Istinye Residence

Situated on the European shore of the Bosphorus in the Istinye district, this residence by Autoban Studio bridges the tectonic edge where Europe meets Asia — both geographically and materially. The design brief called for stones representing both continents, unified through a shared design language that reflects Istanbul's unique transcontinental identity.

Marmara White, quarried from the legendary island in the Sea of Marmara that gives the city its name, represents the Anatolian tradition. This marble has been used in Istanbul's architectural heritage since Byzantine times — the Hagia Sophia's interior columns and floor panels were sourced from the same geological formation. We selected blocks from the deeper quarry levels, where the stone's characteristic warm beige background and subtle fossil traces are most pronounced.

Travertine Classic from the Denizli basin represents the Mediterranean tradition flowing into Istanbul from the west. Unlike the more common Silver Travertine, the Classic grade features larger, more irregular pore structures and warmer honey tones. The stone was filled with a pigmented cement matched to its natural color and polished to a matte finish for the residence's terraces and pool surround.

Diabase Grey — a Turkish dolerite from the Kırşehir region — was selected for the exterior cladding and landscape elements. This intrusive igneous rock, formed by magma cooling in vertical fissures during the Cretaceous period, is extremely hard and virtually impervious to weathering. Its dark grey-blue color with fine crystalline texture provides a natural counterpoint to the warmer marbles and travertines.

The three stones are deployed in a gradient from the Bosphorus-facing façade (Diabase Grey, referencing the dark Bosphorus waters) through the interior living spaces (Marmara White, bridging both traditions) to the garden terraces (Travertine Classic, referencing the Mediterranean). The project embodies what Autoban describes as geological diplomacy: stones from different continents working in harmony, much like the city itself.