Tayyare Apartments
Tayyare Apartments is a historic residential complex in Istanbul that was later converted into the Crowne Plaza Istanbul Old City hotel.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
Tayyare Apartments is a landmark complex in the Laleli quarter of Istanbul's historic walled city. Designed by architect Mimar Kemaleddin, the buildings were conceived after the devastating 1918 Istanbul fire as public housing for residents who had lost their homes. Construction began in 1919 on land associated with the Laleli Mosque complex and was completed in 1922. The project was initially known as Harikzedegân Apartmanları, a name meaning Apartments for Fire Victims. It is an important early example of modern reinforced-concrete construction in Istanbul and is generally described as the first public-housing project within the historic walled city. The complex consists of four broadly symmetrical, low-rise buildings arranged around internal courtyards. The Turkish neoclassical design includes a ground floor, mezzanine, two upper floors and a roof level. The original development contained 124 apartments, shops and shared service facilities, including a laundry and coal storage areas. Its completion coincided with the final transition from the Ottoman Empire to the Turkish Republic, and the intended fire victims did not ultimately take up residence as planned. After the establishment of the Republic, the property was transferred to the Turkish Aeronautical Association, then known as Türk Tayyare Cemiyeti. This change in institutional association led to the name Tayyare Apartmanları, commonly rendered in English as Tayyare Apartments. The buildings remained residential until 1985, when they were leased for redevelopment as a hotel. The first hotel redevelopment was undertaken through an arrangement involving Göksel Marine and, later, Net Holding. A substantial restoration and conversion program transformed the apartments into a five-star hotel, initially operated as the Ramada Hotel and subsequently as the Merit Antique Hotel. Disputes over the lease and the financial performance of the operation led the Turkish Aeronautical Association to terminate the lease in 2003, and the previous operator left the property in 2004. A new leaseholder later arranged a connection with the Crowne Plaza hotel chain. Following renovation and a further transfer of leasing rights, the complex reopened on 26 May 2008 as Crowne Plaza Istanbul Old City. The hotel used three of the four buildings at opening and offered 265 rooms, restaurants, meeting facilities, lounges and a health club. Its location near the Grand Bazaar, Laleli Mosque, Beyazıt Square and other major historic sites made the restored complex part of Istanbul's established heritage-tourism accommodation market. The name Tayyare Apartments remains important as the property's historic identity, while Crowne Plaza Istanbul Old City is the later hotel operating name.
History
The origins of Tayyare Apartments lie in the urban destruction caused by a major Istanbul fire in 1918. Large parts of the old city, including areas around Cibali, Altımermer and Fatih, were affected, leaving many lower-income residents without homes. Ottoman authorities consequently supported a public-housing scheme in the Laleli quarter. Mimar Kemaleddin, one of the leading Ottoman and Turkish architects of the period, was commissioned to design the project. The Ministry of Foundations made available the site of the former Koska Madrasa, connected with the Laleli Mosque complex. The madrasa had already suffered damage in the 1894 earthquake and was later destroyed by fire. Construction began in 1919 and was financed in part through voluntary contributions from Istanbul residents. The completed complex, finished in 1922, comprised four similarly proportioned buildings arranged around courtyards. Its Turkish neoclassical character, reinforced-concrete structure and relatively modern apartment planning distinguished it from much of the surrounding historic fabric. The development included 124 apartments of three or five rooms, each with a covered terrace, together with 25 shops. Common facilities included a laundry, while individual coal bunkers supported domestic use. The buildings reached approximately 22.91 metres in height and were organized with a ground floor, mezzanine, two upper floors and a roof floor. The project was initially called Harikzedegân Apartmanları, referring directly to its purpose as housing for fire victims. Political change affected the project's original social purpose. The apartments were completed as the Ottoman Empire was coming to an end, and the designated residents did not move into the complex. In the early Turkish Republic, the property was transferred to the Turkish Aeronautical Association, then called Türk Tayyare Cemiyeti. The new institutional connection produced the name Tayyare Apartmanları, or Tayyare Apartments. The buildings continued to serve as residences for more than six decades. In 1985, the complex entered a new