Architectural Interventions Conducted in Yıldız Palace During the Second Constitutional Period (1909-1914)

Abstract

This study focuses on the architectural interventions that took place in Yıldız Palace and which were conducted by the chief imperial architect Vedad Bey during the Second Constitutional Period. After the request of Mehmed Reşad V to spend the summer months at Yıldız Palace rather than at his primary residence Dolmabahçe Palace, Yıldız Palace became a priority for the sermimar, the person responsible for the maintenance and repair of the structures used by the imperial family (mainly Dolmabahçe, Yıldız, Topkapı, and Beylerbeyi Palaces and the imperial pavilions in Istanbul). Consequently, extensive renovations were conducted in the palace by Vedad Bey. The aim of this research is to to reveal the constructions and renovations carried out at the palace under the supervision of Vedad Bey by examining documents from the Presidency of The Republic of Turkey Directorate of State Archives such as Vedad Bey’s survey notebooks, architectural drawings, and petitions. This archival research reveals that the most significant architectural intervention in the palace during the Constitutional period was the demolition of the palace cuisine. Additionally, this research reveals a previously unknown design of Vedad Bey, namely the soldier sentry boxes of Yıldız Palace, which are here introduced by architectural drawings, a survey notebook, and a photograph. Additionally, repairs carried out in almost every apartment of the palace have been documented.