YALI

Als YALI werden Sommervillen und -residenzen bezeichnet, die in Holzbauweise vor allem am Ufer des Bosporus in der Nähe von Istanbul errichtet wurden. Typisch ist ein recht flaches, weit auskragendes Dach. Yalýs waren von Gärten umgeben und hatten gewöhnlich eine Bootsanlegestelle.

Charakteristika der YALI
Yalýs wurden grundsätzlich aus Holz erbaut. Lediglich Grund- und Kaimauern bestehen aus Stein. Die leichte zweigeschossige Holzbauweise hat den Vorteil, dass einerseits eine gewisse Resistenz gegen Erdbeben und andererseits gegen die vom Bosporus vordringende Feuchtigkeit gegeben ist. Ein Yalý hat in der Regel hohe Räume mit zahlreichen Fenstern. Dies ist darauf zurückzuführen, dass die Yalýs als Sommerhäuser wohlhabender Osmanen dienten, die häufig auch noch über ein Stadtpalais (Konak) und einen weiteren Köþk auf den Prinzeninseln oder am Marmarameer verfügten. Den sommerlichen Temperaturen wurde zusätzlich durch flache, weit auskragende Ziegeldächer entgegengewirkt.
Die Yalýs verfügen zumeist aufgrund ihrer Lage über ein eigenes Bootshaus bzw. eine Anlegestelle.
Viele der Bosporusvillen befanden sich nicht über Generationen in Familienbesitz. Dies hatte zur Ursache, dass die Holzbauweise im Unterhalt sehr kostenaufwändig war, sodass sich z.B. der Wesir ein Yalý nur leisten konnte, solange er im Amt war. Nach einem Besitzerwechsel wurde das Haus häufig abgebrochen und nach Geschmack des neuen Eigentümers neu errichtet. Nicht nur aus diesem Grund waren die Yalýs immer besonders bedroht.
Im Inneren der Yalýs befinden sich in der Regel große, kreuzförmige Zentralhallen. Diese führen stets auf der einen Seite zum Bosporus, auf der anderen zum parkartigen Garten. In der Mitte der marmorbelegten Halle befindet sich des Öfteren ein Springbrunnen, überwölbt von einer unter dem Dach verborgenen Kuppel. Die Decken der Wohnräume, die in Harem und Selamlik gegliedert wurden, werden stets mit bemalter Holzschnitzerei geschmückt. Auch Wände, Türen und Gesimse ziehen die Blicke auf diese Weise auf sich.
Umgeben werden die traditionellen Yalýs von prächtigen Gärten, in denen Pinien und Palmen neben Magnolien, Glyzinien und Judasbäumen den Aufenthalt zum Vergnügen machen.

Geschichte der YALI
Die erste Darstellung von Yalý-ähnlichen Uferhäusern datiert um das Jahr 1000: Uigurische Maler stellten das Paradies als eine Reihe von Yalýs dar. Die Bauweise der Bosporusvillen geht auf traditionelle seldschukische Elemente zurück und so verwundert es nicht, dass auch außerhalb Istanbuls ähnliche Gebäude entstanden, etwa in Amasya.
Im 16. Jahrhundert, unter Sultan Süleyman dem Prächtigen, begann die Bebauung des Bosporusufers mit Moscheen und Yalýs. In der Anfangszeit war das Leben in solchen Residenzen dem Adel vorbehalten. Der Sultan selbst verfügte über Villen an beiden Uferseiten. Im 17. Jahrhundert entstand die besonders durch die Yalýs geprägte, bis heute fortlebende Wohnkultur Istanbuls. Aus dieser Zeit ist lediglich das Köprülü Yalýsý erhalten.
Bis Mitte des 19. Jahrhunderts baute man in großer Anzahl Uferpaläste und Lustschlössr, die sich wie eine Perlenschnur am Wasser entlangzogen. Dieses Bild wie aus Tausendundeiner Nacht wurde vom Kupferstecher Anton Ignaz Melling festgehalten. In dieser Zeit wuchs der Einfluss anderer Nationen auf das Osmanische Reich und insbesondere die deutsch-türkische Beziehung war eng und freundschaftlich. Dies führte einerseits dazu, dass ausländische Investoren Yalýs kauften oder selbst errichteten, wie z.B. die Gebäude der ehemaligen französischen Botschaft, die Sommerresidenz in Tarabya als Besitz der damaligen Deutschen Botschaft Konstantinopel, sowie das Huber Köþkü der Firma Krupp. Andererseits kam die Mode auf, nicht mehr nach türkischem Stil zu bauen, sondern mitteleuropäische Steinpaläste an die Ufer Istanbuls zu bauen.
Heute sind die Yalýs wieder begehrte Wohnobjekte, doch sind nach wie vor viele vom Verfall und dem Bau von Schnellstraßen bedroht. Die Türkei versucht dem durch staatliche Beihilfen entgegenzuwirken. Diese Bemühungen wurden bisher durch umfangreiche Renovierungsmaßnahmen belohnt. Seit einigen Jahren werden auch wieder Neubauten im traditionellen Stil der Yalýs errichtet.