phase when it was leased to Göksel Marine for conversion into a three-star hotel. The proposed operator lacked the capital required for the project and entered into a partnership with Net Holding. Net Holding financed a much more extensive redevelopment, reportedly investing US$27 million according to the cited historical account, and the property was ultimately operated at the five-star level. The first operating identity was Ramada Hotel, followed by Merit Antique Hotel. Net Holding became the sole operator after acquiring Göksel Marine's shares in November 2000. The lease relationship deteriorated as inflation and currency devaluation changed the value of payments made in Turkish currency. The Turkish Aeronautical Association revoked the lease in 2003, and Net Holding left the premises in August 2004. In November 2005, Naz Giyim became the new lessee under a twenty-year arrangement. The company pursued a rebranding agreement with Crowne Plaza and began renovation work, although the complex remained vacant for an extended period. Leasing rights were later transferred to Dorak Tour in connection with the development of another Crowne Plaza property in Sultanahmet. On 26 May 2008, three of the four buildings reopened as Crowne Plaza Istanbul Old City. The restored hotel contained 265 rooms, meeting and boardroom facilities, atrium lounges, restaurants and a health club within a complex of approximately 25,000 square metres. The conversion preserved the site's historical architectural identity while adapting it to contemporary international hotel operations. Tayyare Apartments therefore represents both an early public-housing experiment in Republican-era Istanbul and a later example of adaptive reuse for heritage tourism.
- 2008
Reopens as Crowne Plaza Istanbul Old City
[1]Following renovation, three buildings reopened under the Crowne Plaza hotel identity.
- 2004
Previous operator leaves
[1]Net Holding vacated the property in August after the lease dispute.
- 2003
Lease revoked
[1]The Turkish Aeronautical Association terminated Net Holding's lease before its contractual end.
- 2000
Net Holding becomes sole operator
[1]Net Holding acquired Göksel Marine's shares and became the sole operator of the hotel premises.
- 1985
Hotel conversion begins
[1]The Turkish Aeronautical Association leased the complex for redevelopment from residential use into a hotel.
- 1922
Complex completed
[1]The four-building reinforced-concrete development was completed under the name Harikzedegân Apartmanları.
- 1919
Construction begins
[1]Construction of the apartment complex began on the former Koska Madrasa site in Laleli.
- 1918
Istanbul fire creates demand for public housing
[1]A major fire destroyed housing in several districts of the old city and prompted plans for apartments for displaced residents.
Products and positioning
A historically significant Istanbul architectural complex repositioned as a heritage-oriented five-star hotel in the city's old city.
Historic residential complex · 1922
Tayyare Apartments
The original four-building public-housing complex designed by Mimar Kemaleddin. Its reinforced-concrete construction, Turkish neoclassical detailing, internal courtyards, apartment terraces and commercial spaces made it a significant early-modern landmark in Istanbul.
Heritage hotel · 2008
Crowne Plaza Istanbul Old City
The later hotel use of the historic complex, offering guest rooms, restaurants, lounges, meeting spaces, boardrooms and a health club. At its 2008 reopening, the hotel operated 265 rooms across three of the four buildings.
Brand decisions
2008
Launch of Crowne Plaza Istanbul Old CityProduct launchBackground
After a lengthy vacancy and renovation period, the new lessee sought to align the historic property with an international hotel chain.
Action taken
Three buildings reopened on 26 May 2008 under the Crowne Plaza Istanbul Old City name.
Aftermath
The complex entered the five-star heritage-hotel market with accommodation, dining, meetings and leisure facilities.
2003
Early termination of Net Holding leaseStrategyBackground
The Turkish Aeronautical Association argued that inflation and currency devaluation had reduced the effective value of lease payments and that the arrangement caused financial losses.
Action taken
The association revoked Net Holding's lease before the originally scheduled termination date.
Aftermath
Net Holding left the complex in August 2004, after which a new leaseholder and a new hotel-branding plan were pursued.
1985
Conversion from public housing to hotel useStrategyBackground
The historic apartment complex had been used for residential purposes since its completion, but the Turkish Aeronautical Association sought a commercially sustainable redevelopment model.
Action taken
The property was leased for conversion into a hotel, beginning its transition into a hospitality asset.
Aftermath
The complex was redeveloped and operated successively under Ramada and Merit Antique identities.
Sources1 sources
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