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

Abstract

This study focuses on the architectural interventions that took place in Yildiz Palace and which were conducted by the chief imperial architect Vedad Bey during the Second Constitutional Period. After the request of Mehmed Resad V to spend the summer months at Yildiz Palace rather than at his primary residence Dolmabahce Palace, Yildiz Palace became a priority for the sermimar, the person responsible for the maintenance and repair of the structures used by the imperial family (mainly Dolmabahce, Yildiz, Topkapi, 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 Yildiz 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.