Silver Hospitality, Recreation, Travel and Tourism Design · 2025
Belmondo Suites Stay and Savor
- A' Design Award 2025 Silver Winner in Hospitality, Recreation, Travel and Tourism Design
- Awarded April 15, 2025
- CLIENT: Hilal Ustun Caner
- Estimated Number of Design Views: 67,026
- Verification code 0561CC75B9 · Verify this award
About Belmondo Suites Stay and Savor
This design seamlessly blends past and present, preserving historical elements while introducing modern functionality. It respects original architecture while integrating contemporary needs. Meticulous craftsmanship, thoughtful materials, and an intuitive layout emphasize comfort and aesthetic harmony. Interiors reflect neo-classical elegance, modern rustic warmth, and Scandinavian simplicity, with handcrafted furnishings and natural materials enhancing tactile depth. This approach creates a timeless, practical, and elegant space that honors heritage through refined design.
Hilal Ustun Caner's Belmondo Suites Stay and Savor presents a masterful integration of heritage architecture and contemporary hospitality design, wherein traditional stone construction methods dialogue with modern dining culture to create an environment of exceptional atmospheric resonance, the design demonstrates sophisticated understanding of how vernacular building traditions can be honored while accommodating contemporary programmatic requirements, achieving what appears to be a sensitive adaptive approach that preserves the material character of historic structures while introducing carefully considered interventions including timber pavilion structures that provide shelter without compromising the essential courtyard experience, the compositional achievement lies in the orchestration of multiple spatial layers from intimate covered dining through open-air gathering areas to the backdrop of preserved stone buildings, each zone maintaining distinct character while contributing to unified experiential flow, the material palette reveals disciplined restraint with natural timber, indigenous stone, and living plant material establishing an environmental coherence that feels simultaneously rooted in place and welcoming to visitors, the table setting program demonstrates attention to hospitality detail through quality ceramics, crystal, and linens arranged with precision that elevates casual outdoor dining toward refined experience, the preservation and integration of mature trees within the courtyard represents particularly noteworthy design sensitivity, these living elements providing not merely shade and environmental comfort but also temporal depth connecting present hospitality to long cultivation of place, the overall achievement suggests deep consideration of how designed environments can facilitate human connection and culinary pleasure while respecting architectural heritage, viewers might contemplate how the interplay of permanence in stone and ephemerality in seasonal foliage reflects the essential hospitality experience of temporary dwelling within enduring places.
Press Kit
- Unique Properties
- This design seamlessly blends the past and present, preserving historical elements while introducing modern functionality.Its unique strength lies in its ability to respect the original architecture while integrating contemporary needs.Key features include meticulous craftsmanship, thoughtful material choices and an intuitive layout that emphasizes comfort and aesthetic harmony.This approach creates a timeless, elegant space that honors heritage, distinguishing it from conventional design.
- Dimensions & Packaging
- The project encompasses four historic mansions, transformed into a boutique hotel with 30 uniquely designed rooms, two restaurants, a wine house, and a patisserie.The first phase, completed in October 2024, introduced 16 rooms within two mansions and the Belforno Italian Restaurant.This design harmoniously merges historical authenticity with contemporary luxury, preserving original architectural elements while integrating modern comforts.
- Tags
- Adaptive reuse, Traditional Turkish house, Boutique hotel design, Heritage preservation, Contemporary reinterpretation, Spatial memory, Unique design and bold contrasts, Eclectic material palette, Cultural storytelling, Immersive spatial experience
- Production Technology
- My design approach was rooted in a deep analysis of the historical layers, using a palimpsest methodology to preserve and reinterpret existing elements. I employed meticulous restoration techniques, retaining original wooden floors, slatted ceilings and stone walls while integrating handcrafted furniture and bespoke materials.The balance of traditional craftsmanship with modern production technologies, such as precision joinery and custom ceramic work, ensured authenticity and refinement.
- Design Challenge
- The core challenge lay in merging historical preservation with modern functionality. Adapting the building's heritage for contemporary hospitality required thorough research and innovative solutions. Structural limitations, legal regulations, and the creation of unique materials and spatial layouts that reflected the character of each area were key. This approach honored the spirit of each space, seamlessly bridging historical heritage with modern functionality, connecting the past and present with precision.
- Project Duration
- The project commenced in December 2022, with on-site construction work initiated in April 2023. The first phase, comprising 16 rooms within two historic mansions and an Italian restaurant, was completed in October 2024 and opened for operation in November 2024.
