09 Mar 2015
Emre Arolat-designed St Regis Istanbul to debut in March with an Iridium Spa
BY Helen Andrews
Starwood Hotels & Resorts will debut its first St Regis-branded property in Istanbul, Turkey in March – designed by award-winning Turkish architect Emre Arolat in an Art Deco style reminiscent of the city’s artistic 1920s era.
Housing an extensive selection of artwork from the Demsa Collection of Art – a private collection belonging to the Demsa Group that also owns the hotel itself – the property has 118 bedrooms and overlooks the Bosphorus and Maçka Park. The hotel has partnered with automobile company Bentley to create a Bentley suite, drawing design inspiration from the Bentley Continental GT model and featuring Bentley leather furnishings.
Located in the Nisantasi neighbourhood on the European side of Istanbul, the property features a chandelier designed by glass installation, design and lighting company Lasvit. The glass sculpture is made up of 343 glass panels pieced together to create a cloud-like shape.
“The design of the St Regis Istanbul focuses on the social and urban context of its surroundings,” added Arolat. “Through the details and the works of art inspired by Maçka’s history and culture, I want to create an ambiguous perception that makes us wonder if the building is set in this time or not, and how it is there at all.”
The property’s façade, in keeping with the Art Deco style, has a complex shutter system that reacts to the elements, creating an ever-changing pattern of light within the hotel as the day progresses.
The property’s Iridium spa features seven therapy rooms, indoor pools and a hammam.
Emre Arolat commented: “The clean, modern lines in the spa are articulated in rich natural materials forming a subtle juxtaposition with the personality of the hotel with the use of brass detailing.”
Other amenities at the hotel includes a rooftop restaurant, two other food and beverage outlets and an onyx-stone, bronze and ebony wood ballroom that can accommodate up to 160 people, as well as seven meeting rooms.
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