SOA RESTAURANT

Client: SOA CATERING & SERVICES
Design + Build 2015
Location: Spine Tower / İstanbul

Soa Restaurant, the first dining venue of the Soa Catering Group, is located in a 700 m² area on the -1st floor of Spine Tower. As the space was received in "Shell & Core" condition and had not been originally designated for a restaurant during the building's construction, the infrastructure requirements for the kitchen became a decisive factor. Consequently, alternative solutions were developed, particularly for the ventilation systems.
Designed and built by Espas to respond to the dynamism of plaza life, Soa provides self-service dining. Since the clientele primarily consists of professionals from workplaces in Maslak, the design aimed to create an atmosphere where food service is rapid, yet the spatial characteristics allow employees to detach from the hectic pace of the day.
The ceiling height and expansive volumes within the space were preserved through minimal design elements. A wooden ceiling system conceals the ventilation infrastructure, descending, rising, and disappearing in harmony with the levels of the technical equipment. Given the limited openings for natural light, the windows facing service areas were arranged to permit light while obscuring the view. Shelf systems that divide the space reach the floor in a suspended manner as an extension of the ceiling, maintaining the feeling of a wide, open volume.
The identity of the space is built upon a minimal design approach that merges the speed of a cafeteria with the warmth of a fine-dining restaurant. While the shelving and ceiling systems incorporate industrial elements, a contrast was created by using organic elements for material selection and display objects.
The tables, lighting fixtures, and shelving used in the restaurant were specifically designed and manufactured for the project.