- Operation Flow
- The adaptive reuse of historical mansions in Kaleici into boutique hotel and restaurants creates a center of social life, serves as a shared space where guests can experience both hospitality and gastronomy in a setting reminiscent of the past.The continuity between open, semi-open and enclosed spaces allows visitors to engage with the historical structure in a warm atmosphere. All rooms is uniquely designed with handcrafted elements, respecting the original layout while ensuring modern comfort.
- Research
- We leveraged qualitative research methodology through site analysis,historical archives of traditional Turkish houses in Kaleici and interviews with past residents of the mansions.The objective is to strengthen cultural heritage,enriche hospitality experiences and set a model for sustainable,history-conscious design.Tools included sketches,3D modeling and material sampling.Insights revealed how layered histories shape spatial memory.
- Inspiration
- My inspiration stemmed from the multi-layered history of Kaleici, where diverse cultures have shaped its architectural fabric over centuries. Rather than imposing a singular design language, I embraced the palimpsest nature of these spaces, preserving their memory while seamlessly integrating contemporary elements.The balance of past and present guided my approach, creating an experiential dialogue between history, craftsmanship and modern elegance.
- Image Credits
- Main Image Credits : Semih Tiryaki Photography, 2024
Optional Image #1 / Credits : Osman Ozcan Photography, 2024
Optional Image #2 / Credits: Osman Ozcan Photography, 2024
Optional Image #3 / Credits : Osman Ozcan Photography, 2024
Optional Image #4 / Credits : Osman Ozcan Photography, 2024
Video Credits: Osman Ozcan, 2025
All images and videos presented in this project were created by Osman Ozcan and all publication rights belong to Hilal Ustun Caner.
Colors of Belmondo Suites Stay and Savor
Get Belmondo Suites Stay and Savor
Boutique Hotel & Hospitality Design Services
We transform historic properties and create bespoke hospitality spaces that tell compelling stories. Our award-winning approach blends heritage preservation with contemporary luxury, crafting immersive environments for boutique hotels, restaurants, and hospitality venues that resonate with guests.
G0E23 ShopDesign Interview about Belmondo Suites Stay and Savor
The design was driven by a desire to reveal the soul of a historic building without overwhelming it. I was inspired by the layers of time, the silence of aged textures, and the timeless elegance hidden beneath decay. The main principle was balance—between preservation and renewal, between memory and function.
My focus was to honor the spirit of the original structure while introducing subtle layers of modern elegance. I wanted guests to feel like they are stepping into a space where time slows down and memory is respected—not recreated, but gently revealed.
Since I’m not the owner of the property, I cannot directly shape its future. However, I truly hope that Belmondo Suites continues to offer unique and lasting experiences to its guests for many years. More importantly, I see it as a source of inspiration for future boutique hospitality projects—where design honors history, evokes emotion, and creates a deep sense of place.
The design process, including research, concept development, and detailing, took approximately 6 months. However, the soul of the project was shaped by years of experience working with historical sites.
The project was originally commissioned as a restoration of a historical building for boutique hospitality use. However, the concept grew out of a deeper inspiration—the emotional and spatial memory of the place. While the client provided the function, the soul of the design came from listening to the building itself. It was a collaboration between a clear brief and a personal interpretation of heritage, silence, and spatial storytelling.
The project is already realized and operated by the client. It is a functioning boutique hotel, and all design rights and implementations have been retained by the client with our studio as the design author.
Designing 30 different room and bathroom concepts, along with two restaurants, a patisserie, and a wine shop—each with its own distinct identity—was a serious creative challenge. I was driven by the urge to create something truly special at this scale, where every space would feel unique, intentional, and emotionally resonant.
Rather than being influenced by a specific designer or project, I would say this design is the distilled reflection of my 18 years of experience—finally finding its way onto paper and into space.
Belmondo Suites is designed for travelers who seek more than accommodation—they seek meaning, atmosphere, and a sense of place. It appeals to design-conscious guests who value authenticity and calm luxury.
It doesn’t imitate history—it converses with it. Belmondo Suites stands apart by its quiet confidence, its textural sensitivity, and its refusal to overstate. It’s not themed—it’s timeless.
“Belmondo” means “beautiful world” in Italian. It reflects our desire to create a microcosm of beauty, memory, and light inside the layered fabric of an ancient city.