Erhaltene YALI 
Besonders prächtige und sehenswerte Beispiele erhaltener Yalýs sind:
Asiatische Uferseite 
Köprülü Yalýsý: ältestes erhaltenes Yalý (17. Jahrhundert)
Savfet Pascha Yalýsý: Der Selamlik ist noch erhalten und befindet sich bis heute in Familienbesitz
Sadullah Pascha Yalýsý (CIMG2355): Vom Architekten Sadullah Pascha vor der Französischen Revolution erbaut
Ismail Pascha Yalý: Uferpalast des Vizekönigs von Ägypten
Nazif Pascha Yalýsý: Komplett erhaltenes Yalý in Vanýköy
Europäische Uferseite 
Serifler Yalýsý: Als Museum zugängliches Yalý am „Dorfplatz“ des Stadtteils Emirgan
Kavafiyan Yalýsý: Seit 1751 unverändert, in Bebek gelegen
Yalý der ehemaligen französischen Botschaft aus dem 18. Jahrhundert in Tarabya
Zografos Yalý: Tarabya
Huber Köþkü von Krupp, Tarabya
Sommerresidenz des Deutschen Generalkonsulats Istanbul, heute deutsch-türkische Begegnungsstätte

aus: wikipedia

The Debreli Ismail Pasa yali, built in the Turkish Baroque style in 1778 near the Mosque of Beylerbeyi, was burnt down, like many others over the years. Since its restoration, it is now a boutique hotel. The original plan of the building was designed by the architect Alexandre Vallaury in 1890. For those wishing to spend a night in an historical water mansion, prices start from 160 Euros. (Tel:0-216-4220003 www.bosphoruspalace.com)

THE KALKAVAN YALI
This beautiful mansion which adorns Beylerbeyi, originally belonged to the Kalkavan family and was later sold to Ömer Sabanci. Besides being one of the 15 water mansions on the Bosphorus which belong to the Sabanci family, it has been used as a set for “Topkapi”, the cult film of 1960's, in which Melina Mercuri and Peter Ustinov played the major roles. The film was about an attempt to steal the famous Topkapi dagger from the Topkapi Palace.

THE SADULLAH PASA YALI

Located in Çengelköy this mansion was famous for its interior decorations and for its very high value. Its most recent tenant was Aysegül Nadir Tecimer, the wife of a wealthy businessman. It derives its name from its original owner Sadullah Pasa. During the reign of Sultan Abdülhamit II, he was exiled for having been among the conspirers who were said to have plotted a coup bringing Sultan Murat V to the throne. He was not allowed to return to the Ottoman capital after completing his terms as Ottoman Ambassador to Berlin and Vienna. He later committed suicide. Sadullah Pasa was one of the important figures of the literary school of Tanzimat.

THE MAHMUT NEDIM PASA YALI

The most striking element of this mansion, built for Mahmut Nedim Pasa, the Ottoman Ambassador to Austria, is its tower. The inspiration for the tower was from the buildings of Vienna and Prague, where Mahmut Nedim Pasa had lived. His heirs have donated this building in Vaniköy, to the Turkish Red Crescent Organization, but last year it was sold to Yalçin Sabanci for three million US dollars. Pasa had been a Governor and also a Grand Vizier of the Empire. Due to his pro-Russian stance, he was called Nedimof. 

THE EDIP EFENDI YALI

The Edip Efendi yali is situated in Kandilli at one of the narrowest points on the Bosphorus. This is where the currents are the strongest. It was named after a much respected government officer of the Ottoman Empire. This yali has become a popular news item during Prime Minister Özal's reg i me, because its most recent owner Ugur Mengenecioglu has been involved in a bribery scandal. A former tenant in this yali, Dorina Lady Neave, described life on the Bosphorus during the previous century , in her book “Romance of the Bosphorus”.



THE HADI BEY YALI
This mansion of the 1800's was called the Manford House. It was bought by a Greek shipowner, called Licardopulos following the British occupation of the city. Hadi Bey, a laywer, later took possession of it exchanging it with his property in Thessaloniki, Greece.It is painted with a special red ochre dye, used for these watermansions. It has become one of the most beautiful houses on the Bosphorus, following recent renovations.


