“Look at the sun, look at the day” – this is the literal translation of the family name of star and TV chef Ali Güngörmüş. The cooking school is the keystone alongside its two restaurants – Pageou and Pera Meze. Here Ali gives a group of passionate hobby cooks and connoisseurs an insight into his world.
Project: Ali Güngörmüş
Studio Name: MALLUVIA – Interior Design
Photography: Patrick Breugl
The shop has a total area of 57m², two spacious and almost equally large, rectangular rooms with a view of the street, as well as three angled areas at the back. Ali Güngörmüş not only had a holistic design concept created for this. He also sees the cooking school as a connection between the two restaurants, the sensually elegant Pageou and the modern, lively Pera Meze, which is located right next to the cooking school.
From the former electronics store, a contemporary room was designed according to his wishes, two large rooms with a convivial dining area and a spacious kitchen to celebrate cooking and enjoying.
As soon as you enter the rooms, the journey into another world begins. The linear room concept is playfully combined with oriental influences. Table edges and kitchen units connect with arched doors and round mirrors as if by themselves. Durable products and materials with a high haptic quality give the room a timeless elegance.
The inspiration for the colors and different materials comes from Ali’s story itself. The sandy mountains of Anatolia, the unique blue of a Nazar amulet and the exciting red of the dried paprika mountains on Istanbul’s markets are recurring colors in Ali’s cookbooks. These important colors are carefully divided between the different rooms. Dark wooden slats – from the guest room to the scullery – frame the play of colors.
When it comes to the technical equipment, particular importance was attached to the kitchen. The star chef wished to remove the kitchen fronts. This not only creates an inviting visibility, but also offers every cook a quick orientation. Just like Ali is used to from the TV kitchens. In addition, an extensive lighting system, especially in the kitchen area, of direct and indirect light was of great importance for the smooth cooking process.
When you enter the cooking school, you are immediately greeted by the spacious dining area with its table, the staggered lights and the twelve seats. The cantilever chairs with Viennese mesh look inviting, as if enjoying things together could begin immediately. But in the next moment, the gaze is drawn to the wall. A 2.30 m diameter, circular mirror tinted in bronze casts a spell over every eye. At the same time, he creates the first visual connection between the guest room and the kitchen. But wait! A tiny detail almost escaped the eye. An almost invisible door is built into the dark brown wooden slat wall, which connects the guest room with the hallway.
If you walk through the semi-circular arch, you can reach the kitchen in just a few steps. The centerpiece is the free-standing kitchen block, clad in American walnut to the front and finally covered with a stone worktop. You are only too happy to slide your fingers over the quartzite. The wall was decorated in its entirety with azure blue circular tiles – the oriental influences are increasing. The game between straight and curved begins to draw larger circles. Another mirror is hidden to the left of the kitchen wall, which in turn allows the reaction of the connoisseurs to be captured.
As big and open as the rooms facing the street are, the back rooms are nooks and crannies and exciting. The passage to the prep and scullery – another round arch – but much narrower. The petrol-colored walls have a calming effect. You feel secluded in this room, but you are always part of the action thanks to the open passageways. The plain, clear kitchen fronts with the English walnut drawers are again in contrast with the generously ornate tiled backsplash this time.
Through the hallway you now reach the rearmost and smallest room. Three meters long and almost a meter wide. Hard to imagine that an absolute highlight is hidden here. With this idea in mind, you open the door very hesitantly, but contrary to all expectations, a world of paprika red unfolds here. Walls and ceiling dyed in that color, the cistern contrasts with a light mint-colored backsplash, the faucet is chrome-plated. An absolute play of colours.