We used a range of tools across different phases. AutoCAD was essential for technical drawings, while SketchUp and Lumion helped us explore spatial atmosphere and scale. Adobe Photoshop and InDesign supported visual presentation and storytelling.
Instead of creating uniform room types, I designed each space with its own identity—responding to its light, structure, and mood. This approach turned the entire building into a layered experience, where each room tells its own story. It’s not a hotel with repeating rooms, but a collection of unique spatial moments.
Yes—this project was a collective effort shaped by many skilled hands. I collaborated closely with a restoration architect to ensure historical integrity, and worked with electromechanical consultants for the seamless integration of modern systems. One of the most meaningful aspects was working with master craftspeople—particularly local woodworkers and stone masons. Their craftsmanship added authenticity and depth to the project. Each collaborator contributed a unique layer to the final design.
In a heritage project like Belmondo Suites, technology must be present but never intrusive. We integrated lighting, climate control, and infrastructure systems in a way that supports comfort without disturbing the authenticity of the space. The goal was to let the architecture speak, while technology quietly served it in the background
While the design wasn’t driven by data in a technical sense, it was deeply shaped by observation and contextual research. I studied the historical texture of the old town, traced the spatial rhythms of traditional Ottoman homes, and spent time in the building to understand its light, flow, and silence. This kind of intuitive, place-based research was essential in shaping a design that feels rooted and respectful.
There were multiple layers of challenge throughout the project. Structurally, we faced surprises—unexpected materials hidden under walls, floors, and ceilings that differed from the original plans. Being located in the old town meant strict time constraints and significant logistical issues, especially in terms of material delivery and installation. On top of that, designing 30 uniquely characterized rooms within a limited plan was both a technical and creative challenge. Still, it was one of the most fulfilling design journeys I’ve ever experienced.
After completing Belmondo Suites, I felt it was more than just a project—it was a narrative, a transformation, and a personal milestone. I wanted to see how this work, rooted in context and emotion, would be received on an international platform. It wasn’t about the award itself, but about seeing if a design built on subtlety, history, and atmosphere could resonate beyond borders.
This project taught me patience, humility, and the value of truly listening to a space. I learned to step back and let the building lead, rather than imposing a design too early. It also deepened my ability to work across disciplines—balancing architecture, interior design, restoration, and storytelling. Above all, I realized how powerful it is to create not just spaces, but emotions.
Only this: Belmondo Suites is not just a building—it’s an atmosphere. A quiet invitation to slow down, to reconnect with time, texture, and silence. And if that feeling stays with its guests, then the design has fulfilled its purpose.
Grand Interview about Belmondo Suites Stay and Savor
At Belmondo Suites, the core idea was never to compete with history, but to listen to it. We approached the building with great respect—studying its existing textures, proportions, and structural logic before any intervention. Instead of erasing what was there, we revealed and celebrated it.Modern functionality—lighting, infrastructure, climate control—was carefully embedded, almost invisibly, so as not to interrupt the spatial narrative. Every intervention was designed to feel quiet, timeless, and context-aware. The result is not a clash between eras, but a dialogue—where the soul of the place is intact, and the present respectfully integrates itself into the story.
Kaleici is a palimpsest of civilizations—Ottoman, Roman, Hellenistic—and each layer leaves a subtle trace. In designing Belmondo Suites, we treated each of the four mansions as individuals with distinct personalities shaped by their location, orientation, and original structure. Instead of forcing a uniform style, we created a shared atmosphere—a silent harmony through materials, natural light, and honest details.Cultural diversity was not masked but embraced. Local textures, aged wood, natural stone, and handcrafted elements anchored the project in its place, while bespoke design solutions ensured visual coherence without flattening the narrative. The result is an experience that feels layered, rooted, and yet gently unified.
The most significant challenge was reconciling the spatial limitations of centuries-old mansions with the expectations of today’s hospitality experience. Ceiling heights, uneven floor levels, limited natural light, and thick structural walls demanded creative yet respectful solutions.We designed each intervention with restraint—integrating modern comforts like climate control, acoustic insulation, and bathrooms without disrupting the architectural integrity. Materials were carefully chosen to echo the original textures, and wherever possible, existing elements were restored rather than replaced.Every solution was a negotiation—between old and new, visible and hidden, comfort and memory. This balance ensured that the building’s story remained legible, even as it evolved to serve a new generation of travelers.
