In Conversation With: Enis Karavil

You founded Sanayi313 in 2015 by converting an old auto repair shop in Maslak; does that industrial origin still resonate in your material choices and in the dialogue you build with stone today?

“Beyond materials and textures, what really drew me here was the architecture of Maslak Oto Sanayi as an organised industrial zone – large open spaces priotizing functionality and focusing less on aesthetics. We wanted to be a part of this place and also create a contrast within it. Contrast is something we still emphasize heavily in our designs today.”

How do you unify visual lightness in marble (proportion, space, shadow) with Minval’s methods (offcuts, reuse, modularity) and translate it into the Minval Corner at Alpalab’s Bodrum Showroom?

“Minval’s story took shape more clearly in my mind after visiting the Alpay Mermer quarries. Starting off in a rough and challenging place like the quarry, the marble is sculpted into feminine and functional objects. We have created a similar narrative for Minval Corner, located within the AlpaLab. It’s designed as a delicate corner within a marble showroom with a masculine appearance. Through the selection of materials and textures, we were able to set Minval Corner apart from the rest of the showroom.”

“Character is more important to me, because it is unique. Like a wine that gets better with age or a person who ages gracefully… A good example that comes to mind is the stairs of the restaurant Pandeli, which reopened its doors years later in The Spice Bazaar.”

 

How do you position the way stone ages and develops patina over time, “flaw” or “character”? Where does this time-based change meet Minval’s “longevity of materials” perspective on marble, in your view?

“Character is more important to me, because it is unique. Like a wine that gets better with age or a person who ages gracefully and naturally… We live in an age where everything is consumed at a much faster pace, but when you give the time for a material or design to age beautifully, you are likely to get unique results. A good example that comes to mind is the stairs of the restaurant Pandelli, which reopened its doors years later in the Spice Bazaar.”

How do your education and personal archiving habits accelerate your current research into stone and natural materials? For instance, is there a natural marble you’ve especially liked lately?

“When working on a project, I deliberately avoid non-natural materials. Materials that imitate something have always bothered me. For me, the places I visit are a real archive. When visiting a new place, my perception is always open, and I always pay attention to what is used where and how. Recently, I have become increasingly interested in stones from the quarries in Turkey, such as travertine and veinless Marmara and Alpay white marble. I like to use local materials from the region according to the location of the project. It is important that there is a coherence between the project and its location.”

“For me, the quality of materials, their variety, and balance are crucial in projects. I have been observing that marble, which is mostly used in wet areas because it is susceptible to absorbing water, is now being used in various other areas. Also, the variety of colors and textures that result from different processes applied to the same stone provides us with a limitless material palette.”

How are 2025’s architectural tendencies changing your stone and marble selections? How do you parallel these shifts in Sanayi313’s projects through material or form?

“Thanks to advances in technology, marble now provides architects and designers with a wide range of creative possibilities, which excites us in terms of design. For me, the quality of materials, their variety and balance are crucial in projects. I have been observing that marble, which is mostly used in wet areas because it is susceptible to absorbing water, is now being used in various other areas. Also, the variety of colors and textures that result from different processes applied to the same stone provides us with a limitless material palette.”

In the near future, what kind of aesthetic do you foresee emerging at the intersection of natural stone and new technologies (CNC/robotic carving, AI-assisted form-finding)?

“In every field, the intersection of technology and nature excites me. At the same time, I believe craftsmanship will become even more valuable.”