Departman Architecture · CLIENT: Departman Architecture
Cremma Kosuyolu is a cafe interior located in Istanbul, Turkey. The design occupies an existing brick masonry building and spans four levels. Visitors enter through the historic arched facade and reach the coffee bar, then ascend to a glass-roofed atrium with ornamental ironwork and tropical planting. A lower bar is defined by classical columns and a neon installation, while the upper floor features floor-to-ceiling glazing and sculptural lighting. Corten steel, exposed concrete, stained glass and bespoke joinery link heritage and contemporary design.
Press Kit
- Unique Properties
- Cremma Kosuyolu is distinguished by its ability to sustain multiple, atmospherically distinct spatial registers within a single, cohesive interior. Across three levels, the design transitions from a glass-roofed atrium with ornamental ironwork and tropical planting, to an industrial lower bar anchored by classical columns and a fluid neon installation, to an upper floor defined by floor-to-ceiling glazing and sculptural lighting objects. This spatial diversity, unified by a restrained material palette, sets the project apart as an interior of rare complexity and depth.
- Dimensions & Packaging
- The building comprises 4 levels, each with distinct design elements. The ground floor features exposed brick masonry, providing a sense of durability and historical context. The upper level showcases a minimalist design with Corten steel and darker tones, creating visual interest against the lighter stone base. Both levels incorporate large glass windows, allowing transparency and connecting indoor spaces with the outdoors. High ceilings create an open and airy feel, emphasizing vertical space. Black metal beams add an industrial touch, both structurally and aesthetically.
- Tags
- cremmakosuyolu, departmanco, departmanarchitecture,
- Production Technology
- The project employs a carefully considered material strategy in which industrial and artisanal production techniques are deployed in deliberate contrast. The facade utilises weathering Corten steel, allowing the exterior to develop a natural oxidised patina consonant with the building's masonry. Internally, structural elements retain exposed concrete and ironwork, while bespoke joinery, ribbed metallic bar cladding, and custom upholstered seating were fabricated to specification. The stained-glass composition and wall-mounted bas-relief figures were executed as custom craft pieces, reinforcing the interior's dual commitment to industrial precision and hand-worked detail.
- Design Challenge
- The principal creative challenge resided in realising ambitious contemporary interventions within the constraints of an existing load-bearing brick masonry structure. Integrating large-scale steel construction elements including the glass-roofed atrium and Corten steel facade addition into a historic building of this typology demanded bespoke structural solutions at every stage. Reconciling the building's material and structural limitations with the design vision required close collaboration between architectural, structural, and fabrication disciplines, and necessitated iterative problem-solving to ensure both structural integrity and design fidelity were maintained throughout.
- Project Duration
- The design process began in early 2023, with construction completed in December of the same year in Istanbul, Turkey.
- Operation Flow
- Cremma Kosuyolu guides visitors through a carefully sequenced spatial journey across four levels, each offering a distinct sensory experience. Guests enter through the historic arched facade at street level, moving into the coffee bar before ascending to the glass-roofed atrium, the social heart of the space. Further levels reveal progressively more intimate atmospheres, culminating in the glazed upper floor overlooking the surrounding tree canopy. Each transition is intentional, ensuring that the space rewards exploration while remaining intuitive and welcoming in its flow.
- Research
- The design process was grounded in contextual field research conducted within the Kosuyolu neighbourhood and its immediate surroundings. The research objective was to establish a design language authentically rooted in its urban and historical context. Methodology comprised direct site observation and a systematic study of traditional Istanbul residential architecture, with particular focus on material character, spatial proportion, and ornamental detail. Findings revealed a strong vernacular identity defined by masonry, ironwork, and layered facades, elements that were subsequently translated into the interior and exterior design decisions, ensuring the project contributes meaningfully to its neighbourhood's architectural continuity.
- Inspiration
- The design draws its inspiration from the intrinsic architectural character of the existing buildin's neighbourhoods. The central design motive was to establish a considered dialogue between the building's historical context and a rigorous contemporary spatial language, without subordinating one to the other. The result is a deliberate negotiation in which heritage and modernity are afforded equal presence across each of the project's distinct spatial layers.
- Image Credits
- Image #1-5: Photographer / Sinan Cırak, 2024.
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