Spa and hamam projects are special areas that carry the meaning natural stone has held for centuries in Anatolian building culture into today's architectural language. On one side there is traditional hamam architecture: seating benches built around a navel stone, basins, and light filtering down beneath the dome. On the other side there are minimalist spa concepts: wide surfaces, fluid forms, and a restrained natural stone language. Marmara marble lies at the foundation of both languages, and being part of the supply culture that has carried this marble from centuries past to today is, for us, a particular responsibility.
In traditional hamam projects, the historical reference of Marmara marble is decisive. The marble of the Saraylar area was the principal material of Ottoman-era hamam architecture, and that is why the same vein is sought today in restoration or newly built traditional hamam projects. Navel stone supply lies at the center of these projects. We look for a single-piece block for the octagonal or round large-format navel stone. The vein density of Klasik Marmara responds to the traditional atmosphere, while Pure White answers restoration projects calling for a more restrained reading. The navel stone is generally supplied at a thickness of 4 to 6 cm, because this thickness ensures balanced transmission of the heating system working beneath it to the upper surface.
The supply of the kurna (basin) is the most artisanal side of hamam projects. The kurna, hand-carved from a single block, is a special line item we have run for many years with our partner artisan workshops. For round, oval, and stepped-profile kurna designs we make block selection according to the architect's or interior designer's drawing. In these projects, vein direction is critical. The symmetrical flow of the vein in the inner chamber of the kurna and the preservation of a shared language on its outer surface are a process planned together with the expertise of the artisan workshop. Pure White and Klasik Marmara are the types we most often supply in kurna projects.
The supply of seating benches forms the perimeter plan of the hamam. The benches are usually integral surfaces that run along the wall and have a heating system beneath them. In these projects we supply long-format slabs, and special bevel and edge softening applications are carried out at partner workshops. A honed finish is preferred on the bench surface for long-term contact comfort. The polished finish becomes slippery when it meets water droplets; the matte honed surface minimizes this risk. Bench thickness usually varies between 3 and 4 cm; this thickness range, which keeps thermal conductivity and mechanical strength in balance, is the standard in traditional hamam projects.
