Refunctioning the Yıldız Palace Carpentry Atelier and Fine Arts Gallery into a Carpet Museum

Abstract

Yıldız Palace, built upon a strategic and protected terrain on the Yıldız hills, draws attention with its unique design approach independent of 19th-century Ottoman palace architecture. It does not consist of a single building complex as seen in Dolmabahçe and Çırağan Palaces; instead, it took its current form as a result of adding new structures over time, especially kiosks, pavilions and mansions. In this aspect, it shows similarities with Edirne and Topkapı Palaces, which are important examples of the traditional palace concept. The coexistence of administrative buildings alongside functional units such as harem apartments, a mosque, locksmith, pharmacy and armory, together with cultural spaces like a theater, library, carpentry atelier and art gallery, has transformed the palace into an independent city silhouette.

Sultan Abdülhamid II, who was an artist himself, provided significant contributions to the development of Ottoman museum activities through the Arms Museum he had organized in Yıldız Palace and private exhibition areas where he displayed his personal collections. Historical documents show that the private museum of the Sultan was located inside one of the Has Bahçe (Royal Garden) buildings constructed during his reign, and a wide collection ranging from clocks to armor, porcelains to books, and paintings to miniatures was exhibited there.

After being transferred to the Directorate of National Palaces in 2018, Yıldız Palace entered a comprehensive restoration process, and a large part of the structures were revived by staying faithful to their original functions. Considering the spatial width and historical background of the building used as a “carpentry atelier” and the gallery used as a “müzehane” (museum space/house) during the period of its first construction, it was decided to use these areas as museum spaces. Consequently, unique weaving examples belonging to the Carpet Collection dating to the 19th and 20th centuries were made ready for exhibition following the restoration and conservation processes.

The Yıldız Palace Carpet Museum aims to present a significant part of the mentioned collection to the visitor for the first time with a thematic and holistic approach, reinterpreting 19th century Ottoman art and weaving tradition with modern exhibition techniques.