Esra Basmaz Interior Architecture · CLIENT: Esra Basmaz Interior Design Studio
Elysia, located within Ciftci Towers in Istanbul, interprets the city's layered context through a calm and cohesive interior language. References to the Bosphorus are expressed through fluid spatial transitions, while wood surfaces, water elements, and controlled lighting define a continuous sequence across spa, pool, and fitness areas. Biophilic cues support sensory balance, while the layout enables a gradual detachment from surrounding urban intensity. The project emphasizes material clarity and measured geometry to create a composed and immersive environment.
Press Kit
- Unique Properties
- Structured in four distinct parts, the project unfolds from the entrance through uninterrupted layers of lines that define its primary guiding geometry, while occasional circular forms soften the contours. Tailored lighting scenarios combine with fine mineral-plaster walls to establish a genuine retreat atmosphere. Reflections of tropical greenery on water, the warmth of wood, and stone-look porcelain enriched with deep hues integrate with biophilic principles and moisture resistant technologies, transforming spa, pool, and fitness zones into a unified sensory experience.
- Dimensions & Packaging
- Elysia unfolds across 1,275 m2 total construction area, where 1,010 m2 of refined interior wellness space is complemented by 265 m2 of semi-open terraces and garden zones. Key program elements include a 12 m x5 m indoor pool (140 m2 net) and a 25.2 m × 12.2 m outdoor pool, 110 m2 fitness, 57 m2 pilates, 20 m2 massage, 70 m2 women’s and 70 m2 men’s spa, and a 44 m2 winter garden. Ceiling heights vary between 3.2 m and 4.5 m, calibrated for natural ventilation, acoustic balance, and adaptive lighting automation.
- Tags
- luxury design, luxury spa design, residential wellness, luxury interior architecture, biophilic design, spa and fitness, concept design interior, interior design ideas, esra basmaz icmimarlik, esrabasmaz interior design studio
- Production Technology
- Every material and construction detail in Elysia was conceived as part of a holistic architectural narrative. Large format porcelain tiles on floors and selected walls offer quiet elegance with advanced slip resistance that ensures hygiene and safety in wet zones. Untiled walls are finished with mineral plaster chosen for long-term moisture resistance and acoustic softness, providing a gentle counterpoint to porcelain. Acoustic baffle ceilings and precise lighting automation sculpt light and sound over time, enriching a serene and luxurious spatial experience.
- Design Challenge
- The main creative challenge was to transform a dense urban high-rise core into a serene, luxurious wellness retreat. The existing plan connected primary spaces through corridors totaling 64 meters, making them feel fragmented and lacking the intimate atmosphere essential for a spa. Turning this constraint into an asset, the corridors were reimagined with rhythmic wooden slats, raw textures, deep hues, and dim lighting; accompanied by soft music, they now create a mystical journey and provide secluded calm and quiet luxury.
- Project Duration
- The project started in June 2024 and finished in June 2025 in Istanbul, Turkiye
- Operation Flow
- Guests step from a quiet reception into corridors that feel like softly layered passages of time, where custom wooden slats cast gentle shadows and create depth. Boutique wayfinding signs, designed as architectural jewels, guide movement almost imperceptibly. Along the path, raw textured plaster walls embrace visitors with a sense of refuge and calm, while acoustic surfaces and responsive lighting shape mood and pace. From spa to fitness to pools, the journey unfolds as a harmonious architectural promenade of serenity.
- Research
- This project is based on qualitative design research to create a luxurious, comfort driven wellness experience within an urban residence. The study combined biophilic and wellness design literature, site analyses of premium spa facilities, and acoustic–material performance tests. Insights from spa and fitness professionals refined functional needs. Findings led to Slip resistant porcelain, moisture resistant decorative plaster and paint for humidity and sound control, acoustic baffle ceilings, and lighting automation. The research delivers a setting where residential luxury, comfort, and well being converge, enriching both interior architecture and daily urban life.
- Inspiration
- Inspired by Istanbul’s multilayered history and the fluid rhythm of the Bosphorus, interior architect Esra Basmaz conceived Elysia as a tranquil urban refuge. This stratification is conveyed through the varying depths of ceilings and walls. In circulation areas, preserved ceiling heights gain a second layer of floating wooden slats that extend linear textures overhead while turning concealed light into a quiet flow. This composition reinforces the sense of spatial retreat; Elysia stands as an architectural expression of an inner journey shaped by serene material language and timeless, measured elegance.
- Image Credits
- Image #1: Photographer / Interior Photographer Burak Teoman, Elysia - Ciftci Towers Wellness Interior, 2025.
Image #2: Photographer / Interior Photographer Burak Teoman, Elysia - Ciftci Towers Wellness Interior, 2025.
Image #3: Photographer / Interior Photographer Burak Teoman, Elysia - Ciftci Towers Wellness Interior, 2025.
Image #4: Photographer / Interior Photographer Burak Teoman, Elysia - Ciftci Towers Wellness Interior, 2025.
Image #5: Photographer / Interior Photographer Burak Teoman, Elysia - Ciftci Towers Wellness Interior, 2025. - Patents
- Esra Basmaz Interior Design Studio 2025
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