FAIK AND BEKIR BEY YALI

It is observed that yalis situated on both sides of the Bosphorus tend to concentrate in certain neighborhoods, such as Yenikoy, on the European side.

One of the yalis accommodated by this fine district is the 'Falk Bey and Bekir Bey Yali. Otherwise known as the Twins Mansion, this symmetric structure has adorned these shores for more than a century.

Faik and Bekir Bey Yali, The Bosphorus and Its Yalis

It was designed in 1906 by the Italian architect Raimondo d'Aronco for the twin sisters of Sara Sultan. Giving the impression of a single structure from the outside, the plan of this symmetric structure shows it is actually two separate buildings connected to each other. Following the death of Sara Sultan, the yali was left to her children, who eventually sold off the north and south sections as two separate units. As the owners of these were Faik Bey and Bekir Bey, respectively, the yali is occasionally commemorated by their names.

Faik and Bekir Bey Yali, The Bosphorus and Its Yalis

Responsible for several structures of the same style in Istanbul, the architect d'Aronco built this three-story edifice in the Art Nouveau-style. The windows found on the rather moving façade of the rectangular plan yah were fashioned in different styles in groups of two and three. The timber for these guillotine-style window frames was brought from-Romania. While balconies cover the entire seaside facade on the first floor of the front façade featuring heavy Arabesque-Ottoman decor, the balconies on the second floor were made smaller. The two small balconies situated of the floor above these are too small for usage and must have been made to compliment the aesthetics of the façade. The balcony railings on each floor constitutes a different shape. The facade features wide siding planks. The left and right edges of the yali were kept higher than the curved middle section to make them appear as towers. These sections are highlighted with columns hanging onto the windows at the top and a polygon balcony featured over the polygon facade. The structure's tower like embankments and convex section in the middle of the roof is embellished with lavish, wide overhanging eaves.

One enters small gardens belonging to the two sections from beneath an ashlar room from the avenue. Because the second floor or the protruding structure is shaped like a bay window, the porch It's taken on a balcony-like status. This situation was also repeated in 1 he other section. The colorful mosaics seen in I he hallways and entries of the structure date back to when it was first, built. The interior features furniture ensembles and chandeliers bearing Sultan Abdul-Aziz's brand, the monogram of Sultan AbdulHamid which are quite valuable from an artistic standpoint. One descends to sea level via a staircase passing between the two lower floor balconies on the seaside façade of the gall. Its ashlar stone boathouse floor is situated to the left and right side of this staircase.

Faik and Bekir Bey Yali, The Bosphorus and Its Yalis