Scalla, a restaurant as a multisensory scenography

Located in the historic Beykoz district of Istanbul, Scalla is a 120-seat luxury Mediterranean restaurant designed by Urbanjobs, a multidisciplinary design studio based in the same city.

The studio embraces a vision of space as a holistic experience rather than mere form—an approach that underpins the Scalla project. The restaurant takes the reinterpretation of traditional spatial and sensory boundaries as its starting point to redefine the very concept of a restaurant as an experiential and multisensory narrative.

Scalla, a fluid and elegant space

The very name of the space reveals the essence of its design approach: derived from the Italian word scala (staircase), the environment—according to designer Murat Dede, founder of Urbanjobs—is conceived as a layered experience rather than a simple path or linear sequence of movement. The verticality of the staircase evokes the possibility of a global, though linear, vision—not one bound solely to sequential progression.

The project revolves around the concept of fluidity, which takes shape both formally and structurally. Spaces are not rigidly divided but visually merge through recurring transparencies and curved lines: the sinuous pattern of the flooring, the spheres of the dramatic chandelier, the circular tables, and the rounded contours of the sofas, chairs, and lighting fixtures. The frequent presence of curtains, windows, mirrors, and glass elements not only adds a refined, precious touch to the environment but also makes the various areas visually permeable for those who inhabit and experience the space.

The blurred boundary of the Glass Curtain

Emblematic of this design vision is the Glass Curtain, a key element of the project: a curvilinear structure that separates the dining areas while tracing a fluid, blurred boundary—one that evokes the transparency of water and the irregular shoreline of Beykoz’s coastal landscape.

The surface of the structure is supported by custom-made aluminum profiles clad in copper—crafted to measure, just like all the furnishings and design details. This artisanal and authorial richness defines the atmosphere of the entire space, both indoors and out, where it is further enhanced by the sculptural greenery designed by botanical designer Yunus Karma.

A multisensory dining experience

The fluidity of the space is held together by a strong material and chromatic identity: copper, leather, wood, and glass come together to create a warm and welcoming environment, dominated by neutral, natural tones—beige, sand, brown, and gold—that evoke the warmth of the Mediterranean landscape. This palette is punctuated only by the green of the palm trees and the blue accents found in select furnishings and decorative elements, such as the bar chairs and the outlines of the kitchen drawers.

The ceiling, too, plays a connective role, conceived as a unifying architectural surface. Its wide formal variety—in height, lines, materials, and colors—echoes the concept of layering that underpins the entire project.

Moving through the space, one has the impression of being in an environment that transcends its strictly functional purpose. The restaurant’s layered composition unfolds as a spatial narrative, where the senses of taste and smell—traditionally at the core of the culinary experience—are complemented by a highly scenographic visual and tactile journey, guiding guests through a fully immersive, multisensory gastronomic experience.

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