Dating to the mid-19th century, this yali is one of several lining the shores of Kandilli like a string of pearls. Designed and built by architect Karabet Amira Balyan, this yali is one of the rare yalis of the Bosphorus remaining from the 19t" century. This yali was the southern neighbor of the Khedive Ismail Pasha Yali when it was built. The Ismail Pasha Yali was reduced to ashes in a fire that struck in 1972 a large apartment building was built in its place and it became the new neighbor of the Abud Efendi Yali.
The yali was commissioned by Altunizade Necip Bey in 1830. The Altunizades were a rich family that commissioned a mosque, hamam, shops and a villa in the Istanbul district of Kosuyolu during the era of Abdulmecid. Necip Bey was the son of Zuhti Pasha, who was a merchant and statesmen of his time. Wealthy enough to muster a mercenary unit during the Crimean War and cover its expenses, Altunizade Necip Bey eventually sold this fine yali to Baron de Vandoevre. Having resided at this yali for many years, Vandoevre decided to sell this yali and move back to France, whereby Mehmet Abud Efendi became the new owner.
In presenting the yah to his wife Saadet as a gift, Abud Efendi came from a Turkish merchant family that had settled in Damascus. Born there in 1839, Abud Efendi settled in Istanbul later on. Demonstrating major commercial success when he arrived in Istanbul, Abud Efendi and his brother first purchased a commercial in Mercan. While his villa was on Alemdar Caddesi, Abud Efendi along with his brother commissioned the Suriye Apartment on Istiklal Caddesi and the Meserret Oteli in Sirkeci. The Abud Family played an important role in the economic life of the era. Elected as the Chairman of the Istanbul Chamber of Commerce in 1884, Abud Efendi served in this position for 33 years. Known for his honesty, Abud Efendi was appointed the duty of presiding over the purchasing commission during the Balkan Wars, whereas he was assigned to the Board of Directors of the Itibar-i Milli Bank until a year prior to his death. Besides his honesty, Abud Efendi was regarded for his philanthropy; he not only provided aid to the destitute, he also made noteworthy donations to national enterprises such as the Red Crescent, Naval Society and the Hejaz Railway. Abud Efendi, who had two sons and two daughters, arranged an incredible wedding for his daughter Belkis at this beautiful yali. The famous poet and writer, Yahya Kemal nurtured major interest in Belk's; it is rumored that he held conversations regarding Belkis in the friendly chats held at the Kandilli yali.
Remaining with the heirs of Abud Efendi after his death in 1917, the yali was sold off by Belkis' son, Mehmed Abud Bey, after her death in 1970. The 270 m' Neoclassical-style yali features 18 rooms and two halls, its harem and selamlik constitute two separate structures. There are three boathouses currently sealed with iron bars beneath the two-story yali. There are coal and woodsheds in the yali which has a pool in its garden as well as a small hamam with an elegant faucet stone on the ground floor of the yak One accesses the first-floor hallway from this floor via a rotating service stairwell. There was also once a cabinet here that was used to send food to the upper floors. The staircases directly across from the main entrance door on the first floor turn from the left and right, merging at the landing, reaching the upper floor. There is a storage cupboard beneath the staircase. The bannisters of the oval-shaped staircase balconies found above the staircases were crafted in the shape of wide wooden panels. The upper floor turns around a semi-rectangular hall. The yah's two balconies are situated on the south section of both floors. These corner balconies achieved an architectural uniqueness.
Influenced by the structures of the era, the Beylerbeyi and Dolmabahce Palace-style plan and decoration are also apparent in the Abud Efendi Yak The hall with its open columns on two sides, heavy gold-leaf decoration, cornices, curtains and chandeliers, the interior decoration of the yali has achieved a more imposing stance. Having undergone a thorough renovation between 1984-89, the Abud Efendi Yah continues to ornate the shores of Kandilli as if to challenge the adjacent modern stone building.
