Interview about Horizon Finance Hub Open Office, winner of the A' Interior Space, Retail and Exhibition Design Award 2025
Horizon Finance Hub merges cultural heritage with modern office dynamics, drawing inspiration from Turkish Islamic civilizations. The open plan layout enhances collaboration, while structured zones support focused work. CNC milled panels, printed glass partitions, and cultural motifs reinforce corporate identity. Ergonomic furniture, adaptive lighting, and smart office solutions improve comfort and efficiency. Energy efficient systems and recycled materials prioritize sustainability. By blending tradition with innovation, the design creates a dynamic, engaging, and future ready workspace.
View detailed images, specifications, and award details on A' Design Award & Competition website.
View Design DetailsIn the Horizon Finance Hub, our design approach was guided by the ambition to merge cultural continuity with contemporary efficiency. We viewed the heritage of Turkish-Islamic architecture not as an aesthetic layer, but as a design system built on geometry, rhythm, and balance. Inspired by the architectural traditions of regions such as Khorasan, Hejaz, the Balkans, and Andalusia, we distilled their forms into abstract geometries that subtly informed the spatial organization, light composition, and circulation patterns of the workspace.Rather than applying traditional motifs as decoration, we embedded their logic into the architecture itself. The geometric order became a framework for proportion and flow, guiding how employees move, interact, and perceive the environment. Advanced fabrication methods—such as CNC-milled panels and digitally printed glass—allowed us to reinterpret historical patterns with precision while preserving a modern aesthetic language. This fusion created a workspace that feels rooted yet forward-thinking; a place where cultural identity enhances rather than limits innovation.
The limited ceiling height was one of the most critical physical challenges in the Horizon Finance Hub project. With an initial height of only 2.40 meters, the space risked feeling compressed and visually heavy — conditions incompatible with the openness and transparency we aimed to achieve. Our solution stemmed from a design philosophy centered on spatial perception and psychological comfort rather than pure technicality. We decided to relocate all mechanical systems to the service floor above, effectively exposing the structural ceiling and gaining a significant sense of vertical expansion.This intervention completely transformed the atmosphere of the office. The increased height allowed natural light to spread more freely and improved acoustic balance through strategically placed suspended elements. We emphasized vertical rhythm through lighting and architectural fins, creating an impression of fluidity and airiness. Beyond its physical benefits, the change symbolized a conceptual shift — transforming a limitation into an architectural statement of openness, flexibility, and transparency. The workspace now feels more uplifting, reflecting the forward-looking identity of the organization.
The user research phase was fundamental to the development of Horizon Finance Hub. Engaging with over 450 employees and managers allowed us to understand not only their functional needs but also their emotional and cultural expectations from a workspace. We conducted interviews, surveys, and observational studies to map daily behaviors, communication patterns, and comfort thresholds. This process revealed critical insights: employees desired transparency and collaboration but also needed zones for privacy and focused work.These findings directly shaped the spatial organization. We adopted a modular planning strategy that transitions seamlessly between collaborative areas, flexible meeting points, and quiet zones. The layout encourages movement and visibility while maintaining controlled boundaries through acoustic elements and furniture composition. Beyond physical configuration, the research also influenced the emotional tone of the space — we integrated culturally inspired graphics and materials that foster a sense of belonging and corporate unity. The result is a workplace designed not only for productivity but also for psychological well-being and collective identity.
The use of parametric design tools was a key element in transforming the Horizon Finance Hub from a traditional office into a responsive and adaptive environment. Rather than relying solely on intuition, we built a data-informed design model based on the behavioral analysis of employees. Using digital simulations, we mapped patterns of movement, collaboration density, and acoustic activity throughout the workspace. This allowed us to predict high-interaction areas and potential points of distraction.With these insights, we positioned collaborative zones where communication naturally occurs — near circulation paths and shared resources — while placing quiet zones in acoustically shielded pockets away from main traffic flows. Parametric modeling also enabled fine-tuning of spatial proportions, daylight penetration, and furniture clustering to balance energy and calmness across the floor plate. The result was a dynamic equilibrium between openness and focus: a workspace where data-driven precision meets human comfort. By integrating this computational intelligence into design thinking, we achieved an environment that evolves in harmony with its users’ behavior and the rhythm of corporate life.
Our material strategy was built upon the dual ambition of authenticity and innovation. We aimed to create a tactile environment that reflects the depth of Turkish-Islamic heritage while meeting the expectations of a modern corporate culture. Materials were not chosen merely for their aesthetic qualities, but for their sensory and psychological impact. CNC-milled panels allowed us to reinterpret traditional patterns with architectural precision, introducing subtle shadows and textures that change throughout the day. This sense of visual dynamism keeps the workspace engaging and alive.Digitally printed glass partitions, on the other hand, represent the intersection of transparency and identity. They provide privacy without isolation, symbolizing the collaborative spirit of the organization. Each material was selected for its ability to communicate a balance between rootedness and progression — wood tones for warmth, glass for clarity, and metal accents for contemporary contrast. Beyond their visual effect, these materials influence behavior: they soften transitions, reduce stress, and create a sense of belonging. The result is an environment that not only performs efficiently but also resonates emotionally with those who inhabit it.
