When you think of Istanbul, do you think of Istiklal Street? This unique street stretching from Tünel to Taksim impresses not only with its shopping, entertainment and unique taste stops, but also with its historical structures. Casa Botter, which has been restored and is now open to visitors, is just one of them.

“Botter Apartment” or “Casa Botter” is among the symbols of the modernization of Istanbul. 150 years ago, the Botter Apartment, an elegant and elegant representative of Galata and Beyoğlu, which first felt the effect of Westernization, was built in 1900 by the sultan of the period II. It was built for Abdülhamit’s tailor, Jean Botter. Since Botter was not only the tailor of the sultan, but also his confidant and close friend, Abdülhamit gifted him a piece of land on the great street called “Cadde-i Kebir” at that time.

Designed as Botter’s sewing workshop, family home, and Istanbul’s first fashion house, the apartment is one of the first examples in Istanbul where a workplace and a residence coexist. Botter apartment, the oldest Art Nouveau building in Istanbul, was a building in which Architect D’Aronco took care of all the details, from the exterior decorations, stained glass, balcony iron to the elevator, and after its completion, the first fashion shows in the city were presented to Ottoman society, where examples of European fashion were presented. It is also famous as the building where it was built.

After Botter and his family moved to Paris in 1917, a shop selling porcelain dinnerware, crystal glasses, silver cutlery and knives, known as the “Eşya-yı Nefise-i-saire Store”, was opened in the apartment. After this shop, which left a deep impression on Beyoğlu’s memory, the building where the offices of various companies moved was also the address of Ada Yayınları, founded by writer Ferit Edgü and his friends for a long time.

After the extensive restoration project of the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality, this stylish and historical building, which greets the people of Istanbul as the “Casa Botter Art and Design Center”, will now experience a rush of events, screenings and meetings. You should see Casa Botter as soon as possible, which will serve as a common roof where designers and the culture and art world come together.

All you have to do for this is to leave The Aspera Golden Horn, your hotel in the heart of Pera, where the continents meet, go towards Istiklal from Galata and reach Casa Botter, which is very close to Tünel. Come on then, what are you waiting for?