ORIENT

THE WEALTH OF HISTORICAL HERITAGE

SIGNIFICANT PENINSULA

INVALUABLE MONUMENTS OF BYGONE CIVILIZATIONS

ARCHITECTURAL, CULTURAL, ARTISTIC AND SOCIAL VALUES

THE SIGNIFICANT FIGURES OF ANCIENT RELIGIONS AND THREE EMPIRES

UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITE

THE OLDEST ACROPOLIS

TO CONNECT EUROPE AND ASIA

OCCIDENT

ELIEF IN A PEACEFUL SOCIOCULTURAL ENTITY.

A PLACE WHERE MODERN FAMILY VALUES, TRADITION, SPIRITUALITY, MORALITY, AND HARD WORK ARE VALUED.

CREATING A BALANCE BETWEEN THE WEST AND THE ORIENT. BECOMING “US” INSTEAD OF “THEM.”

AN ORGANIC HARMONY BASED ON A COMMON INTELLECTUAL IDENTITY

THE INCLINATION TO MIX LOCAL TRADITIONS WITH FOREIGN IDEAS.

INTEGRATION OF EXOTIC AND THOUGHT BASED PHILOSOPHIC/AESTHETIC THEORIES.

“ISTANBUL IS INSPIRING BECAUSE IT HAS ITS OWN CODE OF ARCHITECTURE, POETRY, MUSIC.”

CHRISTIAN LOUBOUTIN

THE ORIENT OCCIDENT HOTEL

A historical and soulful hospitality gateway to bringing emotions, cultures, artful shades and both the Western and Oriental reflections together in relation to the peninsula’s intellectual roots.

THE BUILDING

Located in the heart of one of the most commercially and residentially important centers of İstanbul, Eminönü, Basiret Han was constructed during the “La Belle Epoque” period.

LOCALE

Sultanhamam region of Eminönü district, which has been the heart and the capital of trade in Turkey for ages.

THE HISTORY OF EMINÖNÜ

Istanbul is a city that needs to be felt, and not just merely lived in. With its seven hills, spreading over two continents, Istanbul is the only city that has the sea run through it and to have been a home to three great civilizations, the Romans, the Byzantines, and the Ottomans.

The city is home to thousands of years of cultural treasures and a meeting point for civilizations. The oldest residential area of the city is the bustling Eminönü district of the historical peninsula, known as “Sur İçi” (Inside the City Walls). The spices of the Far East, the wheat of Crimea, the furs of Russia, the wine of Greece, the alum of Western Anatolia, the wools of Asia Minor, the silks of Iran, and the fabrics of Armenia and the East… They all come together here.

These streets date back to Byzantine times when it comes to being the heart of the commerce and finance activity. Eminönü has always been the center of money, and
it has not only brought in the money, it has also created beauty out of its earnings. Since it is also a port town, along with the memories of the locals, it has collected the memories and the marks from the cultures of everyone who has passed through the city. People may pass by the magnificent buildings and the obscure stories hidden away in the details in their daily rush, however, Eminönü is a magical district that is full of hidden treasures for those who know where to look.

THE HISTORY OF BASIRET HAN

Basiret Han was built as an office building in Eminönü, one of the most important commercial centers of Istanbul. The Han has been home to many different businesses ever since its construction, such as merchants, commissioners, and various banks. Although the Han does not have an epitaph denoting its construction date, a plaque that shows the architect’s name is hung on the wall that faces Aşiretefendi Street: “Architecte Stephan Hamamdjian.” Architect Stephan Hamamdjian was one of the Armenian architects of Istanbul, and information about him being the architect of Dilsizzade Han, another building on the same street that dates back to 1905, can be found in the printed records.

Basiret Han’s façade is structured with elements of “La Belle Epoque” style and is a perfect example of the characteristics of the period. It should be regarded as a part
of the architectural environment of the Ottoman capital during the beginning the
20th century that brought together many different styles. The building has six floors, and was built without a courtyard to function as a multipurpose office building. The structure was constructed with concrete and iron materials. The Han’s façade boasts profiled floor beads, garlands made of roses and ribbons, overhang covered in volutum and acanthus leaves that support the eaves, dentil molding under the eaves and on floor beads, plasters, three-levels of profile heads, and lintels under the floor moldings are details that show that Basiret Han was built in the style of “La Belle Epoque.” The building has been used by many different people and institutions for varying amounts of time, just like the other Hans in the area. The offices and and the rooms of the Han were modified slightly during the use of various people, and many sections of the building were also changed during its use.

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