written by Interior Designer Ürün Albayrak

Famagusta is developing at a fast rate and so are its requirements. Today’s working and living standards and the importance and value people give to themselves have increased immensely compared to the past. In parallel with this growth, the idea of creating places with a certain concept has become popular so now I have added a concept restaurant named ‘kitchen & lounge’ to my portfolio of luxurious houses, office buildings, entertainment centers, and sports facilities.

The owner thought that a place like this was no longer a luxury, but a necessity therefore, we decided upon the concept, decoration, budget, and even menus together right from the start of the Zagato project till the very end. We worked very hard to stay within budget. Just like my previous projects, I followed up on what I had drawn and everything I had thought of. I tried hard to materialize the picture in my head.

The Zagato building was formed by combining three old shops so the number of pillars and beams was challenging. We focused on protecting the framework and added them into the design. After we decided on the internal setting, we moved on to the depth and fitted the style and materials. In order to make the new without pulling down the old, we created the new external shell of the building, pillars, and roofs with the original steel framework. The idea was to be able to take out the added steel if the place was to be divided back into three shops. Plasterboards and waterproof boardex was used on the facade to hide the steel framework. The height of the ceiling was more than 3,30 m so specially made tempered glass was ordered.

Large devices are required to heat and cool Zagato area of 700 m2 and areas to hide these devices are required. Therefore, we used the attic area and the air-conditioners were attached to the pillars created on the suspended ceiling, without spoiling the design. We added details to the suspended ceilings with a grid system so it didn’t look boring. We covered the old pillars with the same material as the new ones we added and made them a part of the design. As for the flooring, we chose mate, non-slip materials, which do not leave marks or prints. We used mate-compatible materials in the interior design.

As with everything else we produced special fire place within the corner
of the lodge which will be great in winter, a roof-mounted fireplace with
nothing touaching the floor.

At the Zagato bar, we used the pillars to hide the fridges. We completed it with a shelf system that had lighting below. The bar worktop is made of ‘Onyx’ and the lighting was fitted behind it so that the material would integrate with the concept. The sloping surface of the worktop and the upper part needed to be covered with ‘Onyx’ that’s why the infrastructure was made from steel and we created sections to stick the stone on which would reflect the light in certain areas. Led lights were fitted into suitable places, and corner joints were polished with a special technique to give it its final look. While creating the stone, we used the ‘bookmacht’ vein following technique. All the wood used on the inside is made from natural coating from special leaves and the corner joints, just like the bar’s natural form are slanting. The special marble used in the flooring and tables was brushed and made matt in order to continue with the matt concept.

In the toilets, the taps were hidden with a special technique but we added a light to show where people should hold their hands. We also had pieces especially made while creating the winter corner with the fireplace and loco. We designed a chimney attached to the ceiling with no other connections inside the room. Together with our large tree trunk table that has a fireplace inside, we created a second area with fire. As the high chairs and table were being made, each tree was stuck together individually then the wood was shaped into the form of the chimney. The sofas and other tables and chairs were also specially made. All tables and chairs are much bigger in size than normal tables and chairs. The stitched Zagato logo on the backs of the chairs was made here in North Cyprus.

The harmony of the inside and the outside of the
building, was inspired by the beach umbrellas along
the shore so barisol umbrellas were used in the ceiling.

The Zagato lighting system- especially the ceiling lighting unit- has a unique design just like the drawings. All lights can be controlled with a remote and brightness is adjustable. The advantage of creating the Zagato logo at the same time as designing the interior is that the lines used on the outside logo continue on the inside making it look whole. The lights at the bottom of the walls were created with led lights hidden into the cracks on the floor.

The harmony of the inside and the outside of the Zagato building was inspired by the beach umbrellas along the shore so barisol umbrellas were used in the ceiling. Each has a LED light pointing in different directions. The objective was to protect it from the sun in summer, rain in the winter and provide light in the evenings in that certain area.

What you have read here is only the tip of the iceberg. I can honestly say that the whole process was very difficult and needed a lot of patience. I am happy to say that I was able to design Zagato the way I imagined, even the flowers. I would like to thank the owner Gürcan Mamalı for his moral and material support during this process and for his effort in making such an investment in Famagusta.