A Garden In The Sky

A Garden In The Sky

In a chic bohemian neighbourhood on the European side of Turkey's biggest metropolis lies Witt Istanbul Hotel, an 18-room corner property decked out with retro furnishings, monochromes and modern luxury. To add to its already unique personality, designers, Aybike Zengin and Deniz Ucok – with the help of the hotel staff and a few volunteer guests – have now added a rooftop terrace with an ecospin on it. Design Hotels™ introduces Witt's new Permaculture Garden, offering guests a refreshing natural retreat high above the hubbub below.

It's rare to come into contact with nature in a city of over 14 million inhabitants, and in an effort to combat this, Witt has created a natural space for guests to relax on their 160m2 rooftop. The permaculture garden adds a new dimension to the meaning of 'retreat", as guests can order drinks up to the Cozy Sitting Area while enjoying the views of Bosphorus, Topkapi Palace and Galata Tower in a rare moment of urban escapism.

The garden is built on the recognition that communities all over the world face challenges such as food security, climate change, and difficult inner-city living conditions. It is a model of community-involved, sustainable agriculture, demonstrating urban sustainability practices like vermicomposting, planting for small city spaces, and micro-green cultivation. To achieve this garden, Witt Istanbul Hotel worked with Aybike Zengin and Deniz Ucok with backgrounds in landscape architecture and graphic design to achieve the garden. These designers brought their knowledge gleaned from working with Geoff Lawton and Nick Huggins – two experts in the field of permaculture – to the Witt Hotel, leading the collective effort to completion in May.

Roof to Restaurant
Along with its ecological benefits, this also ensures that the hotel's breakfast includes a refreshing mix of homegrown ingredients produced without artificials. Fresh strawberries for the fruit salad, raisins for the granola, lavender for the winter tea, arugula for the salads, and mustard herb for the herbal omelette are just a few of the ingredients used. Wicking beds are also used for irrigation, meaning less water is consumed in the rooftop-to-plate process.

About the Hotel
Located on Istanbul's European side in a chic bohemian neighborhood of eclectic antique shops, cafes, and designer boutiques, the Witt Istanbul Hotel occupies an unassuming corner building on a residential street. Owner and Istanbul native Tuncel Toprak chose the Witt's location in Cihangir for its connection to a charmingly authentic local community, which afford guests an intimate glimpse of everyday life in the thriving metropolis, without sacrificing style or comfort. Autoban, the award-winning Istanbul-based architecture and design firm, outfitted the hotel with an array of distinctly modern furnishings. Istanbul's rich history is reflected in the designers' use of materials, such as the Marmara marble of classic Ottoman architecture. Rates start at EUR 225.