Sea View Flat — Büyükçekmece, Istanbul

Büyükçekmece is the neighbourhood Istanbul is only just starting to talk about. Not long ago it was known mainly for its lake and beach — now, with the Kıyı İstanbul Marina project picking up pace, the area is drawing more and more attention. And it's easy to see why. A beach one kilometre away on one side, Lake Büyükçekmece equally close on the other. The E-5 motorway is literally around the corner, and Istanbul Airport is 32 km away. Close enough to feel connected to the world, yet far enough to come home in the evenings to somewhere the city stops making noise.

I remember the first time my clients stepped out onto the terrace of one of these flats. Silence, water in the distance, air nothing like the city centre. One of them said: "I had no idea Istanbul could look like this." That's exactly what this place does — it surprises you. A metropolis within reach, and yet the space to actually breathe is genuinely here.

The complex doesn't try to feel like a resort — it simply is one. The shared spaces include an outdoor pool, landscaped grounds with water features, a hammam, sauna, steam room, massage room and cinema. A playground, underground parking and round-the-clock security. You don't need to leave the city to unwind — the relaxation zone is right here, with Perla Vista Mall 4 km away and a trade centre 5 km from your door.

The flats have been designed with everyday comfort in mind — open-plan or separate kitchen, underfloor heating as standard, en-suite bathroom, terrace, steel front door, shower cubicle, laminate and ceramic flooring. An evening here after a long day simply works. Morning coffee with a water view, the pool in the afternoon, the city at weekends — that kind of rhythm makes sense.