Each of the regions that inspired Horizon Finance Hub—Khorasan, Hejaz, the Balkans, and Andalusia—represents a distinct layer of the Turkish-Islamic architectural legacy, and together they form a cultural continuum that bridges continents and centuries. Our design narrative sought to translate this continuity into spatial form. From Khorasan, we drew inspiration from the abstract geometry and meditative order of early Islamic architecture; from Hejaz, the restrained elegance of proportion and the harmony between structure and ornament; from the Balkans, the interplay between natural light and local craftsmanship; and from Andalusia, the fusion of cultural pluralism and architectural fluidity.Rather than replicating these elements literally, we reinterpreted them through geometry, light, and material logic. The result is an architectural composition that carries echoes of different geographies yet feels cohesive and contemporary. This synthesis allowed the space to become more than an office—it became a cultural landscape where employees experience both belonging and discovery.
Finding the right balance between openness and privacy was one of the central design challenges in the Horizon Finance Hub. In large-scale offices, transparency can easily become overwhelming, while excessive compartmentalization can hinder collaboration. Our strategy was to design gradients of openness rather than binary separations. Using spatial data from user research, we identified behavioral zones—areas where interaction was frequent and others where concentration prevailed. This allowed us to organize the floor plate as a fluid sequence of collaborative and quiet territories.Service areas and meeting rooms were intentionally positioned as spatial buffers, subtly dividing departments without physical barriers. Their placement not only optimized acoustic comfort but also defined intuitive navigation routes that encourage spontaneous encounters. Architectural elements like semi-transparent partitions, controlled lighting, and material transitions were employed to further shape the sense of enclosure and permeability. The resulting environment feels open yet composed, offering psychological comfort without isolating individuals. It reflects our belief that privacy and collaboration are not opposites but complementary dynamics within an effective workspace.
Sustainability in the Horizon Finance Hub was not treated as a checklist but as a guiding design philosophy. Our goal was to create a space that operates efficiently today while remaining adaptable for the future. Energy performance, material life cycle, and user well-being were considered together rather than as separate targets. We implemented energy-efficient HVAC systems, motion-sensitive lighting, and daylight-optimized planning to reduce operational costs and environmental impact. Yet beyond the technology, sustainability also guided how we shaped spatial behavior.We used recycled and locally sourced materials to minimize the project’s carbon footprint, but we also integrated biophilic elements—natural textures, greenery, and balanced light—to promote physical and mental wellness. The modular construction approach reduced on-site waste and enabled future reconfiguration, extending the life of the design. This holistic model merges environmental ethics with business logic: a workplace that performs sustainably because it’s designed to evolve, not expire. By aligning ecological awareness with human experience, we believe the project demonstrates that sustainability is not an aesthetic choice, but a cultural responsibility.
Receiving the Bronze A’ Design Award for Horizon Finance Hub was both a recognition and a reflection. It validated our belief that cultural heritage, when reinterpreted through the lens of contemporary design, can generate new forms of relevance and beauty. The award encouraged us to continue exploring how spatial identity and corporate culture can coexist without compromise. It also reinforced our conviction that design excellence today must balance technology and tradition, performance and poetry.This recognition expanded our dialogue with international audiences, allowing us to position Turkish architectural heritage as a living, evolving language rather than a static historical reference. It inspired our team to deepen our research into regional narratives and to experiment with new digital fabrication methods to express cultural continuity in modern contexts. Ultimately, the award reminded us that innovation is most meaningful when it carries the memory of place — when design becomes a bridge connecting the past, present, and future.
In the Horizon Finance Hub, smart technology was integrated not as a visual statement, but as an invisible layer of intelligence enhancing everyday work life. Our objective was to create a responsive environment that intuitively adapts to users rather than requiring users to adapt to it. IoT-enabled meeting rooms automatically adjust lighting, temperature, and acoustic settings according to occupancy and activity, providing immediate comfort without conscious effort. Sensor-driven lighting systems respond to movement and daylight, ensuring optimal illumination while minimizing energy use.These features collectively streamline daily workflow by reducing cognitive load and eliminating repetitive manual adjustments. Employees can move through the space fluidly, focusing on collaboration and creativity rather than environmental control. Data gathered from these smart systems also informs long-term space management, helping the organization continuously refine efficiency and user satisfaction. More importantly, technology becomes a silent partner — one that amplifies human potential while remaining unobtrusive. The result is a workplace that feels alive, adaptive, and empathetic to the rhythm of its users.
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