KCA International’s design vision for JW Marriott Istanbul Marmara Sea • Hotel Designs

A member of Marriott International, JW Marriott Istanbul Marmara Sea is a five-star hotel, offering a seaside location within the Sea Pearl complex while being close to the city’s cultural, shopping and business district. With 201 guestrooms and suites, the hotel shelters a diverse collection of restaurants and bars, while the hotel’s spa offers luxurious holistic treatments from all over the world. Conceived by interior designer, Khuan Chew of KCA International and her teams in Dubai and in London, the hotel interiors showcase a contemporary look, letting the light of the Marmara Sea flood in while fusing the very best of sophistication, precision, and simplicity, with the warmth of Turkish culture.

KCA have chosen a theme of ‘water’ representing the Bosphorus as a source of life, the lifeline of Istanbul through the centuries. It is reflected in the typical Turkish symbolic blue, captured in many of the finishes throughout the hotel. With the city and the hotel being in the centre of civilisation, straddling Asia and Europe, KCA have taken inspiration from both diverse cultures in the various areas within the hotel.

The story of Istanbul is depicted as the guest walks through the entrance Sky Frame that is central to the entire architecture and takes the eye to the end with stunning views to the sea. The ‘flying carpet’ chandelier is a first and is the main focal point in this magnificent space as it drops down to the floor making a strong visual statement.

The F&B areas vary vastly, from a chic and contemporary Lebanese offering, to Turkish cuisines, to a very European Bar Lounge. The details are carefully designed to portray a more contemporary 21st Century take on relevant historical classical details, patterns, and motifs. Modern and eclectic dining choices also include a fine dining specialty restaurant, an all-day dining venue, a classical tea lounge, and sea front terraces. Each and every area has a meaning, a story, or a reason for being. For Chew, interior design is always key to a human’s relationship with space and therefore whether they are grand spaces or intimate ones, the attention to detail and scale is of monumental importance with the focus on the  guest’s comfort and approval.

Turkish hospitality is unique, and the stylishly lavish guestrooms and suites provide generous space and feature balconies either facing the Marmara Sea or the city’s skyline. From the colours to the textures, the entwining influences of both Europe and Asia are present in each space. The Marmara Sea shimmers into view thanks to KCA’s emphasis on natural lighting and a selection of stunning light installations, ensuring guests have a real sense of place each time they return.

The Function areas are again directly inspired by the life of the Bosphorus and connecting seas. It’s a celebration of the fishing tradition with the crystal hanging pendants and bar screens. Reflective metallic wall coverings representative of water and skies work in harmony, supporting and enhancing the scheme.

The Leisure and Spa areas offer a space of peace and tranquillity. The layering of forms is inspired by the travertine terraces of Pamukkale. The interconnecting, abstract tree mosaic in the pool area is representative of the five forests of Istanbul – everywhere in the design the surrounding natural environment is omnipresent.

Main image credit: Marriott International