YILDIZ PALACE GRAND MABEYN PAVILION – PRESIDENTIAL MABEYN PAVILION OFFICE
The Grand Mabeyn Pavilion is located within the Yıldız Palace complex, in parcel no. 1 of block 232 in the Beşiktaş district of Istanbul. Constructed during the late Ottoman period, the Grand Mabeyn Pavilion is a magnificent structure commissioned by Sultan Abdülaziz between 1861 and 1865. It served as one of the central hubs of imperial life in the Ottoman court. The architect of the building was Sarkis Balyan.
Sultan Abdülaziz adopted a European architectural style for the pavilion and used it as an administrative center for state affairs. During the reign of Sultan Abdülhamid II (1876–1909), the pavilion functioned as the main state administration building.
The Grand Mabeyn Pavilion stands out with both its exterior and interior architecture. The marble used on its façades and the ornate interior decorations reflect a unique blend of Ottoman artistry and Western influence. The pavilion’s large courtyard, its elegant ornamental details, and the grand double staircase leading to the imperial floor with crystal balustrades reminiscent of those in the Dolmabahçe Palace enhance the building’s grandeur.
These protocol stairs were exclusively used by the sultan and the state officials granted an audience, connecting the service level of the palace to the state level. The pavilion’s walls are adorned with paintings by renowned artists.
Today, the Grand Mabeyn Pavilion, together with the Yıldız Palace, operates as a museum open to the public. Its majestic rooms and historical ambiance allow visitors to relive the final era of the Ottoman Empire.
As ALBA İnşaat, we completed the restoration of the building between 2006 and 2018.