Decorator index Turkish studio Sanayi313’s Enis Karavil shares his design tips
The multidisciplinary Turkish studio whose diverse output includes stylish homes, statement furniture and chic boutiques
Who are they? Istanbul studio Sanayi313 was founded in 2015 by interior architect Enis Karavil and his brother Amir, an entrepreneur. The former has a cosmopolitan background: he graduated in business economics from Bentley University in Massachusetts and then trained at London’s Inchbald School of Design before honing his craft under London decorator Hubert Zandberg. Having dreamed of being an interior designer since childhood, Karavil was creating homes, both for himself and for friends, before he set up his firm. Now, Sanayi313 is responsible for some of the Turkish capital’s hippest boutiques and cafés, as well as chic residential projects around the world. What’s their style? ‘I describe it as “maximalist expressions in minimalist details”,’ says Karavil. ‘We strive for a harmonious balance of fantasy and reality, connecting past and present using Eastern and Western elements to create spaces with a heritage vibe.’ This diverse picture is reflected in the studio’s varied output, which spans architecture, interior design, branding, furniture and even footwear. Sanayi313 has its own restaurant and retail store, as well as a product collection featuring sculptural tables, display cabinets and accessories in exotic woods, metal and ceramic. ‘Our designs merge form and function, highlighting craftsmanship but infusing it with a modern twist,’ explains Karavil.
What are their recent projects? Karavil’s own Notting Hill home, a serene 1900s apartment, allows period features to speak for themselves, highlighted simply with cool colours and reclaimed wood flooring. The idea is that it can easily be updated over time. Back home, the studio has just completed a pop-up store for Turkish fashion brand Raisa Vanessa at the Mandarin Oriental, Bodrum. ‘It’s inspired by the colours, textures and stark geometry of architect Ricardo Legorreta’s Montalban House in the Hollywood Hills,’ says Karavil. ‘We blended raw natural materials, such as coarse plaster, concrete and pebbles, with a rich terracotta colour scheme.’ In contrast, the new Melis Goral jewellery store in Istanbul’s vibrant Bebek district shows the studio at its most refined, with art deco accents and parquet floors. What are they currently working on? A sculpture park on Turkey’s Black Sea border, which features a mix of glass and stone buildings and a preserved stable; Karavil is also commissioning site-specific installations. ‘It’s a curation of so many different things, creating a dialogue between art, design and nature,’ he enthuses. Other projects include a series of stone houses in a vineyard on the Aegean island of Bozcaada, and a home in Miami. Karavil says: ‘As a designer, what excites me most is how the creative imagination can work in relatively small spaces.’ sanayi313.com
‘WE STRIVE FOR A HARMONIOUS BALANCE OF FANTASY
AND REALITY’