We wanted guests to not just see the design—but to feel it. The selection of natural materials such as aged wood, handmade tiles, and local stone was driven by a desire to create spaces that evoke memory, warmth, and authenticity.Many furnishings were custom-designed and produced by local artisans, reflecting both the scale of the rooms and the spirit of the region. Every touchpoint—whether a textured wall, a carved headboard, or a linen curtain—was an invitation to slow down and connect.In an age of visual overload, tactility becomes a form of storytelling. These materials were chosen not just for their beauty, but for their ability to ground the guest in the present moment—gently reminding them they are somewhere meaningful.
At Belmondo Suites, spatial flow was conceived as a journey—one that unfolds gradually, just like the layered history of the site. Open courtyards invite daylight and breeze, semi-open galleries guide movement and offer glimpses, and enclosed rooms provide intimacy and pause.Some of these open and semi-open spaces were transformed into dining and social areas—honoring the building’s past function as a place of gathering. This reinterpretation bridges memory with modern use, encouraging guests to experience the spirit of communal living in a historical setting.The result is an immersive experience that doesn’t just reference history, but quietly allows guests to inhabit it—through movement, light, and spatial transitions that feel natural, yet deeply rooted.
The decision to preserve specific historical elements was guided by respect—for the memory of the place and the silent craftsmanship embedded within it. We listened to the building; original wooden floors with their natural patina, stone walls that had weathered time, and slatted ceilings that shaped the rhythm of the rooms all had a voice we didn’t want to silence.Modern amenities were integrated with extreme care, always secondary to the existing character. Where we added, we whispered—never shouted. Custom lighting, hidden systems, and restrained material choices helped bridge the past and present. The goal was not contrast, but quiet continuity.
Designing 30 unique rooms across four heritage mansions was both a creative challenge and a responsibility. Rather than forcing uniformity, we embraced the irregularities, traces, and asymmetries of the existing architecture as a guide.Each room was treated like an individual character—with its own rhythm, proportions, and light. We let the structure speak to us: a slanted ceiling became a reading nook, a narrow window turned into a focal point.Architectural authenticity was preserved by building around what was already there—not despite it. This approach allowed every room to feel distinct yet part of a greater narrative—one that respects the past while offering a fresh, lived experience.
Researching historical archives and listening to past residents were crucial in understanding not just the structure, but its soul. These narratives revealed how the spaces were lived in, what memories were attached, and how people used and related to them.Interestingly, each mansion once belonged to owners of different origins and cultural backgrounds—people who were not native to this land, but who had called it home. Their layered stories shaped our design intent: not to favor a single aesthetic, but to celebrate diversity.Rather than imposing one unified style, we allowed each space to reflect its past occupants’ spirit—sometimes subtly, sometimes boldly. In doing so, we preserved not just space, but memory, plurality, and identity.
Belforno was designed as a respectful reinterpretation of the traditional Turkish house’s connection with privacy, landscape, and material honesty. The restaurant’s architecture blends historical preservation with contemporary Mediterranean character.Natural stone and terracotta were used on the floors to evoke warmth and timelessness. Stone walls and decorative plasters were preserved and enhanced with elements that respect natural aging. Shading structures—functional yet delicate—helped reinforce a Mediterranean identity.One highlight of the space is the handmade ceramic tiles at the bar, especially the custom-designed leaf-shaped ones that flow toward the floor, creating a sense of fluidity and craftsmanship. Bold colors like glazed green and red reflect the Italian spirit.During landscape works, a Roman-era altar discovered in the courtyard was preserved with the Antalya Museum’s collaboration and thoughtfully integrated into the interior. Above it, a custom-designed slanted mirror was placed. The mirror added depth to the interior space of the restaurant and invited visitors to perhaps view the union of past and future through its reflection.Belforno is not just a restaurant; it’s a dialogue between heritage and today, crafted through materials, texture, and story.
Belmondo Suites Stay and Savor demonstrates that restoring heritage buildings does not mean freezing them in time, but rather letting them evolve while staying truthful to their character. I believe it will encourage future designers to treat history as a living narrative—one that can be reinterpreted with empathy, creativity, and boldness.One of the key takeaways from this project is the importance of listening to the building. Every layer, every material, and every scar has something to say. Instead of imposing a single vision, designers should reveal what is already present and amplify it with care.This project also showed us how handcrafted details and sensory elements can create a powerful emotional connection. Designers working on adaptive reuse should remember that heritage is not just physical—it’s also deeply emotional.