The Istanbul-based, multidisciplinary practice functions as a design studio and store displaying unconventional and experimental pieces
Photography courtesy of SANAYI313
Words by Alia Akkam
In chaotic Maslak, Istanbul’s industrial hub, a revamped auto repair shop entices visitors to step into the imaginative world conjured by multidisciplinary design studio SANAYI313. After devouring beef manti in the airy restaurant—the SANAYI313 team dreams up interiors and products from behind a glass wall one level above—these guests roam through the concept store, spotting the likes of Astier de Villatte ceramics, vintage silver napkin rings, and SANAYI313’s own monolithic Oblong collection.
Launched late last year exclusively via Love House and 1stDibs, the range of furniture—including sculptural stools, consoles, and stacked side tables, along with a low-slung coffee table and a monumental dining table that doubles as a commodious workspace—is crafted solely from warm, solid wood, a departure from SANAYI313’s other creations that notably flaunt sleek glass and bronze details.
‘I wanted to use only wood for a stronger look,’ explains creative director Enis Karavil, ‘so it was important that the pieces express quality craftsmanship. I didn’t want them to be conversation starters that dominate a space, but at the same time, depending upon their environment, establish their own presence in the room.’
Photography courtesy of SANAYI313
SANAYI313’s choices of material, book-matched burned oak and maple burl, a nod to the inspiration Karavil regularly finds from the outdoors, intentionally illuminate the ‘patterns that nature gives,’ as he puts it. ‘We played around with colour, the light and darkness, and used the wood as a fabric.’
Oblong’s Brutalist forms, at once bold and minimalist, are indeed arresting, pairing sturdy bases with soft corners. ‘The top is rounded, and the bottom is squarer, so there is a nice balance,’ elaborates Karavil. SANAYI313 spent much time tinkering with their construction, eventually ramping up the weight at the bottom to anchor them to the ground and elicit sturdy silhouettes.
The versatile stools, for example (Karavil has one placed in the entry of his Istanbul abode that offers a moment of repose while putting on shoes), resemble cushions at first glance, but those who touch them are met with the surprising feel of velvety wood. ‘They also look solid, like a statue,’ points out Karavil. ‘You don’t have to sit on them; they can simply finish a living room.’
Photography courtesy of SANAYI313
Having recently designed Turkish fashion brand Raisa Vanessa’s Istanbul showroom situated in the 19th-century Akaretler Row Houses—it stars a beguiling spiral staircase swathed in black and white custom carpeting with a silk rope banister— SANAYI313 is eagerly awaiting the unveil of forthcoming projects like Kaimakk, a culinary destination at Istanbul Airport.
Karavil is also planning to expand Oblong with collectible furniture envisioned by artists as well as accessories, beginning with his interpretation of a traditional backgammon set, an especially nostalgic endeavour.
The board game played a pivotal cultural role in the Ottoman Empire ‘and we used to have amazing artists who made them,’ says Karavil, ‘but we are losing that part of history to mass production.’
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