Quartz Plaza, an office building in Istanbul, Turkey, was designed by Salon Alper Derinbogaz. Set along one of the city’s busy urban corridors, the project stands out within a heterogeneous fabric of buildings. Following the surge in construction after the 1999 earthquake, the area has been marked by continuous transformation. Responding to this shifting urban context, the project grounds its identity in Istanbul’s enduring geological strata, drawing continuity from the terrain beneath a city shaped by seismic and social change.

From geology to architecture

Translating the city’s geological narrative into built form, Salon's design crystallises the site’s underlying strata and mineral compositions. Situated at the convergence of two Miocene-age layers, the building interprets the city’s geomorphology through its material and spatial expression, engaging with the timeless strata that shape Istanbul’s landscape.

Predominantly made up of schist, a metamorphic rock defined by parallel alignments, the site’s geology directly informs the building’s material and formal expression. An algorithmic model was developed to simulate the vertical stratification of schist, guiding the texture and rhythm of the facade cladding. The design also references mica, a shiny silicate mineral that imparts schist with its characteristic layered structure. Further exploration of quartz, another mineral found within schist and the building’s namesake, inspired the use of glass elements that evoke crystalline qualities in the facade.

Exploration of glass as material

Composed of natural materials such as sand, ash, and limestone, glass is typically used to create transparency and luminosity in architecture. Here, however, glass is treated as a semi-solid material with aesthetic depth, rather than merely a transparent surface.

The glass facade translates the refractions observed in prisms and crystal formations. Each module consists of two glass panels set at an angle, referencing the optical refraction effect while merging reflected views of the surroundings from two different directions. The narrower panels are coated to simulate the refractive brilliance of crystals. Contrasting materials — metal and glass — are used to articulate the building’s massing and emphasise its crystalline geometry.

Colouring the interiors with daylight

The angled glass panels and refractive coatings on the facade allow for a restrained interior palette. As sunlight moves throughout the day, refracted light casts subtle, shifting hues across the interior. This play of reflection and colour animates both the building’s exterior surfaces and its interior spaces, creating an ever-changing atmosphere. Ribbed glass partitions and anodised metal finishes extend the logic of the exterior envelope indoors, while glass furniture pieces amplify the refractive effects of daylight, lending the interiors a crystalline clarity consistent with the facade.

Environmental strategy and performance

To reduce the building’s carbon footprint and operational energy use, the north-west and north-east elevations incorporate a double-skin facade. Operable vents at the frame edges regulate airflow within the cavity, improving thermal efficiency year-round. In winter, the vents remain closed to retain warm air within the cavity, reducing heat loss; in summer, they open to let out warm air and limit solar gain. The system also enhances acoustic comfort, reducing external noise from traffic and wind. The double-skin facade forms part of a broader environmental strategy that balances passive ventilation with occupant comfort.

Quartz Plaza integrates environmental performance into its architectural and material expression, drawing on Istanbul’s geological and climatic conditions to reduce energy demand and long-term environmental impact. The building’s double-skin facade, optimised ventilation strategy, and durable, modular interior systems reflect a holistic approach to lowering operational emissions and supporting adaptability over time.

Plan organisation and thermal mass

Privacy within the office areas is achieved through textured glass partitions rather than solid walls, maintaining an open and light-filled environment. A modular partition system provides flexibility in layout and use, accommodating different workplace and showroom configurations.

The building core is positioned in the shaded corner to maximise thermal mass and stabilise indoor temperatures. Floor plans emphasise openness and adaptability, while the structural grid defines the rhythm of private and shared spaces. The reception area is integrated into the core, creating an efficient and cohesive plan arrangement.