Quartz Plaza by Salon Alper Derinbogaz

Quartz Plaza, an office building designed by Salon Alper Derinbogaz, rises in Istanbul as a deeply contextual response to the city’s geophysical and urban evolution. Situated in a district reshaped by rapid development following the 1999 earthquake, the building proposes a counterpoint to transient construction trends by anchoring itself in the enduring geomorphology of the site. With its layered design language, material palette, and thermal strategies, Quartz Plaza offers a contemporary architectural model grounded in the earth’s ancient strata.

Lithological Strata as Design Genesis

The project derives its conceptual framework from the geological layers of the site, where two distinct lithological strata from the Miocene Epoch intersect. Istanbul’s dramatic topography and seismic history served as both constraint and inspiration. Specifically, the building responds to the schist-dominated substrate, a metamorphic rock with layered and reflective properties, which formed the architectural narrative for the building’s expressive envelope.

The vertical algorithmic facade emulates the parallel structure of schist, while also referencing mica, a mineral in the rock that produces glistening, fractured surfaces. The name “Quartz Plaza” is a nod to quartz crystals naturally embedded within schist—an element that influenced the development of a faceted glass façade designed to refract light like a crystalline surface.

Glass as Mineral: A Refractive Façade

Rather than treating glass as a passive, transparent surface, the design approaches it as an active, refractive, and mineral-like medium. Drawing parallels between the geological formation of quartz and the fabrication of glass from sand, ash, and limestone, the building’s angled curtain wall system evokes the effect of crystal refraction.

Each façade module comprises two offset glass panels, which intersect at calculated angles to mimic the prismatic quality of quartz formations. This angular composition blurs reflections of the surrounding environment and creates dynamic interactions with natural light. Select narrower panels are coated with a subtle finish that intensifies the depth and brilliance of light refractions, casting colored nuances into the interiors as sunlight conditions change throughout the day.

A Double-Skin Façade for Climate Resilience

In response to Istanbul’s varied climate and urban noise, Quartz Plaza integrates a double-skin façade on its northwest and northeast elevations. Designed for thermal regulation and acoustic performance, the system includes operable vents that adapt seasonally:

• Winter: Vents remain closed to trap warm air in the intermediate cavity, reducing heat loss.

• Summer: Vents open to release trapped heat and enable passive airflow, minimizing reliance on mechanical cooling.

This climate-responsive skin also dampens noise from the bustling urban environment, enhancing the comfort and usability of interior workspaces.

Daylight as Interior Material

Inside, daylight refracted through the faceted façade becomes an atmospheric element, shifting in hue and intensity throughout the day. Interior surfaces and furnishings were intentionally restrained in color to allow natural light to color the space. Ribbed and textured glass elements—used for partitions, tables, and dividers—amplify and scatter light, reinforcing the connection between the building’s interior and its crystalline exterior.

Plan Logic: Flexibility Meets Performance

Quartz Plaza’s interior layout emphasizes openness, modularity, and thermal logic. The core is strategically placed in the building’s shaded corner, enhancing thermal mass and contributing to a stable internal temperature. Around it, the open floor plan is subdivided with textured glass partitions, preserving visual continuity while offering acoustic separation and privacy.

A modular partition system allows tenants to configure spaces dynamically—whether for open collaboration areas, showrooms, or private offices. The reception area is integrated into the core, minimizing circulation space and maximizing usable area. This approach supports both functional adaptability and long-term building lifecycle efficiency.

Architecture as Geological Dialogue

Quartz Plaza is not only a workspace—it is a material and spatial dialogue between the Earth’s deep time and present-day urban demands. By translating geological principles into a dual-skin architectural system, Salon Alper Derinbogaz has created a building that is at once site-specific, performative, and poetic. From the mineral logic of its façade to its passive environmental strategies, the project offers a compelling vision for future office typologies: architecture as a reflection of the land, the climate, and the time in which it stands.

Photography: Cemal Emden