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THE HISTORY HIDDEN IN BEYOGLU
Today's Zaman, Turkey
June 5 2014
(Photo: Today's Zaman)
June 05, 2014, Thursday/ 15:32:54/ GULCAN BA繼^IRKAN / ISTANBUL
Beyoglu has hosted a number of historic buildings for decades.
However, we are often unable to appreciate these buildings because of
the hectic nature of life. We are simply unaware of the architectural
beauty these buildings have to offer.
Those who visit the Yeditepe area will inevitably set foot in Beyoglu,
which hosts 襤stiklal Street, Taksim Square and Galata Tower;
this is a district of entertainment, culture and art. Every street
has a different and unique story. Beyoglu stands tall, despite the
rapid passage of time, with its theaters, cinema halls, restaurants,
hotels, old book sellers, malls and other urban assets. However, its
old apartments generally go unnoticed. Their architectural uniqueness
and unusual makeup is not noticed by the viewers at all. Though some of
them are still inhabited by regular residents, most of these buildings
are abandoned.
Suleyman Faruk G繹ncuoglu, an art historian, has the following to say
about these structures: 襤stanbul experienced some major changes in
architecture in regards to general residential buildings in the 19th
century. The architectural structure of the buildings was radically
affected by the increase in the number of Western people in 襤stanbul
after the Crimean War ended in 1856. The non-Muslim newcomers mostly
preferred taller buildings with triangular and gothic motifs. Images
and figures were placed outside of windows in these buildings to make
sure that evil spirits would stay away from the home. In the buildings
of Beyoglu, it is possible to observe traces of the ancient Greek idea
that a structure should defeat man. This is one of the reasons for
the buildings' flamboyant look. We also can see that balconies are a
point of interaction in the buildings and that they add vibrancy to
the exterior structures. The windows were built to be tall and the
bathrooms were shared by residents. Brick from Karaagac was used in
the construction of the tall stone buildings. Brick factories were
then built in Kartal and Maltepe.
Three famous passages of Rag覺p Pasha
Rag覺p Pasha, one of the favorites of Sultan Abdulhamid II, made quite
a fortune after he was promoted to vizier. He built three passages
in Beyoglu, named after the three continents where the Ottoman state
had established rule: Anatolia, Rumeli (European part of Turkey) and
Africa. The first of this trio was Rumeli Passage, made in 1890. The
Anatolian one was built in the neo-classical style and the African
Passage, made in 1906, was the first passage to include studio
apartments in Turkey. This passage was made into four separate blocks.
Dogan (hawk) Apartments
The Dogan (hawk) Apartments were made in 1892; the initial owners of
these renowned apartments were the Helbigs from Belgium. The architect
of this baroque building is unknown. There are 49 apartments in the
building, which are separated from each other thanks to its U-shaped
blueprint. French-style bars and two-piece guillotine windows are
distinctive characteristics of the building. Kaz覺m Ta癬_kent, who
bought the building in 1942, named the apartments after his son,
Dogan. The building also served as a venue for a number of film
productions.
M覺s覺r (Egypt) Apartments
One of the first concrete buildings, the M覺s覺r (Egypt) Apartments
were constructed by Egyptian Governor Abbas Halim Pasha in 1870. Hovsep
Aznavuryan, an Armenian, was the architect of the building, which
was used by Halim Pasha during winter. Most of the materials used in
its making were brought from France; the building, whose front faces
襤stiklal Street, grabs ones attention with its gorgeous balconies,
lounges, statutes on the facade and large windows on the first floors.
The building, standing adjacent to the Catholic Church of St. Antoine,
was transformed from a mansion into an apartment complex. The
apartments were leased as residential houses and offices. The building
hosted a number of celebrities, including famous Turkish poet Mehmet
Akif Ersoy.
Narmanl覺 Han
Narmanl覺 Han welcomes you when you turn onto 襤stiklal Street.
Commissioned by the Russians as an embassy building in 1831, the
building was made by Giusseppe Fossatti, who also restored the Hagia
Sophia. Narmanl覺's architectural design is different from other
buildings on 襤stiklal Street. It sits in a large area; until the
construction of the Russian Consulate building, Narmanl覺 Han served
as an embassy residence and a prison as well. In 1933, it was sold
to the brothers Avni and S覺tk覺 Narmanl覺, who leased the building
to artists.
