Art Nouveau in Istanbul

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Istanbul is a city that architecturally enchants you, takes control of you and opens your mind and heart. Probably she is the most westerner of the east...

She is stuck in between departing the east and approaching to the west under the influence of Art Nouveau movement at the intersection point of history and the Republic. Istanbul nestles the tale of two cities. One is a city settled in a harbour in the middle of history and royalty; the other, settled above, new, blithe, blending the historical texture with modernity... This city with her two facets, takes the visitors as well as her dwellers in her hands, and opens their minds and hearts in a very short time.
New Art: ‘Art Nouveau’, ‘Modern Style’, ‘Stile Floreale’, ‘Secessionsstil’
Art Nouveau appears with the motto ‘Art for everyone, art everywhere’ in Europe in the end of 19th century and in the beginning of 20th century. This movement, enduring about 25 years, leaves profound traces on the social and cultural life of Istanbul along with Europe. Art Nouveau, finding its inspirations predominantly in Japanese culture, also biases architecture with flower ornaments and linear layout.
The first encounter of Istanbul with Art Nouveau coincides with the period when the Ottoman Empire dallied with the West, and endures up to mid-1920s. In this change, the role of the great fire in 1870 primarily affecting Beyoğlu figures large. After the fire in which 8 thousand buildings were turned to ashes, in 1871, the constructions launches with a new set out. Land prices in Beyoğlu rises and the district becomes the residential area of the prosperous Istanbul dwellers. Thus, the status of the area changes and it starts to transform into a European city. The construction of the glorious buildings completes almost at the end of the century. Theatres, schools belonging to Levantines or foreigners, churches, apartment buildings, restaurants, hotels, fashion houses, bookstores, travel agencies and other kinds of urban riches find their places in this period. By the increase in demand of the Art Nouveau architecture from the Bourgeoisie groups, Pera turns into a museum of Art Nouveau buildings.
It is the Italian architect Raimondo D’Aronco, who introduces Art Nouveau movement to Istanbul. D’Aronco ably fuses this European originated movement with Turkish architecture. It is seen that in his works he was inspired from Byzantine and Ottoman ornaments mostly. On many Art Nouveau buildings in Istanbul, there is his name or his trace. The most important of these buildings is the Botter Apartment Block in Istiklal Avenue.

Maison Botter Apartment Block

On Istiklal Avenue, from Tünel through Galatasaray, near the Sweden Consulate, Botter Apartment Block is a building of seven storeys, presenting the most peculiar examples of stonemasonry and iron working. This glorious building, having constructed by Sultan Abdülhamit II for his couturier, or with its contemporary expression ‘image maker’ Jean Botter in 1900, is unfortunately facing the peril of vanishing nowadays. It was once the hangout place for the high society of Istanbul, the Botter Apartment Block is in forlorn and neglected state due to the legal process between subsequent inheritors and the State.
The construction of the Botter Apartment Block befits the most turbulent period of the empire, the beginning of the 20th century. The empire was trying to dispel her lost political power by adorning Istanbul with palaces and glorious buildings, she was calling famous architects from Europe. The formal tailor of the Sultan, Jean Botter was a well known couturier. Sultan Abdülhamid, to show his esteem for him, decided to have Botter fashion house constructed in Pera. For this construction, famous Italian architect Raimondo D’Aronco was chosen. The ground and the first floor of the building, constructed in the most important architectural style of period, Art Nouveau, was Botter’s atelier and other storeys were arranged as residences. The building became the most popular building of Pera in a very short time. Here, the fashion of Europe was presented to the wealthy people of Istanbul and fashion shows were organized.


