Renovating in Ulus: View-First Villa Renewal on a Bosphorus Hillside (2026)
Set on the hillside above Bebek, Ulus is known for its quiet streets and sweeping Bosphorus views. In its villas and luxury homes, every renovation decision starts with the view and the slope.
2026-09-25 · 5 min read
Photo: Özgür Sürmeli / Pexels
On the hillside just above Bebek, with its quiet, green streets, modern villas and panoramic Bosphorus views, Ulus is one of Istanbul's most exclusive residential areas. Homes here were largely designed around the view and sit on sloping ground. Renovation in Ulus starts with a plan built around those two facts: the view and the slope.
Interior planning around the view
The most valuable feature of a home in Ulus is often what you see from its windows. When the interior is replanned, living spaces are oriented toward the view; for large glazed areas, slim-profile frames, low-reflection glass options and solar control are considered together. Lighting is designed so it doesn't throw reflections onto the glass in the evening.
Sloping ground: retaining walls, drainage and water
For homes on a slope, rainwater management and the condition of retaining walls are among the invisible but most critical parts of a renovation. Water coming from the uphill side can cause damp in lower floors and basements. Before renovation, drainage, retaining walls and waterproofing around the foundations are checked and, if needed, fixed before any interior work.
Premium finishes and systems integration
Villa and home renovations in Ulus often involve premium materials and integrated systems: smart-home infrastructure, central climate control, audio and security. Cabling and infrastructure for these have to be planned before surfaces are closed up — otherwise freshly finished walls and ceilings end up being opened again. That risk disappears when design, infrastructure and build are coordinated within one team.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Can insulation be improved without losing the view?
- Yes — slim, high-performance frame and glazing systems keep the view while cutting heat loss. We make recommendations at the site visit based on the existing glazing.
- Our basement is damp — could the slope be the cause?
- It could be — water coming from the uphill side is one of the most common sources. We check drainage and waterproofing to find the cause and plan the fix before any interior work.
- How is a villa renovation priced in Ulus?
- Scope, material grade, integrated systems and site conditions set the cost; the real figure comes after a free site visit — we don't quote one here.
Planning a renovation?
Free survey, written fixed price, contract and warranty. No obligation — see the price first, then decide.