House of Zeynel Abidin Pasha Restores Its Silhouette Through Reconstruction Project

Project: House of Zeynel Abidin Pasha
Architects: Beysun Mert Architects
Location: Istanbul, Turkey
Photography: Studio Majo

Reconstruction of the House of Zeynel Abidin Pasha by Beysun Mert Architects

The reconstruction, interior design and finishing works of the House of Zeynel Abidin Pasha in Anadolu Hisarı were carried out by Beysun Mert Architects. During the reconstruction of the House of Zeynel Abidin Pasha, special attention was paid to preserving the collective integrity of neighboring water houses from the 18th and 19th centuries.

Beysun Mert Architects completed the reconstruction, interior design and finishing works of the House of Zeynel Abidin Pasha in Bogazici, Anadolu Hisarı, Istanbul. The destroyed main building was replaced with a concrete structure in the 1950s, which had nothing in common with the original project from the early 18th century. Beysun Mert Architects restored the house based on the original project of the main house named (Group Villa), thus ensuring integrity and similar texture with other water houses from the 18th–19th centuries on the Bosphorus.

House of Zeynel Abidin Pasha From Past to Present

During its initial construction at the end of the 17th and beginning of the 18th century, the House of Zeynel Abidin Pasha consisted of four separate buildings called Haremlik, Salamlık, Group and Mehtapli pavilions. The Mehtapli pavilion was located next to the Salamlık, while the Group pavilion represented a separate structure. Due to damages that occurred over the years, mainly due to several ship collisions with the complex, only the Salamlık pavilion remained intact. Urbanist and author Orhan Erdener explains the condition of this house in his book 'Bogazici Sahilhaneli' (Water Houses of the Bosphorus) as follows: 'The Salamlık area was destroyed during the Balkan Wars, when soldiers were stationed here. During World War I it was demolished by the owner who feared that soldiers would again be accommodated here and could cause a fire. After destruction of this part, the harem and salamlık were no longer connected; creating two separate water houses.'.

In his book, Orhan Erdener provides a detailed study of the construction date of the House of Zeynel Abidin Pasha, based on Ottoman imperial records and owners. Later, Zeynel Abidin Pasha, after whom the house is named, purchased these buildings in 1848. According to information obtained by Orhan Erdener from a relative of Zeynel Abidin Pasha, he bought the complex from the third owner, the main coffee roaster of Sultan II. Mahmud (Kahvecibashi) Kani Mustafa Bey. According to the architect Beysun Mert, the fact that high-ranking officials of the imperial court owned such waterfront houses is a good indicator of income distribution in the Ottoman Empire.

Zeynel Abidin Pasha, famous during the reign of Abdulaziz, did not play a significant historical role. The waterfront house he owned had a peaceful and tranquil past. After 1948, the same family continued to live here, expanding to four or five generations. Since the 1950s, ownership of the buildings was divided and the complex was broken into three houses: Salamlık, Haremlik and Group pavilions.

Integrity of Water Buildings Preserved

In the course of research, Beysun Mert Architects had a great advantage thanks to historical photographs since the location of the complex faces directly toward Rumeli Fortress. Since the invention of cameras, most tourists visiting Istanbul have headed to Rumeli Fortress for photographing the Bosphorus, meaning that the Group pavilion was present in most historical photographs.

Photogrammetric research was based on the obtained photographs. Remnants of the original foundation, found during excavations – confirmed by the local museum and archaeological commission – verified the proposed proportional dimensions of the study. The Salamlık pavilion, which remained in its original state, was also a great help for the restoration project.

After reconstruction, a residential function was proposed that corresponded to the original purpose of the building. The concrete structure, which was assumed to have been built in the 1950s, was demolished and the project for reconstructing this waterfront complex began.

Beysun Mert Architects, who led the reconstruction of the House of Zeynel Abidin Pasha, states that texture and integrity of 18th and 19th-century water houses are particularly important in this area, so all recent reconstruction projects of Anadolu Hisarı should be considered positive efforts to preserve the original identity of such historical buildings.

- Project description and images provided by Beysun Mert Architects