Sheraton

Lauded for his restoration work on the Treasury of the centuries-old Topkapi Palace and his designs for MTV Istanbul, Caglayan Tugal may not seem like the obvious choice for the renovation of a neglected, 305-room business hotel. But then the owners of Sheraton Istanbul Maslak knew from the outset that they needed an interior architect and designer with visionary ideas to turn around a three-star property into a branded, five-star hotel in an impossibly short time-frame of just nine months.

Following a 13-year absence from the city, the Sheraton brand has returned to Istanbul as a result of a franchise agreement between Starwood Hotels & Resorts and OC Tourism Services. Leasing what was formerly the Princess Hotel, Sheraton revealed the results of its renovation in May 2007, keeping parts of the business open as work was carried out. “We had an army of people here labouring night and day,” says General Manager Ömer Subasi. “Sheraton had been waiting for the right location and partner to come along and were very satisfied at how we turned things around almost over night.”

For Tugal, the biggest challenge was transforming the hotel bit by bit although he seems to have taken it in his stride, even admitting there were fun aspects to the process. It seems his crystal-clear concept of what the hotel should deliver stood him in good stead. “I was born in Istanbul so I know what the city needs,” he comments. “In Maslak, which is known as our Manhattan because of the high-rise towers, there were no five-star business hotels catering for international companies.

So this was my starting point. I wanted to create comfortable, user-friendly spaces in which guests would have all the latest amenities for carrying out business, while feeling at home.”

Provided with Sheraton standards on design, colours and fabrics, Tugal was given a fair amount of freedom to implement his ideas as he saw appropriate to the market. Subasi points out: “Yes, it had to look corporate but Caglayan was able to soften and relax the atmosphere through design. Take the hotel lobby and restaurant – they are very different from what you would typically expect.”

The impressive marble-floored lobby welcomes visitors with warm, earthy tones of orange, brown, yellow and ivory. While the choice of lighting, oak wood and steel planters indicate contemporary, there are small touches that pay homage to Istanbul’s past. Says Tugal: “The square pattern I’ve used on the ceiling of the lobby is the same as one I’ve seen in a 200-year-old house in Istanbul. I wanted to make use of the past, although in a limited way, by introducing a little piece of history into the design.”

Altogether more modern is the fabulous multi-coloured, glass-blown circular chandelier that is hung in the centre of the lobby bar, a piece of work commissioned from local artist Altay Ozgen. “We didn’t have enough time to place an order with Murano so I simply sketched the shape I was thinking of,” Tugal continues. “We used the same artist for the custom-made lamps in the rooms.” Also eye-catching in its size and abstract nature is the huge print by Temur Koran, placed by the elevator lobbies, which picks up on and echoes the earthy colour palette.

Again in the main dining venue on the lobby floor, home to Italian restaurant L’Altra Risacca, touches such as specially commissioned glass bead dividers, block paintings and leather furniture give a crisp, contemporary air to the substantial space, allowing it to function successfully day and night. With a lack of elegant eateries in the immediate vicinity, this destination restaurant has been an important addition.

Not all the rooms have been refurbished yet because occupancy is extremely high at over 90%, but once the renovation process is complete, by the end of 2009, the hotel will benefit from a harmonious design scheme that works across the board.
 
SHERATON ISTANBUL MASLAK HOTEL
Buyukdere Caddesi, 49
Istanbul, Turkey
www.starwoodhotels.com

Rooms:    305 guestrooms
Food:    L’Altra Risacca, Sky Restaurant & Bar
Drinks:    The Lobby
Leisure:    H Club Fitness Centre & Spa
Facilities:    18 meeting and event spaces

WORDS BY NEENA DHILLON   

PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF STARWOOD HOTELS & RESORTS