The tenants in the building included famous poets and writers including
Ahmet Hamdi Tanp覺nar, Bedri Rahmi Eyupoglu and Aliye Berger.
Botter Han
If you see a building adorned with interesting flower motives while
walking down 襤stiklal Street, you are seeing Botter Han. One of the
things that makes this place interesting is that it was the first
fashion house in Turkey. The building was commissioned by Jean Botter,
Sultan Abdulhamid II's tailor, and it was made by the famous architect
Raimondo Tommaso D'Aronco, who used tulips and roses in the exterior
design of the building very generously. The building, an initial
example of art nouveau in 襤stanbul, was adorned with work akin to
the style of the Vienna Sessation. Opened in 1901, the lower parts
of the building served as a fashion house and the upper parts were
designed to be leased. Botter, who was influential in Ottoman fashion
for three decades, moved to Paris after the fall of Abdulhamid II.
Aleppo Passage
The Aleppo Passage, which hosts theaters, cinema halls and stores,
was made by the Hacar family, who were from Aleppo, in 1885. It is
also known as Beyoglu Passage, named after the Beyoglu Movie Theater
in the lower floor of the building. Sureyya 襤lmen Pasha bought the
building in 1920. The Pera Circus, which was next to the building,
was destroyed in a fire. Afterward, Campanaki, a Greek architect,
built a theatre next door: the Varyete Theater. The Aleppo passage
was demolished, except its front. It still remains, reflecting what
was once there.
Hidivyal Palace
Hidiv, which literally means chief vizier in Arabic, was the official
title of the Ottoman governors appointed in Egypt. Hidivyal Palace
was owned by one of these governors' families. The building, made in
1841, was used as a hotel for a long time. The palace, the first hotel
where European motifs and tones were used in Turkey, was converted
into a passage used for business in 1950.
Atlas Passage
Situated opposite Aleppo Passage, Atlas Passage hosts the famous Atlas
Movie Theater. The building was owned by Armenian banker Agop K繹ceyan.
It was first built as a family mansion. The ground floor of the
building was once used as a stable for horses. The building is made
of stone and cast iron and has been modified significantly over time.
http://www.todayszaman.com/news-349628-the-history-hidden-in-beyoglu.html
Today's Zaman, Turkey
June 5 2014
(Photo: Today's Zaman)
June 05, 2014, Thursday/ 15:32:54/ GULCAN BA繼^IRKAN / ISTANBUL
Beyoglu has hosted a number of historic buildings for decades.
However, we are often unable to appreciate these buildings because of
the hectic nature of life. We are simply unaware of the architectural
beauty these buildings have to offer.
Those who visit the Yeditepe area will inevitably set foot in Beyoglu,
which hosts 襤stiklal Street, Taksim Square and Galata Tower;
this is a district of entertainment, culture and art. Every street
has a different and unique story. Beyoglu stands tall, despite the
rapid passage of time, with its theaters, cinema halls, restaurants,
hotels, old book sellers, malls and other urban assets. However, its
old apartments generally go unnoticed. Their architectural uniqueness
and unusual makeup is not noticed by the viewers at all. Though some of
them are still inhabited by regular residents, most of these buildings
are abandoned.
Suleyman Faruk G繹ncuoglu, an art historian, has the following to say
about these structures: 襤stanbul experienced some major changes in
architecture in regards to general residential buildings in the 19th
century. The architectural structure of the buildings was radically
affected by the increase in the number of Western people in 襤stanbul
after the Crimean War ended in 1856. The non-Muslim newcomers mostly
preferred taller buildings with triangular and gothic motifs. Images
and figures were placed outside of windows in these buildings to make
sure that evil spirits would stay away from the home. In the buildings
of Beyoglu, it is possible to observe traces of the ancient Greek idea
that a structure should defeat man. This is one of the reasons for
the buildings' flamboyant look. We also can see that balconies are a
point of interaction in the buildings and that they add vibrancy to
the exterior structures. The windows were built to be tall and the
bathrooms were shared by residents. Brick from Karaagac was used in
the construction of the tall stone buildings. Brick factories were
then built in Kartal and Maltepe.
