This building, originally constructed of wood in the late 1800s, was protected from the historic fires of Istanbul in the 1930s when its exterior was covered with plaster and paint over rubitz wire.
At the entrance of the building, there is a magnificent selsebil fountain, made of colorful marble, which may symbolize the era.
The building, constructed in the typical Ottoman architectural style with separate harem and selam areas, features a double staircase system inside.
The interior decorations, so grand that they overshadow the architecture, include ceiling embellishments that can rival the finest examples of the era.
With its muqarnas ceiling and landscape paintings, it is one of the precious examples that have been preserved from the 19th century to the present day. In 1983, it was classified as a second-degree historical monument by the High Council of Monuments, and later upgraded to a first-degree protected site.
In 2019, restoration works began, licensed and in accordance with its original design, and were completed in 2023, along with landscaping.
The building consists of three main floors and an attic, offering a total of 960 m2 of usable space. The first floor is connected to a neighboring two-story building (used as a bathhouse in the 1900s).
It is known that Abud Efendi, a notable figure from Damascus, hosted merchant guests who conducted business with the Topkapı Palace at this building, which is located near the palace.
Situated in the historic Eminönü Peninsula, just 70 meters from Hagia Sophia and neighboring the Basilica Cistern, the building is located between Gülhane and Sultanahmet districts, with frontages on Salkım Söğüt and Zeynep Sultan streets at the rear, and close to Alemdar (Tramway Road) Street, a major transportation route in the area. It also has a parking lot for 110 vehicles.
Adjacent to the mansion, the 845 m2 Terrace Bar offers guests one of the best views of Hagia Sophia.
Surrounded by Byzantine-era remains, the building’s parcel of land is thought to contain part of the ruins of Chalkopteria-Hagia Monastery, one of the first and most important Byzantine structures. In 1939, the Alemdar Cinema, Turkey's first indoor cinema where men and women watched films together, was built underneath the building. Today, this cinema operates as Alemdar Restaurant. The building was donated to our foundation on 12.10.1972 and has been part of our organization since 1969.
It was once used as Yücel Educational Center, offering accounting, language, and typing courses, and hosted the foundation's social and cultural activities, including the Brotherhood Club and other youth clubs. The Yücel Cultural Foundation Sports Hall, built in 1941, was Turkey's first indoor sports hall and has been open to all sports enthusiasts since the early years of the Republic. This hall, located just behind the mansion, was transformed into the 240-seat multi-purpose Yücel Performance Center during the restoration project and is now ready for service, complete with foyer and backstage areas.
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