BLG Capital has announced that Soho House Istanbul and The Peninsula Istanbul have received Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Platinum and Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method (BREEAM) certifications. Both projects join BLG Capital’s Galataport, a prime mixed-use commercial project on the Bosphorus that includes the world’s first underwater cruise ship terminal, earning LEED Platinum certification. These recognitions underscore a deep commitment to sustainability as a cornerstone of BLG’s unparalleled built experiences that deliver long-term investment growth.
The US Green Building Council’s LEED is the world’s most widely used green building rating system and certification provides a framework for healthy, highly efficient, and cost-saving green buildings. BREEAM is one of the world’s leading sustainability assessment methods for the built environment and infrastructure.
“Our main purpose across our current and future portfolio is to be sustainable to ensure the long-term health and wellbeing of our assets and the communities they serve,” said Giray Boran, Managing Director, BLG Capital. “In embracing that mission at both The Peninsula Istanbul and Soho House Istanbul, we worked meticulously to preserve the history and aesthetic of the original structures while building sustainable, resilient spaces for elevated modern experiences. By taking a sustainable approach that considers historical value, the results are two hospitality destinations that are true one-of-ones.”
Overall, BLG aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions on all of its assets and ultimately achieve net-zero emissions. The firm implements renewable energy solutions across its portfolio and improves carbon efficiency by implementing energy-saving technologies, optimizing HVAC systems, and upgrading lighting systems. BLG reduces water consumption by implementing water-efficient fixtures and technologies to achieve LEED or equivalent certifications, while also investing in water capture and reuse systems. From a waste perspective, the firm diverts construction and demolition waste from landfills, recycling, and minimizing single-use plastics across operations, among many other tactics that help future-proof projects and build long-term returns.
The Peninsula Istanbul is the second Peninsula-branded hotel in Europe, showcasing vibrant Turkish culture and superlative hospitality. It is in the historic district of Karakoy, along the Bosphorus waterfront, and is part of the new waterfront revitalization project of Galataport. The Peninsula comprises over 460,000 square feet of development and includes 177 rooms, various F&B outlets, an outdoor pool, a spa, a gym, a ballroom, and retail areas. The hotel spans four exquisite buildings, three of which are historic and beautifully restored. Guests can arrive by land or sea, and the hotel boasts an outdoor swimming pool along the Bosphorus waterfront, as well as a showpiece, a 25-meter indoor swimming pool surrounded by Marmara columns and lit by a series of dramatically illuminated overhead domes. The hotel’s rooftop restaurant Gallada is run by 2 Michelin star-awarded Turkish chef Fatih Tutak. The hotel has been lauded as one of the best new hotels in the world by a multitude of publications and organizations, including being named the top European City hotel by Travel + Leisure’s 2024 World’s Best Awards.
Formerly a U.S. Embassy building, Soho House Istanbul is a 225,000-square-foot mixed-use development in the historical Pera district of Istanbul. The property was originally designed by architect Giacomo Leoni in 1873 and is the first private membership club in Turkey. It features an 87-room luxury lifestyle hotel, multiple restaurants and event spaces, a cinema, a spa, a gym, and a car park. The Palazzo Corpi Building is a historic building that serves mainly as the Club House and is accessible only to members. The property includes Apheleia Restaurant on the roof, which is accessible only to members, as well as a public-facing private event space for hire, and indoor and outdoor seating areas. Cecconi’s Italian restaurant is located on the basement/garden floor and is open to members and the public. The Hotel section also includes a rooftop terrace lounge and The Allis café, which is open to the public on the first floor. Soho House Istanbul is a unique property that offers a variety of amenities and experiences for both members and the public.
