DBArchitects Istanbul

What DBArchitects Istanbul does

DBArchitects (legal entity: DB Mimarlık ve Danışmanlık Ltd. Şti.) is a full-service architectural and urban design consultancy founded in 1995 by Bünyamin Derman and Dilek Topuz Derman, headquartered at Atabey Sok. No:8, Hasanpaşa, Kadıköy, Istanbul. The firm operates as a professional services practice delivering architecture, urban design, landscape design, interior design, and integrated structural, mechanical, and electrical engineering coordination from concept through construction administration. Its portfolio spans diverse typologies at significant scale, including airports (Dalaman Airport International Terminal, 130,000 m²), stadiums (BJK Vodafone Arena at 140,039 m²; Göztepe Gürsel Aksel Stadium at 94,541 m²), mixed-use towers (İstanbloom at 79,571 m²; Maslak Link at 19,800 m²; DLP No 1 at 17,500 m²), retail and hospitality (212 AVM at 200,000 m²; Cape Bodrum Hotel), educational campuses (V.K.V. Koç Private High School at 13,800 m²), and urban design masterplans for Turkish municipalities and international briefs.

The firm employs approximately 24–25 people and pursues projects primarily through open and invited architectural competitions, complemented by direct commissions and repeat client engagements. The founding partners have personally accumulated a documented ledger of 8 and 7 first-prize competition wins respectively, supported by an awards history spanning 1989–2020 across national and international juries. Clients include Turkish public-sector bodies (State Airports Authority, Istanbul, Ankara, İzmir and other metropolitan municipalities, TBMM), private sports clubs (Beşiktaş İnşaat, Göztepe Spor Kulübü), real estate developers (Kapital Gayrimenkul, Esin Yapı, Akın Holding, Varyap), private education foundations (Koç Lisesi İktisadi İşletmesi), and corporate occupiers (Siemens GOSB Campus). Projects have been delivered in Turkey (Istanbul, Ankara, İzmir, Muğla, Bursa, Zonguldak, Diyarbakır) and internationally (Saudi Arabia, Germany, Hungary, Greece, Norway, Japan, Singapore), typically with a network of structural, mechanical, electrical, façade, and landscape consulting partners.

Revenue is generated entirely through project-based professional service fees: competition prize awards where applicable, design fees through concept and construction document phases, and construction administration retainers. Pricing is per-project and not publicly disclosed. The firm is privately held by its two founders, with no external institutional investors, no subsidiaries, no funding rounds, no M&A activity, and no patents or software/IP products. The business does not offer APIs, SaaS platforms, or AI-based products; its differentiation rests on integrated multi-disciplinary design authorship and a multi-decade competition track record.

Name

DBArchitects Istanbul

Legal name

DB MİMARLIK VE DANIŞMANLIK LTD. ŞTİ.

Website

https://dbarchitects.com.tr

Company type

Private

Founded year

1995

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

DBArchitects is an Istanbul-based full-service architecture and urban design firm founded in 1995 by Bünyamin Derman and Dilek Topuz Derman, specializing in airports, stadiums, educational campuses, mixed-use developments, and urban masterplans for public and private clients across Turkey and internationally.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Architectural Design Services

NAICS

Architectural Services (541310), Architectural Services (54131), Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services (5413), Landscape Architectural Services (54132), Interior Design Services (541410)

akta.pro primary industry

Landscape Architecture & Site Design (BPAHAKAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Community Engagement & Participatory Planning (BPAHAKAO), Sports & Recreation Facility Construction (Stadiums, Arenas, Community Centers) (IMAFACAI)

Keywords

• Architectural design services
• Urban design consulting
• Building project design
• Master planning services
• Architectural competition design

Headquarters

HQ city

Istanbul

HQ country

Türkiye

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Architectural Design and Consulting Services: DBArchitects generates revenue through commissioned architectural design services, urban design consulting, and project management for building and infrastructure projects. Revenue is project-based, typically derived from competition prizes, direct commissions from public and private clients, and ongoing project fees through design-to-construction phases.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

DBArchitects Istanbul is a full-service architecture and urban design firm that provides architectural design, urban planning, landscape architecture, interior design, and engineering coordination for building projects from concept through construction documents. The firm primarily serves public sector clients (municipalities, government agencies), private developers, sports clubs, and educational institutions, acquiring projects mainly through architectural competitions and direct commissions. Its portfolio spans airports, stadiums, cultural buildings, educational campuses, mixed-use developments, and urban masterplans.

