Esma Sultan Yali
The architect of the neo-classical style mansion is Sarkis Balyan.
This historical mansion, which takes its name from Esma Sultan, the daughter of the 32nd Ottoman Sultan, Sultan Abdülaziz, has witnessed many events.
Esma Sultan Mansion is a waterfront palace located in Ortaköy, Istanbul, Turkey. It is named after Esma Sultan, the daughter of Ottoman Sultan Abdülaziz. The mansion was designed in the neoclassical style by architect Sarkis Balyan. It is located next to the Ortaköy Mosque and was left in a state of disrepair for many years after a fire. The interior of the mansion was restored in 2001 using glass and steel, and has been open to the public for tourism purposes since then.
The mansion was given as a wedding gift to Esma Sultan, who was married to Circassian Mehmet Pasha, one of the important statesmen of the time, at the age of 16. After the death of Esma Sultan II. Abdulhamit gave the mansion to his other daughter, Cemile Sultan, in 1899. After Cemile Sultan's death, the mansion, which was given to her daughter Fatma Hanım Sultan, ceased to be owned by the Ottoman palace dynasty in 1915.
It was used as a Greek School since 1918 and as a tobacco warehouse after 1922. In the 1950s, it was sold several times and used as a carpentry shop and warehouse.
The Marmara Collection
The Marmara Collection purchased Esma Sultan Mansion in the early 90s. The building was restored, remaining true to its original plan. In 2001, the interior of the building was rebuilt using glass and steel in line with Philip Robert's project, and the waterside mansion began to operate throughout the year.