East meets West in Contemporary Istanbul Home
Noubikko - Lifestyle Moderator 
Sitting at the crossroads of Europe and Asia, Istanbul has been imbued with glamour, mystery, beauty, and sophistication for millennia. So when Istanbul-based Ayşe Kubilay Architecture, led by architect and founder Ayşe Kubilay, was tasked with reimagining a home originally built in the 1990s, the team knew it needed to be fitting of its location on the Bosphorus Strait. “This home bridges past and present, city and nature, structure and soul, offering a serene sense of belonging along the shores of the Bosphorus,” Kubilay says.
For centuries, the Bosphorus, which connects the Black Sea to the Sea of Marmara, has been dotted with yalı, the region’s iconic seaside mansions. These signature structures help to define the Bosphorus, and Kubilay drew on their architecture and history in creating the concept for this home. She also incorporated what she calls “the poetic balance between the Bosphorus’s untamed nature and the refined rhythm of urban life.”
Wild nature meets urban sophistication
The team used a variety of natural materi – als, like sustainably sourced wood, mar – ble, and stone in soft, neutral tones that marry the building’s classical heritage and seaside location with a contemporary design. For instance, the design incorporates a variety of marble throughout, including beautiful Astana Grey marble with orange veining on the fireplace of the entry level lounge and a rich brown Bubble onyx marble on the fireplace of garden-pool level lounge, which seamlessly matches with Alpi walnut burl wood wallcovering. There’s also Cool Grey and Carrara marble throughout the space and Rain Grey marble on the exterior flooring.
The end result is a sleekly sophisticated vision that’s carried seamlessly throughout the home’s three floors and approximately 17,764 square feet of living space. This vision is echoed in the home’s modern décor and bold art pieces, including a video art installation by Turkish-American artist Refik Anadol in the dining room; a dramatic, custom-made cluster chandelier in the lowerlevel living room; and the elegant, custommade red lacquer coffee tables in the main living room overlooking the water.
Working with the landscape
Since the home is situated on a hill and has varying floor levels, the design team was faced with “a total spatial reinvention” during the renovation. “The most demanding part of the project was stripping the house back to its bones, keeping only the columns, beams, and main structural frame,” Kubily says.
They used the home’s location to their advantage, incorporating the different levels using creative transitions that enhanced, rather than detracted, from the house’s beauty and functionality. For instance, since there are different floor levels in the downstairs living room, the team added a few steps, creating tiered space featuring a marble-lined cocktail bar. “Reimagining the plan was like choreographing movement; every step and transition had to feel effortless,” Kubilay says.
The home was also designed to serve many different purposes, from easy, everyday living, to spaces for formal entertaining. For instance, the ground floor is reserved for daily family gatherings, as well as a guest suite, gym, and cinema room. The entry floor is dedicated to welcoming guests, including a living room with distinct sections for watching TV and gathering around the fire. An adjacent dining area opens into the kitchen via a hidden passageway, facilitating easy entertaining. The top floor’s bedrooms include a main bedroom with a dressing room, bathroom, and private terrace.
Bosphorus views
The home’s design elements extend outdoors, too, including tiered levels that work with the site’s hillside location and offers seclusion throughout the garden, lounge, and outdoor entertaining spaces.
The downstairs living room opens onto a 25,528 square foot garden featuring a thoughtful elements like a decorative reflecting pool, a Bluetta marble walking path, and a site-specific artwork by Turkish artist Emre Namyeter, while an infinity pool and outdoor living space overlooks the Bosphorus. A custom-made gas fireplace, outdoor loungers and furniture, a sculptural bar, and a space for outdoor gatherings encourage days and nights outside enjoying the iconic view.
The result is a home that’s as strikingly beautiful as it is warm and welcoming, not only for the family who lives there but for their guests. “Our aim was not merely to create a serene atmosphere, but a space that feels lived in, where the traces of touch, memory, and craftsmanship can be felt in every corner,” Kubilay says.
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