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The Tayyare Apartments (initially ota, Harikzedegân Apartmanları, script=Latn or later tr, Tayyare Apartmanları) are a complex of four buildings designed by Turkish architect Mimar Kemaleddin, completed in 1922 and located in the old city of Istanbul, Turkey. The apartments were originally built as public housing for the victims of a great fire, converted later into hotel premises. Formerly Ramada Hotel and then Merit Antique Hotel, the complex is currently a five star hotel of the Crowne Plaza, Crowne Plaza Hotels & Resorts chain named Crowne Plaza Istanbul Old City.
In 1985, the historical complex was leased to Göksel Marine company for a term of twenty years to be converted into a Hotel rating, three-star hotel. However, the lessee could not afford the financial resources needed, and formed a partnership with the tourism company Net Holding. After spending US$27 million, Net Holding redeveloped Tayyare Apartments transforming them into a Hotel rating, five-star hotel. The project was led by architect Erdem Ertunga. The company operated the premises in the beginning under the name "Ramada Hotel" and later as "Merit Antique Hotel".
In November 2000, Net Holding purchased the shares of Göksel Marine and became the sole operator. Due to financial problems with Net Holding, however, the THK revoked the lease in 2003, four years before the legal termination of the contract. The THK argued with financial loss due to the payment of the annual lease in Turkish lira, Turkish currency that was affected by devaluation under high-inflation in those years. In the beginning, annual lease of 400 million were equivalent to US$760,000. However, in 2003 the equivalent value in US dollars were only 30,000, while the lessee was earning at the same time US$800,000 from the sublease of twelve stores under the hotel, claimed the THK. Net Holding was forced to move out in August 2004. In November 2005, the textile company Naz Giyim became the new lessee at an annual payment of US$3 million for a lease period of twenty years.
File:Tayyare_Apts_1.jpg, Tayyare Apartments seen from east
File:Tayyare_Apts_4.jpg, Inside view of staircase and balconies
File:Tayyare Apts 5.jpg, Atrium café of Crowne Plaza Hotel Istanbul Old City (Tayyare Apartments)
Ottoman architecture in Istanbul
Neoclassical architecture in Turkey
Residential buildings completed in 1922
Buildings and structures of the Ottoman Empire
Apartment buildings
Redevelopment projects in Istanbul
Hotels in Istanbul
Hotels established in 1985
1985 establishments in Turkey
Hotels established in 2006
2006 establishments in Turkey
Crowne Plaza hotels
Fatih
First Turkish National architecture
Mimar Kemaleddin buildings
The Tayyare Apartments (initially ota, Harikzedegân Apartmanları, script=Latn or later tr, Tayyare Apartmanları) are a complex of four buildings designed by Turkish architect Mimar Kemaleddin, completed in 1922 and located in the old city of Istanbul, Turkey. The apartments were originally built as public housing for the victims of a great fire, converted later into hotel premises. Formerly Ramada Hotel and then Merit Antique Hotel, the complex is currently a five star hotel of the Crowne Plaza, Crowne Plaza Hotels & Resorts chain named Crowne Plaza Istanbul Old City.