Product overview

DBArchitects (DB Mimarlık ve Danışmanlık Ltd. Şti.) is a full-service architecture and urban design firm founded in 1995 by Bünyamin Derman and Dilek Topuz Derman, based in Kadıköy, Istanbul. The firm operates as a single integrated architectural services offering rather than a platform-plus-modules architecture. Its portfolio spans diverse building types — sports venues (BJK Vodafone Arena, Göztepe Stadium), airports (Dalaman Airport Terminal), mixed-use towers (İstanbloom, Maslak Link, DLP No 1), cultural/civic buildings, educational facilities (V.K.V. Koç High School), and urban design competitions (Taksim Square, Kadıköy Square, Salacak, İzmir Port). Projects range from concept design through construction documents, with close interdisciplinary team collaboration. The firm also maintains an active competition design practice, winning numerous national and international awards across urban design, cultural, sports, and transportation categories. DBArchitects does not offer software products, APIs, or SaaS platforms.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• DBArchitects Architectural Services Full-service architectural and urban design firm providing project design, master planning, competition entries, and design consultancy across residential, commercial, cultural, sports, transportation, and institutional building types.
• V.K.V. Koç Özel Lisesi Yeni Binası 13,800 m² new high school building for Koç Schools in Istanbul Tuzla featuring 'living street' spine concept, flexible learning spaces, atrium connecting all floors, and rich landscape integration.
• BJK Vodafone Arena 41,903-capacity UEFA-compliant football stadium in Istanbul Dolmabahçe, featuring barkod column facades inspired by the historic İnönü Stadium, PTFE-covered cable roof system, smart security with facial recognition, and multi-purpose use as concert arena and fashion venue.
• Gürsel Aksel Spor ve Sağlıklı Yaşam Merkezi / Göztepe Stadyumu 20,000-capacity UEFA and Turkish Football Federation-compliant stadium in Izmir Konak with 6m elevated stadium floor, mixed-use ground level including children's entertainment, dining, sports museum, exhibition areas and underground parking.
• Dalaman Havalimanı Uluslararası Havalimanı Yeni Dış Hatlar Terminali 130,000 m² international airport terminal at Dalaman Airport with aerodynamic dual-layer roof system, solar shading panels, rational reinforced concrete grid structure, automated baggage handling system with barcode sorting, and hypo-style interior layout.
• İstanbloom 79,571 m² mixed-use tower (residential and office) in Istanbul Zincirlikuyu with layered massing design symbolizing Istanbul's cultural diversity, double-skin facade responding to sunlight and usage, and panoramic views from the Black Sea to the Sea of Marmara.
• Maslak Link 19,800 m² prism-shaped glass office building on Eski Büyükdere Street in Istanbul Maslak with varying daylight effects on the building shell, sky gardens across floors providing natural climate control, and flexible office layouts with planted terraces.
• DLP No 1 (Dolapdere No.1) 17,500 m² six-storey office and retail building in Istanbul Dolapdere with stacking design, central atrium connecting two masses, industrial facade with dark colors and grey metal sunshades, and rear garden courtyard.
• Taksim Meydanı ve Çevresi Uluslararası Kentsel Tasarım Yarışması International urban design competition entry for Istanbul Taksim Square redesigning the square as a 'stage for the city' with increased tree canopy, restored Taksim Maksemi cascade, Taksim Memory Museum below the square, relocated underground road to surface, and Gezi Park programming.

