Last Updated on 23/04/2023
Authorities recently announced the sale of the iconic Bosphorus mansion Ragip Pasa. Situated in the Caddebostan district on the Asian side, the residence constitutes one of the famous landmarks of the Kadikoy area.
The historical importance of the Bosphorus Mansion Ragip Pasa
History of the Ragıp Paşa Mansion
The Bosphorus mansion was named after its owner Ragip Pasa, an aide-de-camp of the Ottoman Sultan Abdulhamit II. He assigned the Prussian Architect, August Carl Friedrich Jasmond who also designed the Sirkeci train station to conceive the residence. Therefore, the construction of the mansion completely finished in 1906.
Over time, the mansion, which rises over a roughly 23-acre garden, became as one of Kadköy’s icons. Moreover, after Ragip Pasha passed away there in 1920, the mansion has been owned by several people over the years.
A valuable heritage to preserve
According to experts, the historical Bosphorus mansion must be maintained because it is a significant illustration of post-Ottoman civilian architecture. Therefore, it was known as “Little Dolmabahçe” thanks to the rich ornamentations inside and outside the dwelling. Besides, renowned artists and craftsmen of the time created all the aesthetical patterns.
The used materials attribute an additional value to the edifice. In fact, Ragip Pasha brought the utilized marbles from Italy and the parquet from Vienna.
The architecture of Ragip Pasha mansion
The Prussian architect delicately designed the Bosphorus mansion. The building was impressive and spectacular thanks to its large area and multiple spaces. It rises on three floors, including a basement and an annexed penthouse. Thus, the residence covers a total area of 2700 square meters.
The historical dwelling is a fine illustration of late Ottoman architecture. It is famous for its ceiling paintings as well as its external and interior ornamental elements. The ceilings’ golden leaf decorations, formed of melted gold, are another striking feature of the structure.
Ragip Pasa Bosphorus mansion at a tender sale
One month ago, the official announcement platform, ilan.gov.tr declared the put up for sale of Ragip Pasha Bosphorus mansion. In fact, relevant authorities launch a tender for the waterfront mansion on September 2nd, 2022 in the Istanbul Anatolian Justice Palace. This tender occured mainly to seize unpaid debts from the anonymous previous owner of the edifice. Therefore the mansion’s sale price was about 24.4M$. The court determined the cost of the mansion as as 449 million 363 thousand 491 liras and 71 cents.
Importance of waterfront mansions of Istanbul
One of the most noticeable sights along the Bosporus is Istanbul’s old mansions. The history of these nostalgic properties has always piqued people’s interest in a city with a rich history.
“ Yali”, as locally known, refers to The waterfront houses standing on both sides of the Bosporus. These buildings, some of which date back to the 17th century, are from the Ottoman era and exhibit the ethnic diversity of the time. They were summer homes of state officials or wealthy families who could afford the upkeep of such expansive holdings.
While wood is the main material of these dwellings, the architecture of Bosphorus mansions, presents yet a variety of architectural styles. The colors of the buildings during the Ottoman referred to the owner’s social standing or line of work. The lighter hues of white, yellow, and beige denoted the presence of Muslims. However, shades of grey denoted non-Muslim residents (Christians and Jews). Meanwhile, civil servants’ houses were red. We should mention that water mansions are considered the most expensive and valuable second-hand properties in Turkey.
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