Esma Sultan Mansion

The Esma Sultan Mansion (Turkish: Esma Sultan Yalısı), a historical yalı (English: waterside mansion) located at Bosphorus in Ortaköy neighborhood of Istanbul, Turkey and named after its original owner Esma Sultan, is used today as a cultural center after being redeveloped.

Esma Sultan Mansion
General information
TypeBrick
Redevelopment: Brick, steel and glass
LocationOrtaköy, Istanbul, Turkey
Coordinates41.047481°N 29.02745°E / 41.047481; 29.02745
Construction started1875
RenovatedRedevelopment: 2001
Governing bodyThe Marmara hotel chain
Dimensions
Other dimensions31.5 m × 27 m (103 ft × 89 ft)
Technical details
Floor count3
Design and construction
ArchitectSarkis Balyan
Redevelopment: Gökhan Avcıoğlu

History

The three-storey brick building was designed by the renowned architect Sarkis Balyan and finished in 1875 next to Ortaköy Mosque. It was presented to Esma Sultan, the daughter of Ottoman Sultan Abdulaziz, as a wedding gift.

The mansion remained in the possession of the Ottoman dynasty until 1915. The building was subsequently used first as a tobacco warehouse and then as a coal depot from 1920 until 1975, when it was destroyed by a fire.[1]

Redevelopment
A wall rug as interior decoration

The ruin, consisting only of the outer walls of the building, was purchased in the early 1990s by The Marmara hotel chain. Following a renovation with additions designed by architects Haluk Sezgin and Philippe Robert, the mansion was opened in 2001 as a multipurpose event venue. Within the brick exterior, which was left as the original, a steel and glass structure is incorporated. According to the GAD Architecture group, a redesign by the architect Gökhan Avcıoğlu was completed in 2005.[2] The building includes a bar, a restaurant, and an event hall at several levels.[3] The building is situated in a garden of 2,226 m2 (23,960 sq ft). The ground floor is 31.5 m (103 ft) wide, 27 m (89 ft) long and 3.80 m (12.5 ft) high. The first floor is merged with the second floor, having dimensions of 31.5 m (103 ft) wide, 31 m (102 ft) long and 6.80 m (22.3 ft) high.[4]

Esma Sultana Mansion, run by The Marmara Hotel chain as a venue for various meetings and conferences, offers banqueting space in a historical atmosphere for up to 1,000 guests in the garden, 180 guests in the ground floor and 330 guests in the first floor. Space for reception is available for up to 3,000 guests in the garden, 300 guests in the ground floor and 600 guests in the first floor.[5] The venue also hosts concerts of the Istanbul International Jazz Festival[6] and the Istanbul International Music Festival.[7]

Bosporus Bridge seen from the inside of the mansion

References
  1. "History – Esma Sultan". Marmara Hotels. Retrieved 29 June 2016.
  2. "GAD Architecture: Studio page, Gökhan Avcıoğlu". GAD Architecture. GAD Architecture. 17 October 2014. Retrieved 17 October 2014.
  3. "Esma Sultan Mansion". ArchNet. Archived from the original on 21 April 2012. Retrieved 24 November 2008.
  4. "The Marmara Esma Sultan" (PDF). Incentive Venues and Social Programmes. Archived from the original (PDF) on 5 March 2009. Retrieved 24 November 2008.
  5. "Venues - Esma Sultan". Moneta Travel. Retrieved 24 November 2008.
  6. "Istanbul Jazz Festival". Istanbul Tourist. Archived from the original on 23 July 2011. Retrieved 24 November 2008.
  7. "Istanbul Music Festival celebrating 35th year". Cyprus Observer. Archived from the original on 21 April 2012. Retrieved 24 November 2008.
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