Quantifiable outcome

• Dalaman Airport Terminal: 130,000 m², completed 2006, 1st Prize in national competition
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers11 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Yapı Akademisi Müh. İnş. San. ve Tic. Ltd. Şti.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStructural engineering consultant for DLP No 1 project, providing structural design services in collaboration with DBArchitects as the lead architectural firm.
• Dinamik Proje Müh. ve Müş. Hiz. Ltd. Şti.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMechanical engineering consultant providing HVAC and mechanical systems design for DLP No 1 project, collaborating with DBArchitects.
• FDC Elektrik Proje Dan. ve Tic. Ltd. Şti.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerElectrical engineering consultant for DLP No 1 project, providing electrical systems design in collaboration with DBArchitects.
• İz MühendislikcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStructural engineering partner for BJK Vodafone Arena stadium project.
• Çilingiroğlu Müh. ve Müş. Ltd. Şti.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMechanical engineering consultant for BJK Vodafone Arena stadium project.
• Enmar Müh. Ltd. Şti.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerElectrical engineering consultant for BJK Vodafone Arena stadium project.
• asp Architecten Stuttgart / AlmanyacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational architecture partner collaborating with DBArchitects on 212 AVM Shopping Mall project (200,000 m²) in Istanbul. asp Architecten provided co-design services alongside DBArchitects.
• Spiga PeyzajminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLandscape architecture consultancy for Maslak Link and İstanbloom projects, providing landscape design services in collaboration with DBArchitects.
• ArcoraminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFaçade consultant for Maslak Link office building project, providing specialized façade engineering and design services.
• YBT Yapısal Tasarım Hizmetleri ve Yapı Bil. Tic. A.Ş.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStructural engineering consultant for V.K.V. Koç Özel Lisesi Fen Laboratuvarı project, providing structural design services.
• Aykar Mühendislik Teknik İnş. Ltd. Şti.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerElectrical engineering consultant for V.K.V. Koç Özel Lisesi Fen Laboratuvarı project.
• Geomim Mahmut AnlarminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInterior architecture consultant for İstanbloom project, providing specialized interior design services.
• Erbay AlüminyumminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFaçade contractor/supplier for İstanbloom project, providing aluminium façade systems and installation.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Emerging players

• Grimshaw Architects: International architecture firm with strong transportation (airports) and integrated design portfolio. Comparable to DBArchitects' Dalaman Airport work and multi-disciplinary approach, though at larger scale.

Direct peers

• Tabanlıoğlu Architects: Istanbul-based architecture firm with comparable integrated design portfolio spanning cultural, sports, transportation, and urban design projects in Turkey and internationally. Most directly comparable Turkish peer operating at similar scale and typology.
• Populous: Global sports architecture specialist that competed with DBArchitects in stadium design space. Beşiktaş and other Turkish football clubs increasingly engage international stadium architects, making Populous a relevant design competitor for BJK Vodafone Arena-type commissions.
• Emre Arolat Architecture (EAA): Founded by Emre Arolat, this Istanbul-based firm has a similar profile of high-profile Turkish commissions, international competition entries, and integrated design across urban and building typologies.
• SANALarc: Turkish architecture firm with competition-driven practice and integrated design focus. Comparable in scale, typology diversity, and reliance on architectural competitions as project acquisition channel.

Broad incumbents

• Zaha Hadid Architects: Global architecture firm with extensive sports, cultural, and urban design portfolio. Increasingly competes in Turkish mega-projects and represents the international tier of competition that DBArchitects may face for premium commissions.
• Foster + Partners: Global architecture and integrated design firm with airport terminal, urban design, and stadium project experience. Comparable in integrated multi-disciplinary approach but operates at much larger scale.
• HOK: Global architecture firm with design, engineering, and consulting services. Strong sports venue practice (stadiums, arenas) directly comparable to DBArchitects' BJK Vodafone Arena and Göztepe Stadium work.
• BIG (Bjarke Ingels Group): International architecture firm with strong urban design and mixed-use portfolio. Active in competition entries across global markets including Turkey-relevant mixed-use projects.

Others

• Grimshaw & Partners: International landscape architecture and urban design firm with strong participatory planning practice. Relevant for DBArchitects' urban design competition work and integrated landscape architecture services.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/dbarchitects_
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/dbarchitects-istanbul

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 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 DBArchitects Istanbul