Istanbul holiday accommodation, Turkey

The environmental movement is embryonic in Turkey. This apartment is a rare example of a small business in which environmental issues have been consciously addressed.

For each confirmed booking we take, we arrange for a tree to be planted in Turkey, to offset part of the carbon dioxide emission from the resulting flight. This is done through TEMA (the Turkish foundation for combating soil erosion, for reforestration and the protection of natural habitats). We also encourage our visitors to offset any additional emission via TEMA's web site.

During the renovation of the apartment we employed local crafts-people who showed sensitivity to the restoration skills that were needed for this unique building. In this way we feel we contributed to the restoration ‘skills pool’ in this location and encouraged appreciation of architectural original features. Central Istanbul has many beautiful old buildings that are neglected and on the verge of dereliction. We hope to have shown, in a small way, how valuable (in tourism) the assets of original features and a sense of history can be, and how commercially viable they may prove.

We preserved all the original building features and materials that we possibly could. This was particularly challenging with the chestnut wood window frames, which architects etc. wanted to replace. Our apartment is the only one we know in the area with these features sensitively restored.

Where new products were needed (bathroom and kitchen primarily), we sourced them locally and used items designed and made in Turkey. All new wood used (kitchen worktop and one restored doorway) was local. Antique furnishing has been used where possible.

We continue to use local maintenance and cleaning services, all of which we believe to be spreading the word. Our guests use local shops, restaurants and services for their daily needs, all of which encourages cross-cultural understanding. We supply reference books for context. We also encourage guests to use the fish and vegetables markets in the next street. The produce is local and seasonal. The family-run restaurants nearby also use this produce.

The apartment is uniquely situated amongst mosques, churches, synagogues, a mevlevi ‘whirling dervish’ hall and other sites of religious significance. We encourage guests to sense a history of religious tolerance and to (hopefully!) experience something of it themselves during their stay.

While staying at this apartment, the rest of Istanbul is completely accessible by public transport. We inform our guests of the tram, metro and ferry links, all of which are within easy walking distance.