Founded in Istanbul in 2016 by E. Didem Şamlı, Dzone Architects is a multidisciplinary firm bringing together architects, interior designers, graphic designers, and experts in construction and cost control. Despite being a relatively young company, Dzone leverages deep expertise across design, project management, construction, change management, and quality and cost control. This diverse skill set has enabled the firm to expand into international markets, forming strong partnerships and collaborations across Türkiye, Europe, and the United States. In response to growing global demand, Dzone opened a London office in 2018.
Dzone is also a strategic partner of Diem, a respected name in Türkiye. This collaboration enhances Dzone’s offerings through specialized technical consultancy and robust quality and cost control across a wide range of projects. As a trusted solution partner, Dzone delivers integrated design and consultancy services with precision and reliability.
As the needs of office spaces evolve in response to new business models, work cultures, demographics, and technology, Dzone Architects has grown in parallel sharpening its focus and expertise in office design. From the very first consultation, we prioritize understanding client needs, adapting, or developing design programs, assisting with site evaluations, and maintaining a strong awareness of budget constraints—hallmarks of our practice.
Beyond design and construction management, Dzone also offers services in real estate site evaluation, due diligence, change management, and graphic design.
Our approach is grounded in comprehensive design thinking and in-depth research. This enables us to create cohesive, high-quality design solutions tailored to each project.
At Dzone, we believe in the power of collaboration, coordination, knowledge-sharing, and continuous feedback. We bring every project to life with enthusiasm, creativity, and a forward-thinking mindset.
At the core of our practice, design is both the starting point and the destination. It shapes every service we offer and guides our entire approach.
We place great importance on cultural, historical, scientific, economic, and ecological research to fully understand and address each design challenge. This knowledge is then carefully applied and refined through a combination of artistic sensibility and practical expertise.
Our goal is to integrate each project seamlessly into its urban and social context—creating spaces that are not only functional and efficient, but also aesthetically compelling and aligned with the program’s practical requirements.
At Dzone Architects, we believe sustainability begins at the community level—with a deep sense of connection to both nature and society. People are more likely to protect and value what they feel personally connected to, and architecture plays a vital role in fostering that relationship.
Architecture, as both knowledge and practice, bridges the past and future. It has the power to create lasting, meaningful connections over time. Our approach to sustainability is rooted in this belief.
We prioritize adaptive reuse, recycling, and thoughtful material selection. More than a checklist, sustainability is an attitude—one that influences every decision we make in creating responsible, enduring, and contextually sensitive designs.
At Dzone Architects, our aim is to empower built environments through architecture that responds to human needs and enhances everyday life. We believe that understanding human dimensions—beyond just physical measurements—along with people’s activities and experiences, is essential to shaping scale, structure, materiality, and the overall sense of space.
When architecture integrates these human-centered insights, the environment can be thoughtfully organized to enrich and elevate the quality of life. A strong sense of community emerges when individuals are given the opportunity to participate, contribute their skills, and share in the collective benefits of society.
For us, design is a starting point for inclusivity. It must offer diverse ways for people to engage, fostering spaces where healthy and connected communities can grow.
Our philosophy is rooted in ethical values and a commitment to giving back. This inspires us to grow with the communities we serve, build strong relationships, learn from them, and ultimately shape a shared future together.
As part of the Diem Group, Dzone Architects is uniquely positioned to offer a comprehensive range of services by collaborating across disciplines whenever needed. These include engineering design, acoustics, fire safety, sustainability, property evaluation, cost consultancy, workplace strategy, change management, and construction management.
These services can be delivered as a fully integrated package or provided individually, tailored to the specific needs of each project.
Dzone excels at coordinating both internally within our group and externally with vendors, consultants, project managers, and local authorities. Our collaborative approach ensures that all stakeholders are aligned, enabling us to meet and often exceed project goals.
We bring ambition, motivation, and energy to every team and environment we engage with—always striving to enhance project outcomes and delivery methods.
Architecture sits at the crossroads of science and art, both a practical discipline and a powerful form of expression. It shapes identity, evokes emotion, and connects people across time and place, much like poetry or music.
At Dzone Architects, we believe that good design should be inclusive and timeless. By drawing on the past, addressing present needs, and anticipating the future, architecture can create lasting value.
With human needs, scale, and experience at the centre of our approach, we see architecture as a way to define our place within nature, culture, and history.
Didem Şamlı graduated from İzmir Private Turkish College High School in 1991 and went on to earn her degree from the Faculty of Architecture at Istanbul Technical University in 1995. She completed her master's degree in construction project management at the same university in 1997.
In 1998, she co-founded Diem Engineering and Architecture with C. Melih Şamlı. Over the next two decades, she served as a project manager for numerous large-scale projects on behalf of leading corporate clients.
Building on this extensive experience, she established Dzone Architects in 2016, bringing together a multidisciplinary team to deliver innovative, high-quality architectural solutions.
C. Melih Şamlı was born in Istanbul in 1971. He earned his bachelor's degree in civil engineering from Istanbul Technical University in 1992 and completed his master's degree in construction project management at the University of Maryland in 1997.
In 1998, he co-founded Diem Mühendislik Mimarlık with Didem Şamlı. Since then, he has successfully led numerous medium- and large-scale projects for leading corporate clients across various sectors. He currently serves as the General Manager of Diem Mühendislik Mimarlık, overseeing the firm’s strategic direction and project delivery.
Hande Yarımbıyık joined Dzone Architects in 2018 and brings extensive international experience to the team. She holds a Master’s degree in Architecture from the University of Houston, earned in 2004.
Throughout her career, Hande has led and contributed to numerous prestigious projects, developing specialized expertise in office buildings, high-rise developments, interior fit-outs, and residential architecture. Her portfolio also includes work on educational institutions, commercial interiors, airport facilities, and master planning.
She has been a licensed architect in the Commonwealth of Virginia since 2008.
Didem Durakçı earned her bachelor’s degree from Yıldız Technical University in 2005 and completed her master’s degree in Art History at the same institution in 2008. From 2005 to 2013, she gained valuable experience working with several architectural firms, primarily on office, residential, and hotel projects.
Currently leading the Bidding & Cost Control department at Dzone Architects, Didem brings in-depth knowledge of construction materials, strong analytical skills in reviewing proposal documents, and a comprehensive understanding of both local and international market dynamics. Her expertise in budgeting and cost management ensures high-quality project delivery through precise planning and proactive adjustments during execution.