamic civilizations with the functional requirements of a modern corporate office environment. Balancing historical references with contemporary workplace dynamics required extensive research into architectural traditions, local motifs, and regional craftsmanship. Another key challenge was the physical constraints of the project site. The initial ceiling height was 2.40 meters, and the space was shared by two different departments.
- Realization and Technology
- The design process was driven by a data-informed approach, combining user research, spatial analysis, and corporate identity integration. We utilized parametric design tools to develop spatial layouts that optimize workflow efficiency, collaboration, and employee well-being. For material selection, a balance between tradition and modernity was achieved. High-performance acoustic panels, ergonomic furniture, and adaptive lighting systems were implemented to enhance comfort and productivity.
- Operation and Interaction
- The workspace is designed to enhance collaboration, efficiency, and engagement by seamlessly integrating cultural heritage with modern office dynamics. The open-plan layout allows employees to move freely, fostering natural interaction while maintaining structured zones for focused work. The design encourages a dynamic workflow by incorporating flexible meeting spaces, shared workstations, and informal gathering areas, ensuring that different work styles are supported. The integration of graphics and cultural motifs not only strengthens the corporate identity but also helps employees feel a sense of belonging and connection to their environment.
- Project Duration and Location
- The project started in Istanbul in January 2024 and was completed in July 2024.
- Specifications
- The space, with a total area of 5,500 square meters, was designed as an open office with a capacity of 450 employees.
- Keywords
- modern office design, cultural integration, dynamic workspace, user-centered design, collaborative office, smart workplace solutions, employee experience, data-driven design, corporate branding in architecture
