a Bold Luxury Hotel on the Historic Golden Horn on the Bosphorus

Hospitality Net

20-05-2025

This June, design duo Dayna Lee and Ted Berner, with their design team at Powerstrip Studio, based in Los Angeles, will unveil their latest project: Aliée, a bold new luxury hotel in one of the most coveted spots in Istanbul - the historic Golden Horn on the Bosphorus Sea. Powerstrip designed this flagship of the new Aliée brand, which is set to be Istanbul's most luxurious hotel, offering an experience completely rooted in the destination and a design that captures the magic of a city straddling two continents.
Known for their cinematic and emotional approach to design, Dayna and Ted bring their blend of art direction, set design, and storytelling to Aliée. The couple, who have backgrounds in the motion picture industry as Art Directors, Set Decorators, and Production Designers, have brought this sense of drama and narrative to the project. The result: a hotel that is a bold and original take on Istanbul's dynamic intersection of East and West, with craftsmanship, tradition, and exotica woven through every inch of its design.
The site Aliée sits on has a rich history stretching back hundreds of years. It was originally built as Aynalikavak Palace, before becoming a prominent shipyard, and Ted and Dayna have incorporated much of the architecture into Aliée. Original stone walls - Roman ruins - have been left exposed blending harmoniously with the calm, muted colour palette used in the rooms and suites.
The 122-key hotel features 24 suites with unparalleled views of Istanbul's skyline and the Bosphorus with floor-to-ceiling windows that wrap around the entirety of the space. Rooms are designed for ultimate comfort, with private terraces for dining, fireplaces, handwoven silk Turkish rugs, and bespoke bas-relief headboards, creating a refined environment that reflects modern luxury and traditional craftsmanship. All rooms have separate dressing rooms and bathrooms with dual sinks carved from marble. The spectacular two-bedroom Presidential Suite has a glass atrium for indoor-outdoor living.
The Heritage Villa, a converted 600-year-old Ottoman hammam, embodies the same fusion of historical elegance and modern luxury. This impressive space features three spacious bedrooms, a kitchen, a fireplace, a spa complete with hammam, a wine cellar, and its own private pool.
Bringing some Malibu glamour to Istanbul is the impressive Aliée Swim Club. The lagoon-style natural pool, with views over the Bosphorus, seamlessly merges with an Olympic lap pool. The pool is flanked by beach bandas and an all-day dining restaurant. The gardens, designed by Ted, stretch along the sea's edge and feature meandering paths through perfectly manicured grass and landscaping.
The Well + Spa at Aliée, is built within old stone ruins over multiple levels. With light coming through from the glass roof above, the design is suited to both winter, where hanging fire bowls and spouts of hot water bring a cosiness, to summer when the sun streams in over the pool. The coming together of Western and Traditional is evident in the design and the wellness and longevity offering, which blends modern treatments with ancient rituals. Sleek treatment rooms are elevated above the pool. At the heart of the spa is a large, central pool featuring an intricate mosaic peacock design.
For dining, Aliée offers a distinctive experience through its Little House — an actual house built inside the lobby that has been designed to feel like an Ottoman home. There are roaring fires and cabinets filled with exquisite local pottery. Test Kitchen is a private dining space with a Chef's table.
On the top floor of the Little House is The Pink Bar, a vintage-inspired art deco space that evokes the elegance of an appointed apartment. The visitor's eye is immediately drawn to the walls featuring handmade, traditional Turkish painted wood. Pink Murano glass chandeliers and green velvet armchairs bring a sumptuous feel to the space.
The design narrative continues even in Aliée's walkways with intricate mosaics on the wall, water features, creeping wisteria and a retractable roof that opens and closes with the weather.
The hotel will also feature an impressive art collection, featuring some of Turkey's most notable contemporary artists.
Another surprising area is the retail space. Once a stable, it has been transformed into a stylish and sophisticated shopping spot that still nods to its equine roots, with stalls incorporated into the design and saddle-inspired seating.
The Golden Horn is one of Istanbul's most significant geographical features and an iconic waterway that has played a central role in the city's history for over 2,000 years. It has witnessed the rise and fall of empires, and its strategic importance has shaped the city's culture, economy, and politics throughout history.
With Aliée, Dayna and Ted have succeeded in creating a hotel that's anything but ordinary. It stands as a bold antithesis to cookie-cutter design, capturing a sense of originality and elegance that's uniquely its own.
Hotel website