Nappo Pizza by URBANJOBS – Minimalist Restaurant in Canyon Shopping Center, Istanbul

URBANJOBS reimagined the restaurant interior concept with the Nappo Pizza in Istanbul project. Located inside an active Canyon shopping center, the 2206 square foot restaurant was created within a space surrounded by irregular walls on three sides. Instead of following a chaotic layout, architects developed an independent architectural shell—a new geometric space separated from the existing structure.

The result is an interior that emphasizes functionality, authenticity, and the essence of pizza consumption, without unnecessary embellishments.

Concept of Independent Shell

URBANJOBS approached the project with a decisive step: they painted existing walls in a matte black color and added a new Euclidean shell organizing the interior. This shell serves as a clean canvas, independent of the shopping center's irregular geometry.

Behind the tall dining wall, the kitchen is fully open but visually organized, eliminating clutter and enhancing transparency in pizza preparation. The design focuses on clarity, proportionality, and customer focus.

Minimalism for Food

Different from many decor-based restaurants, Nappo Pizza avoids unnecessary details. Every visible connection—from railings to flooring—was carefully hidden within walls and sublayers. This precision reflects URBANJOBS design philosophy: moderation, neither too little nor too much, sufficiency.

Key design elements include:

• Marble-clad pizza oven, highlighting the cooking process and the eternal bond of material with fire and transformation.

• Neutral color palette throughout the interior to keep focus on food.

• Walls designed for frames or railings, ensuring functional subtlety without disrupting spatial calm.

For more design inspiration, see 20 Modern Restaurant Interiors.

Solution for Distorted Interior

The main architectural challenge was the distorted spatial geometry, where no vertical angles exist. URBANJOBS solved this by establishing a 90-degree reference line along the right wall from the entrance. All subsequent design decisions were based on this axis, ensuring order and balance within the non-standard volume.

This demonstrates how architectural precision can transform chaotic contexts into harmonious, human-centered environments.

Clean Atmosphere for Food

The completed design offers an interior that is calm, minimalist, and timeless. By rejecting unnecessary decorations and focusing on honest materials and spatial organization, Nappo Pizza becomes more than just a restaurant—it is an architectural interpretation of food culture, where the ritual of pizza preparation and consumption is central.

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