October 29, 2025 | DESIGN & INTERIORS
a STUDY in CALM PRECISION
words Alp Tekin
photos İbrahim Özbunar (645 Studio)
Set high on the hills of Istanbul’s Etiler district, Four Seasons R01 by Escape from Sofa embodies the quiet sophistication of a home designed for balance. The residence captures a rare equilibrium — where the city’s pulse hums softly in the background, while every space inside feels composed, grounded, and unhurried.
“For us, design isn’t about withdrawing from the city,” says Mahmut Kefeli, co-founder of Escape from Sofa. “It’s about finding a softer balance with it.” That idea defines the essence of Four Seasons R01: a house that embraces Istanbul’s energy yet invites stillness. Through careful planning, a refined palette, and the orchestration of light, the architects create what they call a breathing balance — a living rhythm between exterior intensity and interior calm.
Organized on a single level, the home unfolds as a continuous flow of light and proportion. Surfaces are left to speak their own language; transitions feel effortless. Ornament gives way to atmosphere. “Our sense of moderation isn’t about minimalism as reduction,” notes Kefeli, “but about bringing the essence to the surface.”
CRAFTED MINIMALISM
Natural materials — oak, lime plaster, onyx — define the home’s tactile warmth. Each carries both aesthetic and emotional resonance. Their textures age beautifully, recording traces of time, and connecting the interior to nature’s rhythm. For Escape from Sofa, craftsmanship is more than detail; it’s a form of comfort, the subtle luxury of the handmade.
Light is the true protagonist here. It shifts gently across surfaces, marking the hours, the seasons, and the passing of the day. Nature, Kefeli emphasizes, is not a backdrop but the essence of design itself.
Nearly every element, from built-in cabinetry to lighting and furniture, was custom-designed — an expression of what the studio calls crafted minimalism. Here, simplicity is human, tactile, and quietly expressive. “Every piece was shaped to fit the spirit of the house,” Kefeli says. “We believe everyday life should feel enriched — not by excess, but by refinement.”
