Press Kit | no. 7775-02

AINEN: URBANJOBS Reimagines the Burger Bar at Tersane Istanbul

Fatih, Türkiye

URBANJOBS

Commercial Interior Design, Furniture, Lighting Design, Restaurant + Bar

AINEN transforms a narrow industrial volume at Tersane Istanbul into an adaptive burger bar where architecture, music, and atmosphere intersect.

Fatih, Türkiye, 2026-03-09 -

Although AINEN is programmatically defined as a food-and-beverage venue, it was conceived as an experiential space that deliberately moves beyond the conventional architectural expression of this typology. Rather than reproducing familiar restaurant imagery, the project set out to transform a constrained and problematic volume into a spatial framework capable of accommodating multiple modes of use. The kitchen-oriented program informed the architectural decisions, yet it was intentionally kept in the background rather than becoming the primary driver of the design.

Located within Tersane Istanbul, the leased space is defined by a small footprint and an extremely narrow, elongated geometry—conditions that risk turning the interior into a corridor-like sequence and disrupting spatial continuity. Instead of attempting to resolve this constraint horizontally, the design strategy activates the vertical dimension. The ceiling height becomes a latent spatial potential, articulated through a three-dimensional ceiling intervention that introduces direction, rhythm, and movement. Beyond its formal presence, this element reshapes perception and organizes the relationships established within the interior.

The plan organization balances operational clarity with spatial experience. In line with the open-kitchen brief, the kitchen and bar occupy the two sides of the space, while the central axis defines the primary circulation. Positioned along this axis, a multifunctional island servant operates as both a visual and functional focal point. Serving as a service element during the day, the island transforms into a DJ setup at night, allowing the venue to transition between different atmospheres and intensities throughout the day.

Flexibility was a defining principle of the interior. All furniture elements are movable, enabling the space to adapt to varying crowd sizes, events, and configurations. Rather than relying on a fixed layout, the design allows AINEN to continuously reconfigure itself, positioning the venue not as a static restaurant interior, but as an evolving spatial framework.

The lighting strategy reinforces this adaptable condition. Instead of conventional spot lighting, a layered system was developed in close dialogue with the ceiling geometry and architectural surfaces. Lighting operates as a spatial instrument—capable of receding or intensifying, depending on use—guiding atmosphere and perception without locking the space into a single mood.

Material choices deliberately avoid direct historical imitation of the Tersane Istanbul context. Instead, the project embraces a dialogue between past and present. Dark-stained wooden chairs from the Giancarlo Piretti for Cassina series introduce a timeless layer that gains character as it ages, aligning with the industrial heritage of the site, while reinforcing AINEN’s contemporary architectural language.

Although the interior possesses a strong architectural form, the project approaches space as something shaped by use, movement, time, and atmosphere. AINEN is therefore conceived not as a fixed typology, but as an experiential field capable of shifting between different programs—context-aware yet firmly contemporary in its stance.

Technical sheet

Interior Architecture & Design: Urbanjobs

Photography: İbrahim Özbunar – 645studio

Lighting Consultant: NOX

Location: Tersane Istanbul, Haliç

Project Area: 154.5 m2

About URBANJOBS

Founded in 2018, URBANJOBS has received numerous internationally prestigious awards, including Architizer, German Design Awards, FX Awards, Maison Française Interior Awards, Elle Decoration, and the iF Design Award 2026 for a residential project, alongside many national accolades.

In 2025, URBANJOBS was awarded the Jury Special Mention for Best Young Interior Design Studio by the globally renowned Architizer, and was also named a finalist by Archello in the Interior Architecture Studio of the Year category. That same year, Esca—selected as Best Restaurant Project at the Maison Française Interior Awards—emerged as a strong reference for the studio’s design-driven approach to gastronomy spaces.

URBANJOBS approaches space not merely as form, but as a holistic experience shaped by materiality, texture, and light, completed through user interaction. Centered on the careful construction of atmosphere through sensory layers, this approach encompasses the design of every detail—from door handles to bespoke furniture—forming the studio’s distinctive spatial language.

In the words of URBANJOBS founder Murat Dede, “the true power and value of design lie in its ability to create an experience that activates our senses. Design is not merely about form; it is a proposition for how a space will be lived in, what it will make us feel, and how it will mature over time.”

Today, some of Istanbul’s most significant gastronomy venues have been realized through URBANJOBS’ designs. The studio’s portfolio also includes international brands such as world-renowned restaurateur Alan Yau, Italian food giant Obicà, luxury chocolate brand Butterfly, the iconic Johnnie Walker, and automotive leader Renault.

Beyond hospitality projects, URBANJOBS designs retail, residential, and office spaces for brands including Beymen, Getir, İş Bankası, Assembly Buildings, Kolektif House, Doğuş, and Nef, producing strong and distinctive spatial identities. With over 50,000 square meters of office design experience, the studio addresses all disciplines of interior architecture through a holistic approach, delivering large-scale projects across retail, luxury residential, and hospitality sectors.

URBANJOBS continues to expand its presence in the international luxury hospitality sector with a project designed for The Bodrum Edition, scheduled for realization in the summer of 2026. This project further reinforces the studio’s expertise in creating high-end hospitality spaces on a global scale and strengthens its international positioning.

About MURAT DEDE - Interior Architect / Designer and Founder & Lead Designer, Urbanjobs

Born in Izmir in 1986, Murat Dede graduated from Izmir American Collegiate Institute and entered the Interior Architecture program at Izmir University of Economics as the top-ranked student. He pursued his education in Exhibition and Public Space Design at La Sapienza University in Rome. During his graduate studies, he received training from renowned designers in retail, restaurant, and lighting design.

Recognized by the prestigious FX Magazine in 2026 as one of the most promising figures to watch in the design world with the “One to Watch” distinction, Murat Dede continues his creative practice as lead designer at Urbanjobs. Alongside his professional work, he lectures at various universities, serves on advisory boards, and shares his experience with the next generation of designers.

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For more information

www.instagram.com/urbanjobs/

Media contact

URBANJOBS
Gizem Korkmaz
gizem.korkmaz@urbanjobs.istanbul
+905321762037

Attachments

AINEN PROJECT DESCRIPTION

Low-resolution images ~ 1.57 MB

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