Between Sky and Steel

Spanning 346 square metres, this residence designed by interior designer Noyan Berkman occupies a prime corner unit in Çiftçi Towers, a landmark complex by British firm John McAslan + Partners and global engineering studio Arup. With full-length glass walls and mirrored ceilings, the apartment feels more like a floating sculpture than a home – a gravity-defying experience that blurs the line between architecture, art and atmosphere.

Commissioned by a bold, culturally attuned client and designed to feel cinematic by day, atmospheric by night, and always in dialogue with the city beyond, the apartment is spread across a master bedroom, guest bedroom, private gym and expansive living and entertaining areas. The owner is a frequent traveller with a passion for bold artistic expression and fast-paced urban living; he wanted a space that mirrored his dynamic rhythm and straddled Los Angeles eccentricity and Miami glamour, but was grounded in Istanbul’s evolving luxury culture.

At the heart of the apartment lies its most theatrical feature – a custom mirrored ceiling that stretches across the main living space in a fluid, amorphous formation. More than a surface, it acts as a dreamlike membrane between interior and exterior: by day, it reflects the movement and geometry of the city in soft distortion; by night, it captures Istanbul’s flickering skyline in an endless, cinematic loop. From certain angles, it resembles melting glass; at others, a water surface caught mid-motion – turning the ceiling into a surreal ‘fifth façade’ that animates the entire room. Below, the walls continue in brushed stainless steel – selected not for ornament, but for its industrial clarity and ability to refract light. Its Lambri-style patterning lends the space an architectural sharpness, like couture tailoring for the home. Paired with the full-height glazing, the apartment dissolves into a loop of city and sky.

Framed by full-height glass façades, the apartment becomes a vessel for reflection – light, landscape and material blend into a continuous visual rhythm. Brushed steel and mirrored surfaces amplify this sense of immersion, turning walls and ceilings into shifting horizons. Rather than rely on traditional contrasts, the design layers precision with softness. Sculptural furniture offsets the clarity of the architecture, while fluid forms and tonal restraint lend the home its quiet intensity. Every element in the apartment, from seating and lighting to materials and art, was composed to guide movement, perception and atmosphere. 

In the living area, custom-designed sofas serve as relaxed anchors, paired with a chrome coffee table and an illuminated marble bar designed by Noyan Berkman to catch and reflect light. Above, a suspended Amisol light by Luceplan echoes the mirrored ceiling’s fluidity, drawing the eye upward. Contrasts define the material palette: a leather lounge chair by Poliform is offset by a translucent Film armchair and a glass Soda table, softening the steel-lined geometry. The dining space layers collectible silhouettes, including Vitra’s Wiggle chair and Cassina’s Zig Zag, beneath a vivid painting by Christopher Prinz, whose iridescent folds mimic the mirrored finishes nearby.

Accessories by Christofle, Diptyque and L’Objet act as tonal bridges, quietly reinforcing the apartment’s high-frequency material rhythm – one where every object contributes to the space’s sculptural tempo. Artworks by Jake Michael Singer, Christopher Prinz, Henryk Studio, Ali Şentürk and Sinem Demirci punctuate the experience, adding moments of intensity, movement and stillness across the home.

Photography: İbrahim Özbunar