VitrA Çağdaş Mimarlık Dizisi - Arkitera

Aiming to reconcile the aesthetics of 19th century with contemporary requirements
within the natural pattern of the city; Akaretler project involves the adaptive re-use
of the old buildings as offices, hotel, cafes, bars and restaurants with an essentially
sensitive approach for the conservation of the existing buildings. Regarding the design
of W Hotel within the scope of Akaretler projects, there were two major difficulties:
Achieving an interior integrity that will provide the functionality of the hotel despite
the topography of the row houses; and harmonizing this new function with the original
historical identity of the building, re-interpreting the American HIP Hotel style through
Ottoman values. In order to integrate these two functionalities and styles that seem to
be fundamentally different from eachother, Boutique Hotel concept has been adopted.
In this respect, W Hotel Istanbul can be considered a good and significant project of
synthesis.
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After Ottoman Sultan Mahmut II began living in Beşiktaş Palace rather than Topkapı
Palace in 1834, Beşiktaş and its surroundings began to transform into an imperial
district, under the influence of the same imperial power that had transformed the
historical peninsula over the course of 380 years.
Akaretler Terrace Houses are located on the sloped triangle of the intersection of Şair
Nedim and Süleyman Seba Streets at the current Vişnezade District in the Beşiktaş Area.
They were designed as houses for those who worked at Dolmabahçe Palaca and rental
houses to generate income. The construction began in 1875 by the imperial decree of
Sultan Abdülaziz. The site is made up of 133 houses in 72 units, designed by imperial
master architect Sarkis Balyan. They are considered among the major city designs that
led to the formation of the district according to its own unique construction rules. The
buildings were the first example of terrace houses in the Ottoman Empire.
With an extra push from the Tourism Incentive Law of 1982, the complex and its surroundings
were declared a tourism site in 1987. Property belonging to the General
Directorate for Foundations was rented for 49 years to encourage touristic usage. As a
result of restoration work aiming at refunctioning these late Ottoman houses as aparthotels,
residences, offices, shopping centers and car parks, a reconstruction was completed
in 2009.
The international boutique hotel chain W Hotels, located on the corner of the parcel,
is the most striking point of the site. It offers realistic and authentic elements with a
capacity of 136 rooms of 10 different types and 270 beds facing Süleyman Seba and
Şair Nedim Streets. W Hotel is one of the leading examples of boutique hotels turning
into a universal chain, and it fulfills its users expectations of high prestige with a cozy
environment and high quality of service.
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