A tobacco warehouse was demolished and rebuilt with a new four storey basement; it is now one of Istanbul’s leading 5-star hotels and distills the best of the Ottoman Empire’s traditions. The property consists of two low rise buildings with a new double atrium connecting them. A dome ceiling with a two-storey Lasvit chandelier cascades deep into the lower atrium, while The Garden of Peach Blossoms, an 18 metre Chinese silk painting is the focal point of the upper atrium. The owner’s extensive antique furniture and ornament collection was thoughtfully placed throughout for a residential feel. In the basement, LRF incorporated a CHI spa with eight treatment rooms and a hamman area. Colourful Turkish tiles and extensive use of light grey marble cement the hamman’s Ottoman feel, while lattice screens and nubby silks in a royal shade of aubergine add a Chinese flavour. LRF capitalised on Turkey’s history of handmade furnishings and rugs to customise excellently crafted pieces throughout the property. Some guestrooms and suites are afforded a splendid view of The Bosphorus, with generous balconies to enjoy them. They were designed with tranquility in mind using a light and airy colour palette accented by blues and brocades, to instill a sense of calm away from the city’s frenzy.