Close

Review: “Bosphorus Private” by Nevbahar Koç in collaboration with İrem Kınay

Get lost in the pages of a good book—it’s the soul of any room.

Bosphorus Private

Istanbul’s Bosphorus strait – the bridge between the ancient Greek, Roman, Persian, Byzantine and Ottoman Empires – has always been a site that reveals the power and beauty of cultural dissemination. This new volume welcomes readers into the pleasures of living in this enchanting locale by revealing glimpses into the homes that set the stage for the lives of its residents.

Introduced by the lovely prose of Koç, this exuberant 280-page volume boasts 170 lush, beguiling illustrations of 19 residences that are as eclectic as their aristocratic owners. Throughout are quotes from the waterway’s devotees, and images that revel in the haunted beauty of the landscape.

“A lot of my designs would not exist if I had not looked so often, with such care and fascination, at this city of Ottoman glory,” says high priest of style Louboutin.

Alive with a lust for life and unabashed exuberance, this coveted volume is an escape for designers and creatives who recognise, as Heraclitus said, that “No man steps into the same river twice.” assouline.com

Bosphorus Private, Lifestyle on Istanbul’s Magical Waterway

Introduction by Andrew Finkel, original photography by Emre Güven

Curated by Nevbahar Koç in collaboration with İrem Kınay

Introduction by Andrew Finkel, original photography by Emre Güven

Assouline

The Latest

Treetop Sanctuary

The Ritz-Carlton’s intimate treetop retreat offers a rare invitation to connect deeply with nature and culture

Desert Counterpoint

In Summerlin, Nevada, Faulkner Architects and Concept Lighting Lab have revealed a desert home that withstands extremities

On Building to Last

We interview selected architects and interior designers to talk about balancing permanence and progress across their projects

The Culture of Quality

A conversation with Maryam Raeisi, Managing Director of HMA Living by Al Shamsi

What to expect at Feria Habitat Valencia

This year’s fair is set to take place between 29 September and 2 October

ARTDOM Expands to the Middle East

Daria Zolotova, founder of ARTDOM, discusses the brand’s upcoming first major art forum congress, being held at Riyadh on 11-12 November 2025

A Perfect Balance

A bespoke villa in Dubai Hills Grove designed by XBD Collective blends contemporary elegance with high-end craftsmanship

Soulful Sanctuary

Arch Home Interiors has crafted a boutique Pilates studio in Dubai Design District, creating an environment where movement meets self-care

Global Outlook, Local Presence

Henrique Dias, Principal and Middle East Hospitality Design Director for DLR Group, shares the firm’s growth journey in the region

Read ‘Greener Perspectives’ – Note from the editor – September 2025

Read identity magazine's September 2025 edition on ISSUU or grab your copy at the newsstands

identity Design Awards 2025 jury

Meet the judges for the identity Design Awards 2025

Five prominent designers have been selected to judge this year's milestone 11th annual identity Design Awards

Here are 14 Emirati women we admire in the design and creative industry

In honour of Emirati Women’s Day, we celebrate the visionary Emirati women in the industry that are pushing boundaries