Description
An Elegant Pearl on the Shores of the Bosphorus
Küçüksu Pavilion was built by Nigoğos Balyan, a member of the Balyan family who have designed many of the Ottoman buildings built in the 19th century. The interior decoration and arrangements of the pavilion were made by Sechan, the decorator of the Paris Opera, who is also responsible for the interior design of the Dolmabahçe Palace. The unreinforced masonry building, which was built with the masonry technique of the era, covers an area of 15 X 27 meters and has three floors including the basement. The basement, which was used as a cellar and kitchen, was reserved for the servants, and the other floors allocated for the use of the monarch and the guests were arranged in four rooms opening to a hall in the middle. The interior of the pavilion has a stunning appearance with its embossed plastered ceilings decorated by pen work, skillfully laid parquet floors, western-style furniture, works of art decorating the walls, and fireplaces of precious Italian marbles. Some parts of the Küçüksu Pavilion, which did not include bedrooms or bathrooms in the original design due to being a recreational residence, were rearranged and decorated to correct these deficiencies during the Republican Period. The sea facing side of the pavilion has a more ostentatious and rich appearance compared to the other façades, since the sultans preferred the sea route for arrival. Baroque architecture was adopted in the decorations of the small pool, the staircase and the fountain on this façade. The exterior decorations of the pavilion were re-arranged by Sultan Abdülaziz after he replaced his elder brother Sultan Abdülmecid, who found the designs too simple.Popular Residence of Each Period: Küçüksu Pavilion
The Küçüksu Pavilion was the address of many diplomatic receptions during the reign of Sultan Abdülaziz. Prince Edward VII, the Prince of Wales, who would be the head of the Kingdom of England in the following years, was entertained here, and this meal was recorded as the first incidence of an Ottoman sultan to take the same table with foreigners and their entourage. The pavilion, which was visited by Sultan Mehmed Reşad in 1909 for lunch with prominent soldiers and bureaucrats of the period, continued to be a place of interest during the Republican Period. Mustafa Kemal Atatürk frequently visited Küçüksu as a short-term resting spot during his Bosphorus trips, and the pavilion was turned into a museum in 1983. After a comprehensive restoration and reinforcement project that started in 1992 and lasted for four years, Küçüksu Pavilion gained its present appearance, continuing to serve as a museum-palace today.