History
Tayyare Apartments
In 1918, a great fire destroyed numerous buildings in wide areas at the old city of Istanbul, mainly in neighborhoods of Cibali, Altımermer, Istanbul, Altımermer and Fatih. Plans were made to construct residential buildings at least for a part of low-income fire victims, who had lost their houses. Renowned Turkish architect Mimar Kemaleddin Bey, Kemaleddin Bey (1870-1927) was commissioned with the task to develop apartments in Fatih#Some parts of Fatih, Laleli quarter. Ottoman Ministry of Foundations donated the empty ground of Koska Madrasa, which belonged to Laleli Mosque's Complex, and was partly destroyed by the 1894 Istanbul earthquake and then burnt down in 1911. The construction, financed by voluntarily donations from residents of Istanbul, began in 1919 and was completed in 1922. Styled in Architecture of Turkey#1920s to early 1930s: First national architectural movement, Turkish neoclassical architecture, the low-rise structure consists of a ground floor, a mezzanine and two floors topped with a roof floor reaching a total height of . The complex consists of four symmetrical, equal-sized quadratic buildings separated by atrium (architecture), atriums, all forming a block. Tayyare Apartments were the first modern buildings constructed in reinforced concrete, and the first public housing project within the walled old city of Istanbul. There were a total of 124 apartments with three or five rooms and covered terrace, 25 shops and in addition laundrette for common use, as well as coal bunkers for each apartment. The building complex was called initially "Harikzedegân Apartmanları" meaning "Apartments for Fire Victims". The completion of the complex coincided with the abolition of the Ottoman Sultanate, ending of the Ottoman Empire, and the designated lodgers could not move in. After the apartments were transferred to the Turkish Aeronautical Association (formerly tr, Türk Tayyare Cemiyeti, now tr, Türk Hava Kurumu, THK) in the newly founded Republic, they were renamed "Tayyare Apartmanları" meaning "Aircraft Apartments". The apartments were used for residential purposes only until 1985. Tayyare Apartments are situated between Beyazıt Square and Aksaray, Istanbul, Aksaray in Ordu Cad. (Ordu Caddesi) next to the 18th-century Laleli Mosque.Redevelopment as hotel
In 1985, the historical complex was leased to Göksel Marine company for a term of twenty years to be converted into a Hotel rating, three-star hotel. However, the lessee could not afford the financial resources needed, and formed a partnership with the tourism company Net Holding. After spending US$27 million, Net Holding redeveloped Tayyare Apartments transforming them into a Hotel rating, five-star hotel. The project was led by architect Erdem Ertunga. The company operated the premises in the beginning under the name "Ramada Hotel" and later as "Merit Antique Hotel".
In November 2000, Net Holding purchased the shares of Göksel Marine and became the sole operator. Due to financial problems with Net Holding, however, the THK revoked the lease in 2003, four years before the legal termination of the contract. The THK argued with financial loss due to the payment of the annual lease in Turkish lira, Turkish currency that was affected by devaluation under high-inflation in those years. In the beginning, annual lease of 400 million were equivalent to US$760,000. However, in 2003 the equivalent value in US dollars were only 30,000, while the lessee was earning at the same time US$800,000 from the sublease of twelve stores under the hotel, claimed the THK. Net Holding was forced to move out in August 2004. In November 2005, the textile company Naz Giyim became the new lessee at an annual payment of US$3 million for a lease period of twenty years.
Crowne Plaza Istanbul Old City
Naz Textile signed an agreement with Crowne Plaza chain to rebrand the hotel, and began with renovation work. It was planned to open the hotel end 2006. Meanwhile, the company built a new hotel of the Crowne Plaza chain in the historical Sultanahmet quarter, and transferred the leasing rights on the Tayyare Apartments to the company Dorak Tour for euro sign, €25 million, reportedly. On May 26, 2008, after standing vacant almost three years long for renovation work, the complex opened its doors in three of the four buildings, rebranded as the five-star Crowne Plaza Hotel Istanbul Old City. Having a total floor area of , the hotel consists of 265 deluxe rooms, a Very Important Person, VIP lounge, executive boardrooms, three meeting rooms, atrium lounges for 70-150 people, two restaurants of Turkish cuisine, Turkish and international cuisine and a health club. The hotel is situated in walking distance from historical sites like Grand Bazaar, Istanbul, Grand Bazaar, Topkapı Palace, Sultan Ahmed Mosque, Blue Mosque and many other tourist attractions in the old city. The distance to Taksim Square is and to the Atatürk International Airport .References
External links
*{{cite book, url=http://www.otelcenneti.com/merit-sahmaran-hotel.html , title=Harikzedegan'dan Merit Antique'e Tayyare Apartmanları / Otel Merit Antique: Geçmişi ve Bugünü , author=Türkoğlu, Sabahattin , publisher=NET Şirketler Grubu , language=Turkish , pages=64 , year=1998 , location=Istanbul , isbn=978-9944453738 , accessdate=2013-02-25Image gallery