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A Bright Mercedes-Benz Office in Turkey Encourages Collaboration

08.28.24 | By
A Bright Mercedes-Benz Office in Turkey Encourages Collaboration

Mercedes-Benz, the car manufacturer known for bringing luxury to four wheels, has a new headquarters in Istanbul, Turkey, by Boytorun Architects. The expansive hub features a series of bright spaces that accommodate a variety of working styles while encouraging collaboration.

A modern coffee shop with a long counter, high stools, coffee brewing equipment, and a sign reading "MDC." The space features wooden flooring, a blue accent wall, and large windows.

One of only eight licensed firms that the automaker cooperates with globally, the architects have already completed showrooms for the brand. Yet this latest project was a departure from Mercedes-Benz’s signature sleek interiors. The company decided to relocate from an industrial area near one of their factories to a bustling central district – next to a shopping mall.

A modern office lounge area with tables, chairs, and couches under a grid-patterned ceiling. Large windows provide natural light. A counter is visible in the background.

A modern, spacious office lounge area with various seating options, a large overhead lighting fixture, and a television on the far wall.

A marked contrast from the previous gray zone of concrete, the surrounding storefronts are elements of a vibrant streetscape in the country’s largest city. “The office is now in the heart of Istanbul, with stores and a younger population,” says Semih Boytorun, managing partner at Boytorun Architects. “There’s a different energy and we wanted to reflect that.”

A modern office space with a mix of blue and yellow decor, featuring seating booths, workstations, and a large potted plant. Open ceiling design with exposed ducts is visible.

Modern office lounge area with blue and grey seating, white tables, large windows, and potted plants; an adjacent meeting room is visible through a glass partition.

With 10 floors of 15,000 square feet each in the building, the architects wanted to capture the same community-like feeling outside and bring it indoors. The main circulation route forms a central loop around the core, which allows employees from different departments to spontaneously come together. This seamless flow fosters a sense of belonging among the staff members, who perform various functions from IT services to marketing.

Modern open-plan office space with multiple desks, computer monitors, and a hallway leading to private meeting rooms. Bright overhead lighting and large windows provide abundant natural light.

A modern office space with several desks and chairs, partitioned areas, and computer monitors on the desks. Green plants add a touch of nature to the workspace. The area is well-lit with overhead lighting.

Employees adhere to a hybrid schedule, so flexible options abound. A mix of closed and open environments are easily accessible on each floor. The workstations and long tables are located in the center, surrounded by slatted oak partitions and touches of greenery, which keeps sections airy and light. Huddle rooms and booth seating along the perimeter allow individuals to perform quiet, heads-down work or have small group check-ins with a few colleagues.

A modern classroom with tiered wooden seating, blue swivel chairs around a rectangular table, a podium, front projection screen, and a wall-sized whiteboard. Large windows allow natural light in.

A modern office lobby features colorful furniture including sofas, stools, and partition screens. The space is well-lit with natural light and ceiling lights, and has several potted plants and large windows.

Places for socializing in the office called squares are key, strategically located at the entrance of each floor. Teams host weekly meetings, training sessions, and events in these communal spots for gatherings, and celebrations, too. The popular music room, with graffiti-style artwork, includes a collection of instruments and speakers. Staff often provide their own entertainment, with a lively jam session (or two) during the day.

A small modern conference room with a white table, yellow chairs, a mounted TV, large potted plants, and a patterned carpet.

Modern conference room with a long table, orange chairs on both sides, and a central potted plant. The ceiling features a rectangular light fixture and acoustic panels. Large windows line the right side.

A modern office lounge area featuring a long table with high chairs, a smaller table with four chairs, lockers, and large floor-to-ceiling windows allowing natural light to enter.

Ceiling baffles help to mitigate noise, and the grid formation of the acoustic treatment is a nod to classic radiator grilles. References to the Mercedes-Benz three-point star logo, however, are surprisingly sparse, with branding limited to the reception area. Color defines the sectors of the workspace, alternating between muted and vivid tones.

A modern office space with open workstations, large windows, multiple computer monitors, chairs, and indoor plants, illuminated by overhead lighting.

Modern open-plan office with desks, chairs, and overhead lighting. Yellow and black accents dominate the decor.

Subdued, creamy tints highlight focus or relaxation zones, and bolder hues enliven co-working spaces. It’s a spectrum that is the antithesis of the gunmetal, blackened steel, and silver metallics that evoke powerful engines. Splashes of yellow, blue, and orange provide enough of a spark for the workers, who are usually in the office two days a week, without overwhelming the senses. The headquarters invite a spirit of cooperation, just as much as innovation – by design, of course.

A modern office space with long wooden desks, ergonomic chairs, computer workstations, recessed ceiling lights, and partition areas with individual workspaces.

Modern office space with tiered seating steps, round tables with gray chairs, large windows showing city view, potted plants, and ceiling lights in circular and rectangular patterns.

Modern office space with a high table, stools, and a large plant on the left; partition separates this area from an open-plan workspace with desks and computers on the right.

A modern classroom with tiered wooden seating, blue swivel chairs around a rectangular table, a podium, front projection screen, and a wall-sized whiteboard. Large windows allow natural light in.

A modern music studio with instruments, microphones, and amplifiers on a stage. A neon "On Air" sign is mounted on the wall next to a colorful graffiti mural. Minimalist seating is arranged in front.

To learn more about this and other projects by the firm, visit boytorunarch.com.

Photography by Gurkan Akay.

Anna Zappia is a New York City-based writer and editor with a passion for textiles, and she can often be found at a fashion exhibit or shopping for more books. Anna writes the Friday Five column, as well as commercial content.