Surely, you’ve noticed this striking red brick mansion. Locals call it Perili Köşk. That translates to “The Haunted Mansion” in Turkish. Perili Köşk stands proudly in the Rumelihisarı neighborhood. It is in Istanbul’s Sarıyer district.
But why haunted? The story of Perili Köşk begins in the early 1910s. Yusuf Ziya Pasha, an Ottoman ambassador to the United States, commissioned it. He wanted a grand home for his family.
However, construction halted when the Ottoman Empire entered World War One. Craftsmen left to join the armed forces. The second and third floors remained empty for decades. People whispered about the unfinished mansion. They said it was haunted.
Yusuf Ziya Pasha’s family lived in Perili Köşk until the early 1990s. After Yusuf Ziya Pasha’s death, the family continued to own the mansion.
In 1993, philanthropist businessman Basri Erdoğan bought the mansion. A careful restoration began in 1995. Architect Hakan Kıran led the renovation. It lasted five years. The exterior was restored. It was kept loyal to the original design. Bricks were even imported from the United Kingdom.
Inside Perili Köşk was modernized. It was transformed into office spaces. In 2002, Borusan Holding leased the property for 25 years. The Turkish industrial conglomerate uses it as its headquarters. Staff moved in 2007.
But that’s not all. In 2011, Borusan Contemporary opened an art museum here. Today Perili Köşk is both a corporate headquarters and a fine arts museum. Imagine working in a building that is also an art exhibit.
This nine-story building has a gross floor area of around 54000 square feet. It stands close to the Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridge.
The value of Perili Köşk was estimated at 40 million USD in 2003. It is a unique blend of history, art, and business. The nickname Perili Köşk stuck. It reminds everyone of its long unfinished state.
Ömer Seyfettin even wrote a story titled “Perili Köşk”. So the haunted mansion has captured imaginations.
As you stand before Perili Köşk, consider its layers of history. It is a testament to ambition interrupted. Also it is a symbol of restoration and reinvention. The Perili Köşk continues to evolve. It is still a vibrant part of Istanbul’s landscape.