Words by Allegra Salvadori | Photography by İbrahim Özbunar
Set on a hillside in Etiler, one of Istanbul’s most established residential districts, Four Seasons R01 unfolds as a calm counterpoint to the city’s restless energy.
Designed by Escapefromsofa for a family of five, the 650-square-metre residence is conceived as an urban sanctuary—an interior that privileges light, tactility, and rhythm over spectacle, and permanence over trend.
Organised across a single, expansive floor, the home follows a fluid open-plan logic. Living, dining, and kitchen spaces are conceived as interconnected volumes rather than fixed rooms, encouraging movement and shared moments throughout the day. Five en-suite bedrooms sit more quietly within the plan, offering private retreats that mirror the home’s overarching sense of restraint and comfort. Large openings draw the eye outward toward a generous balcony, blurring the boundary between inside and out and allowing the shifting moods of the seasons to register subtly within the interior.
Materiality forms the project’s intellectual backbone. Rather than relying on decorative gestures, Escapefromsofa builds atmosphere through a measured palette of oak, lime plaster, travertine, and onyx—materials chosen for their ability to age gracefully and respond to light. Travertine and Bassano parquet ground the home in a sense of architectural continuity, while surfaces such as Tiger Onyx and White Dream marble introduce sculptural moments that quietly reference Istanbul’s layered material heritage.
The colour palette reinforces this sense of calm evolution. Warm taupes and earthy neutrals dominate, punctuated by accents of olive and terracotta that appear in upholstery, artworks, and textiles. As daylight moves across the residence—from the soft morning glow filtering through Bella Maison curtains to the deeper tones of evening—the interiors shift in nuance rather than mood, maintaining a consistent sense of serenity.
Throughout the home, furniture operates as both function and structure. Many pieces are custom-designed by the studio, including modular sofas, cabinetry, shelving systems, and bedroom elements that prioritise adaptability and long-term use. These bespoke interventions are complemented by selected design icons and vintage finds: a De Sede Snake sofa anchors one of the main living areas; Cassina Utrecht chairs, Poltrona Frau vintage armchairs, and B&B Italia seating introduce familiar silhouettes softened by use; while sculptural lighting from Santa & Cole, Flos, Louis Poulsen, Kreon, and Marset articulates space through shadow as much as illumination.
Art and objects are treated with similar restraint. Works by Erman Özbaşaran, Sedat Girgin, Narek Arzumanyan, Vahram Davtian, and David Martirosyan are positioned not as focal points but as quiet interlocutors within the architecture. Coffee table books from Assouline and Taschen, Uniqa boxes, and vintage Murano and Anatolian objects add layers of cultural reference without disrupting the home’s composure.
In the kitchen and dining areas, functionality is elevated through precision. Veneta Cucine cabinetry and islands are paired with Neolith countertops and Dornbracht fixtures, while Andreu World seating and a custom-designed dining table underscore the studio’s commitment to crafted minimalism. Bathrooms follow the same logic: Calacatta Verde, Corteccia Brown, and White Dream marbles are combined with bespoke Escapefromsofa cabinetry and Dornbracht fittings to create spaces that feel architectural rather than purely utilitarian.
Four Seasons R01 ultimately embodies Escapefromsofa’s design philosophy: interiors shaped by proportion, material intelligence, and an acute sensitivity to daily life. It is a home designed not to impress at first glance, but to reveal itself over time—an interior that breathes with light, texture, and season, offering enduring comfort within the ever-moving city.
