The Battery – Private memberclub in a former marble factory in San Francisco: discretion inside and outside

What do you do if suddenly you are richer by $ 850 million? This question had to be faced by the British entrepreneur Michael Birch and his wife Xochi 2008, when they sold their social network startup ‘Bebo’ to AOL, which in England, Ireland and New Zealand was bigger than Facebook. The studied physicist and the business owner did not have to think long. Michael and Xochi love English pubs and bringing together people. And where can both be better united than in a private members club? How the Germans love their lives membersclubs, so love the English their club culture: apparently a genetic predisposition. Thus, the art-loving Internet-millionaires bought a turn of the century-factory in the Financial District of San Francisco, renovated the five floors, the new home of The Battery.

Livingroom and bar in The Battery*

Where marble used to be processed, The Battery has been living in the street of the same name near the waterfront with its piers for three years. An elegant club on over 5,000 square meters with restaurant, four bars, wine cellar, library, gym and spa as well as a courtyard with garden and 14 hotel rooms which can also be booked by me as a non-member. Just like the glass penthouse on the roof, which offers fantastic views of San Francisco’s Transamerica Pyramid and the Bay Bridge. The interior design of the former factory hall has preserved the old building elements such as visible redstone walls and steel beams and has been cleverly integrated into the interior concept. The American interior designer Ken Fulk is responsible for the successful, eclectic mix of boho, industrial and vintage styles.

One of 14 suites in The Battery: The interior design of the former factory hall has preserved the old building elements such as visible redstone walls and steel beam*

If it were for the owners, the club would be a meeting place for artists, philanthropists or even drag queens. In fact, the nerds and technology freaks of the Silicon Valley are lolling between plush velvet sofas and sweeping leather chairs in front of rustic wood paneling. Even Germany’s former Minister of Defense, Karl Theodor zu Guttenberg – now on the road to the Internet – is happy to make a reservation at The Battery. With an annual contribution of 2,400 US dollars, the club is probably not for everyone. Especially since future members must be nominated by an existing member and a committee decides who will be accepted. A procedure similar to the Soho Houses, a successfully established club culture also from the United Kingdom. Exclusiveness has its price. BvH

The Reception: Welcome to The Battery – you would say. I think the staff could be a little more friendly*

My „Battery“-Suite and my open suitcase…

… with design chairs from Platner

Pleasant luxury on 55 square meters

The rooms are equipped with nice details and high technology

Black-and-white photographs about the velvet sofa:

The Battery has its own art director, the German Thomas Moller, who is responsible for curating changing exhibitions and events for the club

Spacious bathrooms with Frette luxury towels and Molton Brown products pamper the guest

The library has an impressive ceiling lamp …

… and inviting leather sofas! The perfect cozyness

The Musto bar*

The green room*

In the restaurant 717B, leather armchairs and velvet sofas invite you to sit comfortably, on the walls art in gold frames and lamps by Serge Mouille

Contact The Battery:

thebatterysf.com

Pictures marked* from The Battery

Merken

Merken

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The Soho House with its white, neoclassical marble facade is chaped by circular arches and Corinthian columns

It’s like a fairy tale from 1000 and one nights, as if Scheherazade would tell her Sultan the story of the rich, Italian businessman Ignazio Corpi, who, in 1873, settled in what was then Constantinople. The successful shipbuilder from Genoa commissioned the architect Giacomo, Leoni , who built a splendid villa for Corpi and his family – the Palazzo Corpi. Soon Corpi, a charmer and womanizer, started an affair with the maid, who however took a bad ending: the young woman fell down the stairs of the magnificent staircase and died – under mysterious circumstances.

Staircase a with history and magnificent details

Corpi, whose family resided in the Palazzo for 40 years, wisely chose the Pera district in Beyoğlu, which was regarded as the European Quarter. Even today there are magnificent buildings of its European builders. Pera reflects, with its many small cafes, shops and galleries, the vibrant life of the city and has thrilled me. Istanbul is more than Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque and Grand Bazaar – which certainly includes a visit to the Bosporus metropolis.

From the roof terrace you can look at the Bosphorus and the Hagia Sophia

When Nick Jones – the founder of the private member club Soho House – saw the Corpi Palace for the first time, it was love at first sight. From this moment, he had the vision to establish his now 13th Soho House, which rooms can also be booked by non-members.

Oops, my camera has probably triggered by itself … at Soho House taking pictures is prohibited. Unfortunately

He carefully renovated the Italian palazzo, which, since 1906, was used as an embassy by the Americans and then as a General Consulate. Jones, the self-made hotelier – who started with a bar in London 20 years ago, dusted facade and interior, let the Carrara glow in a new light, freeing the native of the Piemont wood of doors and window frames of color layers. The wall drawings with their mystical Greek mythology-figures have been restored, as well as the impressive ceiling paneling and frescoes.

Also the bar of the Soho House in Istanbul is equipped with many domestic details such as Turkish rugs or ikat pillows

The Palazzo Corpi is by far the most impressive and most extraordinary of all Soho Houses. Here the club life of members and guests plays out on a total of three floors; whether at the bar, the restaurants ‘Mandolin’ and ‘Cecconi’s’ or by the pool on the roof terrace with fantastic views of the opposite Istanbul silhouette and the Bosphorus. Here I could doze all day on one of the daybeds and enjoy the view.

My room: Small but nice

Adding the adjacent building with its glass facade, the whole hotel is housed with 87 rooms, a spa and gym, a bar and , Allis’ – café where you can have amazing breakfast, also outside on the terrace.
The rooms are in a typical Soho House style; with a radio by the bed, books and a large TV. The carpets in the hotel as well as the tiles of the baths are Turkish handcraft. And the big rain showers are stocked with a great selection of ,Cowshed’ shower gels and shampoos – so I could choose a different fragrance every day.

The bathroom with turquoise, Turkish tiles … an extra lamp wouldn’t be unnecessary

A great selection of ,Cowshed’ products

Every day a different scent! I love the Cowshed products

Only the lighting concept at Soho House is a point of criticism: one needs a flashlight in the hallways to fish the room key out of the purse. And in the bathroom one needs a lot of imagination for makeup or shaving. And – at this point I simply have to say: you must not take pictures, in order to respect the privacy of other guests, a Soho House Law, which incomprehensibly also applies for the views from the pool terrace – but by no means this rule is followed by everyone.

Sometimes the bulbs flicker or the light goes out – as if by magic

By the way: It is being said that Corpi’s wife was not entirely innocent about the tragic death of her maid. She came behind the Liaison of her husband and pushed her rival, in a jealous rage, down the stairs. Since then – according to legends – the poor soul haunts in the house. Sometimes the bulbs flicker or the light goes out. For no apparent reason. Just because. BvH

The rooms at the Soho House are equipped with comfortable beds and seating areas. Wood, velvet and brass are used in many of the Soho Houses

The ‘Mandolin’ terrace: Turkish and European dishes are served all day

The Dining-Room. The wall drawings are really nice

View from my room into the leafy courtyard

Info:
Soho House is a group of private members’ clubs for people working in the creative industries. We have Houses in London, New York, Berlin, Toronto, West Hollywood, Chicago and Miami. Istanbul is our 13th, and there are more in the works.

Contact:
www.sohohouse.com

Soho House Istanbul
Evliya Çelebi Mahallesi Meşrutiyet Cad. No:56
Beyoğlu, Istanbul, Turkey, 34430
www.sohohouseistanbul.com

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