Nothing gives us greater pleasure here at We Heart than when a fledgeling project we’ve featured goes on to be a roaring success, (mainly so we can say “we told you so”) and that’s exactly what’s happening to Mama Shelter. Since we first featured the company’s Paris venue in 2009, Mama has expanded her French brood of stylish hotels to Marseille and Lyon; and has now branched out further afield into Turkey – Istanbul to be exact.
One of Mama Shelter’s founders, Jérémie Trigano, lived in the city for 10 years, and has returned with his partner to a city he loves, uniquely situated on the Bosphorous that marks the division of Asia and Europe. One of the districts that best embodies the convergence of the two elements is Beyoglu, and it is here that Mama has given birth to (or should that be laid, judging by the company branding?) her latest offspring. Phillipe Starck lent his design spunk to the creation, delivering a very modern and cliché-free, cool and colourful baby – although proclaiming to reference the ancient city itself may be a stretch too far… the expanding chain is rapidly forging its own house style. Here’s hoping Mama isn’t done getting laid yet.
Photography, Francis Amiand
