What EAA-Emre Arolat Architecture does

EAA-Emre Arolat Architecture is a privately held, founder-led architecture practice established in Istanbul in 2004 by Emre Arolat and Gonca Pasolar. The firm operates as a premium, design-led studio offering comprehensive architectural services spanning concept design, master planning, interior design, and project management across hospitality (luxury hotels and resorts), high-end residential, cultural and civic buildings, marina and waterfront developments, transportation infrastructure, and large mixed-use urban complexes. Its portfolio includes marquee projects such as the Sancaklar Mosque (RIBA International Prize 2018), the Antakya Museum Hotel (WAF 2014), Yalıkavak Marina (WAF 2014, AAP Prize 2017), St. Regis Istanbul, Le Meridien Istanbul, Saranda Marina in Albania, and the Euston Square Hotel & Residences in London, with built areas ranging from 5,843 m² to 166,000 m². The firm's design approach is anchored in a stated context-responsive philosophy that interprets history, culture, topography, and material conditions, rather than signature visual style.

EAA generates revenue primarily through commission-based professional service fees on bespoke architectural projects, supplemented by modest royalty income from monographs published through Rizzoli and Oro Editions. Projects are acquired via direct client engagement with enterprise developers and international hospitality brands (Demsa Group, Makyol, Palmali Group, System Construction, Marina Limion Shpk., HEAŞ), supplemented by architectural competition entries and reputation-driven referrals. Pricing is project-specific with no standardized tiers; no pricing is publicly disclosed. The firm maintains a sales-led GTM motion relying on award recognition, academic presence (Yale School of Architecture critic role, Venice Biennale, Monocle conferences), editorial coverage in leading architectural publications, and the founder's international profile.

The firm is operationally active with offices in Istanbul (Levent headquarters) and Florence (EAA Studio Firenze, opening June 2026), an employee base in the 101–250 range, and ongoing projects across Turkey, Albania, Russia, Georgia, UAE, the UK, and the USA. It is registered as a Turkish private limited company (EAA Emre Arolat Mimarlık Müh. ve Dan. Ltd. Şti.) with no disclosed venture capital, private equity, or institutional investment; ownership remains founder-controlled. Revenue is not publicly disclosed.

Name

EAA-Emre Arolat Architecture

Legal name

EAA EMRE AROLAT MİMARLIK MÜH. VE DAN. LTD. ŞTİ.

Website

https://emrearolat.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2004

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

EAA-Emre Arolat Architecture is a privately held, founder-led architecture practice founded in Istanbul in 2004, designing luxury hospitality, residential, cultural, marina, and mixed-use projects across Turkey, Europe, the Middle East, and the USA for enterprise developers and international hospitality brands.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Architectural Design Services

NAICS

Architectural Services (54131), Landscape Architectural Services (54132), Interior Design Services (54141)

akta.pro primary industry

Litigation & Dispute Resolution (BPAHAAAB)

Keywords

• Architectural design services
• Urban master planning
• Hospitality architecture
• Mixed-use developments
• Cultural building design

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Architectural Design Services: Commission-based fees for architectural design, master planning, interior design, and project management services across hospitality, residential, cultural, and mixed-use sectors.
2. Publications and Books: Sale of architectural publications documenting firm projects, design philosophy, and monographs published through Rizzoli, Oro Editions, and other architectural publishers.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

EAA-Emre Arolat Architecture is an international architecture studio delivering comprehensive architectural design, urban master planning, interior design, and project management services across hospitality (hotels, resorts), residential complexes, cultural and civic buildings, transportation infrastructure, marina and waterfront developments, and mixed-use urban projects. The firm's work is anchored in a context-responsive design philosophy that integrates history, geography, culture, topography, and material conditions into each commission, with commissioned projects delivered through offices in Istanbul (headquarters) and Florence.

Product overview

EAA-Emre Arolat Architecture is an international architecture studio offering comprehensive architectural design services across multiple typologies including hospitality (hotels and resorts), marina and waterfront developments, residential complexes, cultural institutions, transportation infrastructure, and mixed-use urban projects. The firm operates through offices in Istanbul (headquarters) and Florence, Italy. Their portfolio includes award-winning projects such as the Sancaklar Mosque (RIBA International Prize winner), Antakya Museum Hotel (WAF winner), and Yalıkavak Marina. The firm publishes monographs documenting their work and has received recognition at major international architecture awards including WAF, RIBA, Aga Khan Award, and World Architecture Community Awards.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Çukurova Regional Airport Complex
• Antakya Museum Hotel
• Bergama Cultural Center
• Sancaklar Mosque
• Yalıkavak Marina
• Saranda Marina
• Marina Design Services
• St. Regis Istanbul
• Le Meridien Istanbul
• Göcek Holiday Village
• Rixos Abu Dhabi Resort Hotel
• Hotel in Batumi
• Çeşme 7800 Residences and Hotel
• Euston Square Hotel & Residences
• Zorlu Center Mixed Use Complex
• Maslak No.1 Tower
• Kuzu Effect
• Architectural Publications and Monographs

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• Emre Arolat Architecture (US operations) — note: same firm, US-facing: EAA's own US-projects presence is comparable to mid-sized emerging international practices pursuing the same North American cultural and hospitality commissions.

Direct peers

• Foster + Partners: Global premium architecture practice with comparable portfolio across cultural, hospitality, airport, and mixed-use projects. Both firms operate at the same elite, award-winning tier of large-scale international commissions and compete for the same marquee clients.
• Tabanlıoğlu Architects: Istanbul-based premium architecture firm with a comparable Turkish and international portfolio across cultural, hospitality, and mixed-use projects. The closest regional direct peer in scale and typology.
• Zaha Hadid Architects: Award-winning international practice working across cultural, hospitality, and master planning typologies at similar scale. Both firms target premium commissions driven by reputation, design distinctiveness, and competition wins.
• David Chipperfield Architects: European-led practice renowned for cultural, civic, and heritage-sensitive architecture. Directly comparable to EAA on context-responsive design, museum/cultural commissions, and premium awards track record.
• Grimshaw Architects: International practice with strong transportation, cultural, and master planning portfolio. Comparable to EAA on large-scale infrastructure and contextual, place-driven design philosophy.
• BIG (Bjarke Ingels Group): Premium global architecture practice with strong cultural, residential, and mixed-use portfolio. Competes with EAA for high-profile, narrative-driven commissions where the designer's profile is central to winning the work.
• OMA: International architecture firm with a comparable mix of cultural, residential, mixed-use, and master planning projects. Similar brand-led, competition-driven business model and global project footprint.
• Renzo Piano Building Workshop: High-prestige global practice with strong cultural, museum, and mixed-use portfolio. Comparable on the cultural and civic side of EAA's work and on the award- and competition-driven GTM model.

Broad incumbents

• Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM): Much larger global design practice covering architecture, engineering, and urban planning. Overlaps with EAA on airport (EAA's Çukurova Regional Airport), large-scale mixed-use, and master planning commissions.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/EmreArolatArch

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about EAA-Emre Arolat Architecture