Kont Ostrorog Yalý (left) and The Hadi Bey Yalý

THE KONT OSTROROG YALI
Kont Ostrorog Yali is the most beautiful and historical building on the Bosphorus. The Polish-born Leon Ostrorog an expert in islamic law, served as a consultant to the Ottoman Empire. He married Jeanne, a daughter of one of the Galata bankers, the Lorando family. Among his famous guests was the French writer Pierre Loti. The present owner of the house is Rahmi Koç.


THE ABUD EFENDI YALI

The Abud Efendi yali was bought by Abud Efendi in the beginning of 1900's. Garabet, who was the architect of this yali was from the Armenian Balyan family. They built many of the palaces and important buildings in Istanbul. Abud Efendi's daughter Belkis, who had been a prominent figure on the Istanbul social scene in 1920's, had a fabulous wedding ceremony in this mansion.

THE KIBRISLI YALI

Kibrisli Mehmet Emin Pasa was a Grand Vizier during the reigns of three Sultans, This yali is situated near the old Küçüksu beach and it has a private pier of 64 meters. It is still owned by the same family. The Iraqi King Faysal, and the important poet Yahya Kemal are among the many guests who have stayed here. In 1980's when there was feverish land purchasing by Arabs, the orchard of this mansion, changed ownership. The British born wife of the Pasa wrote a book called “Thirty Years in the Harem” in 1872.

THE KOMODOR REMZI BEY YALI

In 1390, Yildirim Beyazit built Anadoluhisari, which is the castle on the Asian side of the Bosphorus. This was the narrowest part of the Bosphorus and he built it intending to capture Istanbul easily. The Komodor Remzi Bey Yali was built next to and it was rebuilt in 1917. Later, it was sold to the General Mümtaz Aktay. The present owner since 1970 is Sevinç Inönü, the daughter of the famous Turkish shipowner Ali Sohtorik. She is also the wife of Erdal Inönü, who, in turn, is more famous for his political career than for his academic prowess in physiscs.

THE BAHRIYELI SEDAT BEY YALI

(Photo:robbie2009)

The Göksu stream, also referred to as the “Sweet waters of Asia”, flows into the Bosphorus in Anadoluhisari, previously called Güzelce. One of the most beautiful yali in this region is the Bahriyeli Sedat Bey Yali. This house was built in the Neo Baroque style and was constructed by the grandfather of Sedat Bey, Mustafa Resit Pasa. Because of the magnificient tree in its garden, it is also called the Magnolia Yali.

THE ZARIF MUSTAFA PASA YALI
(CIMG2347)

(Photo:robbie2009)

Zarif Mustafa Pasa Yali is one of the most beautiful and valuable mansions on the Bosphorus.  It was purchased by Kani Bey, the coffee magnate of Sultan Mahmut II. in 1800's. When the yali was originally built, it was composed of three sections: the Harem, the Selamlik and the Boat-house. It was originally three times bigger than its present size. In 1848, it became the property of Zarif Mustafa Pasa. The mansion was built on the ruins of a Byzantine monastery. The Ayazma (sacred water source) of the monastery is still in its garden.

THE AMCAZADE HÜSEYIN PASA YALI

Built in 1699, this is the oldest mansion on the Bosphorus. It has a marble fountain from which a jet of water spouts upwards, and its ceilings are decorated with flowers and geometrical designs. Unfortunately, it is in ruins, because of neglect. The original owner Hüseyin Pasa was a member of Mevlevi sect. Five Grand Viziers stemmed from the Köprülü family of the Ottoman Empire. Huseyin Pasa was the fourth Grand Vizier. Pierre Loti appealed to the authorities for the Amcazade mansion to be saved.

THE NURI PASA YALI

It is estimated that this mansion was built in 1895 by one of the officers of Abdülhamit, Nuri Pasa. For many years Rahmi Koç lived in this house. When Rahmi Koç moved to the Kont Ostrorog yali in Kandilli, this house was left to his son, Ali Koç. It is believed that Nuri Bey's painter son Hami eloped with the daughter of Marki Necip, who was the owner of the neighboring mansion.

THE MARKI NECIP BEY YALI

Necip Bey was a French aristocrat. He accepted the Muslim religion in order to be able to get married to Melike Aliye Hanim. The building behind the mansion which has a tower, was the winter residence of Necip Bey. The yali, which now belongs to the Demirören family, was burnt down in 1983, and it has been subsequently renovated. The original building dates back to the end of 1800's.

THE HEKIMBASI SALIH EFENDI YALI