Three famous passages of Rag覺p Pasha
Rag覺p Pasha, one of the favorites of Sultan Abdulhamid II, made quite
a fortune after he was promoted to vizier. He built three passages
in Beyoglu, named after the three continents where the Ottoman state
had established rule: Anatolia, Rumeli (European part of Turkey) and
Africa. The first of this trio was Rumeli Passage, made in 1890. The
Anatolian one was built in the neo-classical style and the African
Passage, made in 1906, was the first passage to include studio
apartments in Turkey. This passage was made into four separate blocks.
Dogan (hawk) Apartments
The Dogan (hawk) Apartments were made in 1892; the initial owners of
these renowned apartments were the Helbigs from Belgium. The architect
of this baroque building is unknown. There are 49 apartments in the
building, which are separated from each other thanks to its U-shaped
blueprint. French-style bars and two-piece guillotine windows are
distinctive characteristics of the building. Kaz覺m Ta癬_kent, who
bought the building in 1942, named the apartments after his son,
Dogan. The building also served as a venue for a number of film
productions.
M覺s覺r (Egypt) Apartments
One of the first concrete buildings, the M覺s覺r (Egypt) Apartments
were constructed by Egyptian Governor Abbas Halim Pasha in 1870. Hovsep
Aznavuryan, an Armenian, was the architect of the building, which
was used by Halim Pasha during winter. Most of the materials used in
its making were brought from France; the building, whose front faces
襤stiklal Street, grabs ones attention with its gorgeous balconies,
lounges, statutes on the facade and large windows on the first floors.
The building, standing adjacent to the Catholic Church of St. Antoine,
was transformed from a mansion into an apartment complex. The
apartments were leased as residential houses and offices. The building
hosted a number of celebrities, including famous Turkish poet Mehmet
Akif Ersoy.
Narmanl覺 Han
Narmanl覺 Han welcomes you when you turn onto 襤stiklal Street.
Commissioned by the Russians as an embassy building in 1831, the
building was made by Giusseppe Fossatti, who also restored the Hagia
Sophia. Narmanl覺's architectural design is different from other
buildings on 襤stiklal Street. It sits in a large area; until the
construction of the Russian Consulate building, Narmanl覺 Han served
as an embassy residence and a prison as well. In 1933, it was sold
to the brothers Avni and S覺tk覺 Narmanl覺, who leased the building
to artists.
The tenants in the building included famous poets and writers including
Ahmet Hamdi Tanp覺nar, Bedri Rahmi Eyupoglu and Aliye Berger.
Botter Han
If you see a building adorned with interesting flower motives while
walking down 襤stiklal Street, you are seeing Botter Han. One of the
things that makes this place interesting is that it was the first
fashion house in Turkey. The building was commissioned by Jean Botter,
Sultan Abdulhamid II's tailor, and it was made by the famous architect
Raimondo Tommaso D'Aronco, who used tulips and roses in the exterior
design of the building very generously. The building, an initial
example of art nouveau in 襤stanbul, was adorned with work akin to
the style of the Vienna Sessation. Opened in 1901, the lower parts
of the building served as a fashion house and the upper parts were
designed to be leased. Botter, who was influential in Ottoman fashion
for three decades, moved to Paris after the fall of Abdulhamid II.
Aleppo Passage
The Aleppo Passage, which hosts theaters, cinema halls and stores,
was made by the Hacar family, who were from Aleppo, in 1885. It is
also known as Beyoglu Passage, named after the Beyoglu Movie Theater
in the lower floor of the building. Sureyya 襤lmen Pasha bought the
building in 1920. The Pera Circus, which was next to the building,
was destroyed in a fire. Afterward, Campanaki, a Greek architect,
built a theatre next door: the Varyete Theater. The Aleppo passage
was demolished, except its front. It still remains, reflecting what
was once there.
Hidivyal Palace
Hidiv, which literally means chief vizier in Arabic, was the official
title of the Ottoman governors appointed in Egypt. Hidivyal Palace
was owned by one of these governors' families. The building, made in
1841, was used as a hotel for a long time. The palace, the first hotel
where European motifs and tones were used in Turkey, was converted
into a passage used for business in 1950.
Atlas Passage
Situated opposite Aleppo Passage, Atlas Passage hosts the famous Atlas
Movie Theater. The building was owned by Armenian banker Agop K繹ceyan.
It was first built as a family mansion. The ground floor of the
building was once used as a stable for horses. The building is made
of stone and cast iron and has been modified significantly over time.
http://www.todayszaman.com/news-349628-the-history-hidden-in-beyoglu.html