How to choose an architect or interior designer in Istanbul

When choosing an architect or interior designer, look at five things: a portfolio of similar projects, professional chamber registration, a quote with a written scope, regular and clear communication, and experience in the build process. These five criteria matter as much as your taste, because a project is a collaboration lasting months, and communication shapes how it goes as much as design does.

What to look for in a portfolio

Look for projects similar to your needs rather than just beautiful photos. If you are building a villa, look for residential experience; if you are opening a showroom, commercial experience. Look not only at finished photos but, if possible, at drawings, 3D images and process photos; seeing how a design moved from first idea to site tells you how the team works. We suggest viewing our projects with this in mind.

Why does chamber registration matter?

In Türkiye, architects are registered with the TMMOB Chamber of Architects and interior architects with the TMMOB Chamber of Interior Architects. Registration shows professional competence, responsibility and commitment to professional principles. For work that requires a permit, the person signing the drawings must be authorised (Chamber of Architects, Chamber of Interior Architects).

How should you compare quotes?

• Which stages are included? Concept, construction drawings, detail drawings, quantities, site supervision.
• How many 3D images and how many revision rounds?
• Will they accompany you in choosing materials and furniture?
• Which stages is payment tied to?
• Who will do the build, and how often will the design team be on site?

The Chamber of Architects specification divides the architectural service into stages such as preparation, preliminary design, final design, construction drawings and details (Chamber of Architects, 2011). Knowing which of these stages your quote includes makes the comparison fair. We explain how fees are set in our article on interior designer fees.

Do they listen to you in the first meeting?

A good architect does not talk much in the first meeting; they ask many questions. They try to understand how you live at home, what bothers you, your budget and your priorities. You can feel in the first meeting the difference between someone who applies their signature style to every project and someone who starts from the character of the space and of you.

“The right architect designs your home, not their own portfolio.”

Build experience

Not every detail that looks good on paper is as easy to build on site. A team with build experience thinks about the site at the drawing stage: which material, with which craftsman, in which order and to what tolerance? A studio that also offers a build service removes the gap between design and site.

Conclusion

Choosing an architect means buying a process, not a product. An assessment that starts with the portfolio and registration and continues with the scope of the quote, communication and build experience protects both your budget and your nerves. If you would like to meet us, we can talk about your project over a coffee.

Frequently asked questions