by Laura and Fulvio's photos flickr.com

by simplemortel flickr.com

by j lord flickr.com

by *~ωεnÐy~✿~றєhn� �i~* flickr.com

by rob elliot

Shrine and Library of Sheikh Zafir

The Shrine of Sheikh Zafir, also called The Ertuğrul Dervish Lodge, situated at the left while going down the Barbaros Boulevard towards Beşiktaş, was built by Abdülhamid II in the name of Sheikh Hamza Zafir, one of the leading sheiks of Şazeli order. One of the first Art Nouveau buildings in Istanbul, the shrine was built inspired from the Austrian Art Nouveau architecture.


by Chapultepec wikipedia.org

Huber Mansion

On the Rumeli Bank of the Bosphorus, south of Tarabya Bay, there stands a grandiose building in a stupendous garden. This building is the Huber Mansion belonging to Baron Huber who has an important role in Ottoman-Germany relations. Being the representative of the Krup Co., providing all the equipment of the Ottoman army, Baron Huber was an important name of the Bosphorus high society in Abdülhamid period.
Huber Mansion was established on a land of 77 acres. In the enclosed land of the mansion, there is a stable, a parking building, appurtenances and also a Hunting Seat except the main building. Its garden is arranged with the trees imported from abroad and most of the trees are over 150 years of age. In the mansion, the oldest greenhouse in Turkey is to be found but, it needs an austere restoration. Although its architect and construction date are unknown, the touch of Raimondo D’Aronco is evident.
This mansion, adding delicacy to the Bosphorus, passes through many hands after the Huber Family’s departing of Istanbul before the invasion. Later in 1985, it was expropriated and started to be used as Presidential Residence.

by Mark & Gideon flickr.com

by ludingirra flickr.com

Hıdiv Kasrı (Hıdiv Summer Palace)

Hıdiv Kasrı is a place where you can view both sea and the palace scenery. The building is in a large copse at Çubuklu district on Anatolian Bank. Hilmi Pasha, the governor of Egypt had the Italian architect Delfo Seminati to build the summer palace.
The building in the Art Nouveau style is in fact has the semblance of a palace. The outer gate of the building, built on a thousand square meters, is completely covered with gilded flower figures. Circular marble pillars, terraces, bedroom; the tower, marble, wood and crystal galleries were decorated with that periods neoclassic, neo-Islamic and neo-Ottoman elements. The flower, fruit and ground game pictures embroidered to the walls, ceilings and the capitals are reflecting the effects of European architecture.
Let us remind that at Hıdiv Kasrı, which has the largest and also renown in Europe rose garden of Istanbul, there is one of the first steam operated lifts.
With its Bosphorus panorama and its tower overseeing the green forests, this exceptional building, the Hıdiv Kasrı, serves as a touristic café-restaurant today. You may taste the selected flavours of Turkish Cuisine at quite fair prices, where you may receive open buffet meals and brunch services.


istanbulresimleri.net

Ahmet Ratip Pasha Mansion (Çamlıca Girls’ School)
Ahmet Ratip Pasha Mansion located in Küçük Çamlıca, was built by Kemalettin the famous architect of that era on behalf of Ahmet Ratip Pasha, the governor of Hedjaz in the last years of Abdülhamid II. In the construction and decoration process of the four storeys building, today serving as the Çamlıca Girls’ School, invaluable materials were used. In the glorious stairs of the mansion, which engraving technique applied on the doors and windows of it, Baccarat cut glasses were used.
After the declaration of constitutional monarchy in 1908, the building with its garden and appurtenance was bought by the Minister of Education, Şükrü Bey, on behalf of the ministry and was used as girls’ school for a very long time. It is to be mentioned that one of the touchstones of Turkish cinema ‘Hababam Sınıfı’ (The Crazy Class) series was filmed in this mansion.
In İstanbul Issue 6
An article by: Eda Özer
http://english.istanbul.com/Content....57&Type=detail

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Flora Han in Sirkeci


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Gümüşsu Palas



by necmi erol galeri.istanbul.gov.tr

Frej Apartment Block



galeri.istanbul.gov.tr

Camondo Staircase


by ozan flickr.com

by B@ni flickr.com