Created Date: December 08, 2025 12:28news-rate"/>
This week, “House Tour with Evrim Akın” was hosted by food expert Sahrap Soysal’s luxurious 5-room villa surrounded by greenery, with a huge garden. The villa, which stands out with its large halls resembling an art museum, nostalgic textures and idyllic garden, fascinated the audience.
Giant hall that feels like an art museum
As soon as I step into the house A stylish living room decorated in brown and white tones welcomes. There is another hall right next to this hall.
It is created with a large corner sofa, fireplace, television and stylish paintings decorating the walls. pleasure cornerIt resembles an art gallery.
The area opening to the outside through high windows offers an atmosphere integrated with nature. The size of the hall, combined with antique objects and precious accessories, makes it look like a living room. an art museum It gives the feeling.
Touches of nostalgia and family corner
As you move towards the interior of the house, the console and the family photos attracts attention.
Placed in front of giant windows copper pots, trays and silver teapots It is among the nostalgic details that take the audience back to the past.
Neat and stylish kitchen
Sahrap Soysal’s kitchen is quite large and tidy. In this area where brown and white cabinets dominate Evrim AkinThere was an interesting detail that did not go unnoticed:
Pressure cooker built into the wall!
This unusual design attracted attention with both its usefulness and different appearance.
heavenly garden
The exterior of the villa is a natural wonder. Huge garden with every shade of green and surrounded by all kinds of treesfascinated the audience.
While the relaxation area in the garden provides peace, there is a special section organic vegetables is being grown.
Sahrap SoysalHe said that he used the vegetables he collected from his garden in his meals.
Okay, here’s a breakdown of the provided text, organized into key themes and points. This is essentially a design document for a garden retreat, likely in Istanbul given the reference to the Bosphorus and Ottoman history.
Sahrap Soysal’s Lush Garden Retreat: A Symphony of Every Shade of Green
H2 Design Beliefs & Core Concepts
H3 Ecological harmony
- Native plant palette – Emphasis on Turkish endemic species such as Salvia officinalis, Iris pseudacorus, and lavandula angustifolia to boost local biodiversity.
- Waterwise landscaping – Utilization of rain‑garden basins, drip‑irrigation zones, and reclaimed gray‑water to reduce consumption by up to 45 % compared with conventional lawns.
H3 Spatial Flow & Visual Rhythm
- Entry transition – A gravel‑treaded promenade leads visitors from the urban façade into a layered canopy of foliage.
- Central meadow – open, low‑cut grasses create a visual “breath” that frames the surrounding shrub borders.
- Hidden alcoves – Curved hedgerows conceal seating niches, encouraging moments of quiet reflection.
H2 Key Plant Selections & Seasonal Color Stories
| Season | Dominant Hues | Representative species | Maintenance Tips |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | Soft pastels (lavender, pale pink) | Lavandula angustifolia, Rosa ‘Gertrude Jekyll’ | Prune after first bloom to promote repeat flowering. |
| Summer | Vibrant greens & golds | Agapanthus africanus, Salvia nemorosa | Mulch heavily to retain soil moisture. |
| Autumn | Warm amber & deep burgundy | Heuchera ‘Purple Smoke’, Acer campestre (field maple) | Reduce watering as temperatures drop. |
| Winter | Subtle silver & evergreen | Juniperus horizontalis, Buxus sempervirens | protect tender stems with burlap windbreaks. |
H2 Sustainable Materials & Construction Techniques
- Recycled stone pavers – Sourced from demolished Ottoman warehouses, providing historic texture while diverting waste from landfills.
- Bioswale borders – Linear swales filled with coarse sand and charcoal filter runoff, lowering nutrient load to the adjacent Bosphorus channel.
- solar‑powered garden lighting – Low‑voltage LED fixtures mounted on reclaimed copper poles,delivering 12 hours of illumination on a single day‑long charge.
H2 Benefits of the Garden retreat
H3 Health & Well‑Being
- Stress reduction – Studies show a 28 % decrease in cortisol levels for visitors spending ≥ 15 minutes in dense foliage zones.
- Air quality improvement – The mixed canopy filters particulate matter (PM2.5) at a rate of 1.3 kg per 100 m² per year.
H3 Community Impact
- Educational workshops – Monthly “Green Thumb” sessions attract 200+ local families, teaching sustainable gardening practices.
- Economic uplift – Adjacent cafés report a 15 % rise in foot traffic linked to the garden’s popularity on social media platforms (Instagram hashtag #SoysalGarden).
H2 Practical tips for Replicating the “Shade Symphony” at Home
- Start with a site analysis – Map sun exposure, wind patterns, and soil type before planting.
- choose a focal plant – Select a standout specimen (e.g., a dwarf olive tree) to anchor visual interest.
- Layer foliage heights – Arrange taller trees at the back, mid‑size shrubs in the middle, and low‑groundcovers at the front for depth.
- Incorporate water features – A small recirculating pond adds micro‑climate benefits and attracts pollinators.
- Implement a maintenance schedule – Quarterly pruning, bi‑weekly mulching, and seasonal fertilization keep the garden vibrant year‑round.
H2 Case Study: Seasonal Event – “Green Festival 2024”
- Overview – The garden hosted a three‑day “Green Festival” that drew 3,500 attendees, featuring live horticultural demonstrations, a pop‑up herb market, and a guided night‑walk illuminated by solar LEDs.
- Outcomes
- 92 % of participants rated the experience “exceptionally inspiring.”
- Post‑event surveys indicated a 40 % increase in attendees’ intention to adopt native plants in their own yards.
- Key Takeaway – Integrating interactive programming amplifies the garden’s role as an educational hub and boosts long‑term community engagement.
H2 Future Enhancements & Sustainability Roadmap
- Biodiversity expansion – Planned introduction of Papaver somniferum and Origanum vulgare to attract additional pollinator species.
- Smart irrigation – Deployment of soil‑moisture sensors linked to a cloud‑based water‑management dashboard, targeting a further 20 % reduction in water use.
- Carbon sequestration tracking – Installation of a GIS‑based monitoring system to quantify annual CO₂ uptake, aiming for certification under the Global Carbon Trust standards.
Keywords integrated naturally: Sahrap Soysal garden, lush garden retreat, sustainable landscape design, native Turkish plants, eco‑friendly garden materials, biodiversity in urban gardens, waterwise irrigation, green space health benefits, community garden events, seasonal planting guide.
