Before we start: Some introductory notes about the Istanbul apartments<\/a>
Galata\u2019s yellow star: Do\u011fan Apartment<\/a>
The first Art Nouveau landmark in Istanbul: Botter Apartment<\/a>
A century-old witness to Istiklal Avenue: M\u0131s\u0131r Apartment<\/a>
The magnificent atlantes of \u015ei\u015fhane: Frej Apartment<\/a>
History overlooking the Golden Horn: Deniz Palas<\/a>
A legacy reborn from the ashes: Tayyare (Harikzedeg\u00e2n) Apartments<\/a>
The sculptural fa\u00e7ade of Ayaspa\u015fa: G\u00fcm\u00fc\u015fsuyu Palas<\/a>
A symbol of transition from mansions to apartments: Ma\u00e7ka Palas<\/a>
First apartment buildings on the Asian Side: Valpreda Apartment<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Before we start: Some introductory notes about the Istanbul apartments<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n- The start of the conversion into apartments in Istanbul was marked by the 1839 Imperial Edict of Reorganization (a major step towards modernization in the Ottoman Empire) and the necessity of masonry buildings (stone\/brick) after the major fires in Beyo\u011flu.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- The first luxury apartments of the city were built for mostly Levantine families, foreign bankers, and Ottoman bureaucrats in Beyo\u011flu, Galata, and \u015ei\u015fhane regions.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Istanbul\u2019s first reinforced concrete buildings (M\u0131s\u0131r Apartment, Tayyare Apartments) were constructed at the beginning of the 20\u1d57\u02b0 century, becoming pioneers of modern civil engineering in the city.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- With their libraries, art details and famous courtyards, Istanbul\u2019s historic apartments shaped the social transformation of that time as well.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nGalata\u2019s yellow star: Do\u011fan Apartment<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n![\"The](\"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/dogan-apartment-yellow-courtyard-mediterranean-architecture-galata-istanbul.jpg\")
The inner courtyard of the historic Do\u011fan Apartment building in Galata, Istanbul, featuring a yellow facade, green wooden shutters, palm trees, and symmetrical balcony architecture<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nOne of the most iconic, most photographed and most legendary structures in Istanbul is Do\u011fan Apartment in Galata. This building rising in all its splendor on the Serdar-\u0131 Ekrem Street was constructed for Albert Helbig, a banker of Belgian origin, in Italian architectural style in 1894-1895. Initially known as \u201cHelbig Apartment\u201d, it became a favorite residence in Istanbul for foreign elites and diplomats of the time. This building stands out with its U-shaped plan, a ceiling height of 3.5 to 4 meters, green shutters and its amazing shared courtyard overlooking the Bosphorus. However, what makes it unique is not only its architectural elegance but also the hidden story in its name: This beauty was bought by Kaz\u0131m Ta\u015fkent, the founder of Yap\u0131 Kredi Bank in 1942. Ta\u015fkent decided to name the building after his young son Do\u011fan Ta\u015fkent who lost his life in an avalanche in the Swiss Alps.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The yellow building that has been home to so many artists and a natural film set for many cult Turkish films remains one of the most fascinating apartments in Istanbul. And it still defies time as the most prestigious monument of the shift toward vertical architecture. After you finish your walk on the Serdar-\u0131 Ekrem Street, find the hidden gems of the district from our blog post: The Heart of Dersaadet (The Gate of Happiness): A Memorable Day in Taksim<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Galata\u2019s yellow star: Do\u011fan Apartment<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nThe inner courtyard of the historic Do\u011fan Apartment building in Galata, Istanbul, featuring a yellow facade, green wooden shutters, palm trees, and symmetrical balcony architecture<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nOne of the most iconic, most photographed and most legendary structures in Istanbul is Do\u011fan Apartment in Galata. This building rising in all its splendor on the Serdar-\u0131 Ekrem Street was constructed for Albert Helbig, a banker of Belgian origin, in Italian architectural style in 1894-1895. Initially known as \u201cHelbig Apartment\u201d, it became a favorite residence in Istanbul for foreign elites and diplomats of the time. This building stands out with its U-shaped plan, a ceiling height of 3.5 to 4 meters, green shutters and its amazing shared courtyard overlooking the Bosphorus. However, what makes it unique is not only its architectural elegance but also the hidden story in its name: This beauty was bought by Kaz\u0131m Ta\u015fkent, the founder of Yap\u0131 Kredi Bank in 1942. Ta\u015fkent decided to name the building after his young son Do\u011fan Ta\u015fkent who lost his life in an avalanche in the Swiss Alps.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The yellow building that has been home to so many artists and a natural film set for many cult Turkish films remains one of the most fascinating apartments in Istanbul. And it still defies time as the most prestigious monument of the shift toward vertical architecture. After you finish your walk on the Serdar-\u0131 Ekrem Street, find the hidden gems of the district from our blog post: The Heart of Dersaadet (The Gate of Happiness): A Memorable Day in Taksim<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
One of the most iconic, most photographed and most legendary structures in Istanbul is Do\u011fan Apartment in Galata. This building rising in all its splendor on the Serdar-\u0131 Ekrem Street was constructed for Albert Helbig, a banker of Belgian origin, in Italian architectural style in 1894-1895. Initially known as \u201cHelbig Apartment\u201d, it became a favorite residence in Istanbul for foreign elites and diplomats of the time. This building stands out with its U-shaped plan, a ceiling height of 3.5 to 4 meters, green shutters and its amazing shared courtyard overlooking the Bosphorus. However, what makes it unique is not only its architectural elegance but also the hidden story in its name: This beauty was bought by Kaz\u0131m Ta\u015fkent, the founder of Yap\u0131 Kredi Bank in 1942. Ta\u015fkent decided to name the building after his young son Do\u011fan Ta\u015fkent who lost his life in an avalanche in the Swiss Alps.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The yellow building that has been home to so many artists and a natural film set for many cult Turkish films remains one of the most fascinating apartments in Istanbul. And it still defies time as the most prestigious monument of the shift toward vertical architecture. After you finish your walk on the Serdar-\u0131 Ekrem Street, find the hidden gems of the district from our blog post: The Heart of Dersaadet (The Gate of Happiness): A Memorable Day in Taksim<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n