Imagine turbans were all the rage in Berlin. We are standing before the Residenz des türkischen Botschafters. It stands as a testament to a long and complex relationship between Turkey and Germany.
This impressive building has witnessed significant moments in history. The Residenz des türkischen Botschafters is more than just a beautiful house. It represents diplomatic ties and cultural exchange.
Back in 1761, before either Turkey or Germany existed in their current forms, King Friedrich Wilhelm I of Prussia made a trade agreement with Mustafa III’s Ottoman Empire. The collaboration never became a military alliance. It did spark a fashion trend. Prussians started imitating their new allies. Turbans became popular in high Berlin society.
Fast forward to 1918. The Ottoman Empire purchased the first embassy building. It stood at the crossing of Tiergartenstraße and Hildebrandstraße. This building served the Turkish Republic’s embassy from 1929 to 1944. Sadly, it was destroyed during World War II. Allied air raids and street fighting reduced it to rubble.
After the war, the Turkish Embassy moved to Bonn. Bonn was then the capital of the Federal Republic of Germany. The embassy remained there from 1950 to 1999. Berlin regained its capital status after German reunification. From 1999 to 2012, the embassy operated from a rented six-story building.
A new embassy building rose on the site of the destroyed one. It opened on October 30, 2012. High-ranking politicians attended the ceremony. Among them were Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle. Around 1,500 guests were also present.
The building’s architecture symbolizes Turkey as a bridge between Asia and Europe. The groundbreaking took place in October 2010. Construction began in July 2011 and finished in October 2012. The project cost EUR 30 million.
The building covers a total area of 10,000 square meters. This includes the parking lot. The floor area alone is 3,900 square meters. It is Turkey’s largest diplomatic mission. German architects Thomas Hillig, Volkmar Nickol, and Felipe Schmidt designed the embassy complex. It consists of two blocks connected by an atrium. One block houses the ambassador’s office and reception areas. The other provides office space for 100 staff.
Inside, a conference hall seats 110 people. Video shows can be held there. Another conference and ballroom can accommodate 800 guests. This space is located in a glass-roofed gallery, the atrium. The atrium can transform into a multi-purpose hall for around 2,000 people.
Nine pieces of stained glass decorate the gallery. Turkish artist Bedri Rahmi Eyüboğlu created them. These stained-glass pieces came from the former embassy building in Bonn.
The portal of the building is made of copper plates. These plates were taken from the front door of the embassy building in Bonn. The interior and exterior windows feature girih interlacing ornaments. These patterns are found in historical Seljuk art.
Before becoming the Residenz des türkischen Botschafters, the Landhaus was built in 1912-13 for the banker Erich Goldschmidt. Adolf Wollenberg was the architect. Around 1940, the Jewish owners were expropriated. From 1953, the DRK used the building for various purposes. It served as a children’s hospital and a guest house. The Turkish Republic took over the building after years of vacancy.
The Residenz des türkischen Botschafters stands as a protected landmark. It embodies Berlin’s rich history of cultural exchange. It reminds us of the enduring ties between Turkey and Germany.