Decades of Neglect: Istanbul's Remarkable Building Revived

Hidden for decades above the bustling shops of Istanbuls stiklal Avenue, the Botter Apartment has finally returned to prominence. Once overlooked by passersby who focused on the street-level cafes and boutiques, its ornate Art Nouveau faade now gleams after a meticulous restoration.

Commissioned by Sultan Abdlhamid II, designed by Italian architect Raimondo DAronco, and built for the Sultans Dutch tailor, Jean Botter, the building was a pioneering example of modern European architecture in Istanbul. It introduced elegant curves, floral motifs, and sculpted details that defined the aesthetic of the citys upscale streets at the turn of the 20th century.

Over the years, the apartment changed owners, fell into disrepair, and largely disappeared from view. Today, the Botter Apartmentalso called Casa Botterhas been reborn as a vibrant cultural center and shared workspace, inviting both locals and visitors to experience Istanbuls hidden architectural treasures.

A Sultan, a Tailor, and a Visionary Architect

Sultan Abdlhamid II, ruler of the late Ottoman Empire, had a private passion for European art, music, and design. Among the foreign experts in his court was Jean Botter, the Sultans official tailor, who oversaw precise fittings in Istanbul. In 1900, the Sultan granted Botter a plot in Pera, a cosmopolitan district, to build a combined residence and atelier.

Aroncos design, completed in 1901, made the Botter Apartment Istanbuls first Art Nouveau building. The structure was technologically advanced as well, being the first steel-framed apartment in Turkey and including one of the countrys earliest elevators, a symbol of modern urban life.

From Social Hub to Neglect

The apartments ground floor atelier became a lively center for fashion and social gatherings, while the upper floors housed the Botter family. But after the Balkan Wars and World War I, the buildings elegance faded. The Botter family relocated to Paris in 1917, leaving the building abandoned and deteriorating over decades. Windows were broken, floors rotted, and the structure nearly collapsed.

Restoration and Renewal

In 2021, the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality began a careful restoration aimed at preserving original details while maintaining the buildings historical character. Layers of paint and plaster were removed, and metalwork was conserved to retain the marks of time. The lower floors reopened in April 2023 as the Casa Botter Art and Design Center, quickly attracting students, creatives, and remote workers, organically transforming it into a shared public space.

A Living Architectural Legacy

Visitors are captivated by features such as the elliptical elevator integrated into the sweeping main staircase, a reminder of the buildings innovative design. The Botter Apartment now offers a journey through Istanbuls late-Ottoman embrace of European style, connecting historical influences with modern cultural life.

The restoration also revitalized the Pera district, highlighting a broader architectural heritage that includes the Msr Apartment, Ravouna 1906 Suites, iek Pasaj, Grand Pera, and Azaryan Apartmentall blending Art Nouveau, Neoclassical, and Neo-Baroque influences that defined the citys turn-of-the-century elite neighborhoods.

Casa Botter now stands as both a monument to Istanbuls past and a lively center for contemporary art, design, and community engagement on stiklal Caddesi.

Author: Harper Simmons