Mısır Apartment

The Mısır Apartment or Mısır Apartmanı (Turkish for "Egypt Apartment") is a famed historical building on the renowned İstiklal Avenue in the Beyoğlu district of Istanbul, Turkey. Over the years, the building has hosted numerous notables persons and businesses, including Mehmet Akif Ersoy, Lazzaro Franco, Su Baykal, and Hüsamettin Cindoruk.[1][2] It is considered one of the notable examples of Art Nouveau style architecture in Istanbul and was a popular spot for the high society of the city.[3][4]

Mısır Apartment
Mısır Apartmanı
General information
Architectural style	Art Nouveau
Country	Turkey
Coordinates	41°01′57″N 28°58′36″E
Construction started	1905
Completed	1910
Design and construction
Architect	Hovsep Aznavur

History

Entrance of the apartment

The apartment was built in 1910 by Ottoman Armenian architect Hovsep Aznavur and commissioned by Khedive of Egypt Abbas II.[1][3][4][5] The building was built as a winter residence for Abbas and was used by him and his family for many years.[3][5]

It is now home to an art gallery featuring many art events and exhibitions.[6][7]

Notable residents and proprietors

• Abbas II of Egypt – Khedive of Egypt.
• Mehmet Akif Ersoy – writer of the lyrics to the national anthem of Turkey. He died in the apartment on Sunday, December 27, 1936.[3]
• Arşak Sürenyan - Dentist of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk.[3][8] Grandfather of businessman and former chairman of the Turkish sports club Galatasaray Faruk Suren.[8] He was of Armenian descent.[9]
• Hüsamettin Cindoruk – had an office in the building.[8]
• Canan Yaka – famed fashion designer.[3]
• Lütfiye Arıbal – Renowned wedding gown designer.[1]
• Mithat Cemal Kuntay – Writer and poet. Resident of the apartment.[3]
• Sami Günzberg – Notable dentist.[10]
• Iraïda Barry — Sculptor and author of Russian descent.[11]

References

1. Karahan, Julide (18 January 2011). "A man who holds the history of the famous Mısır Apartment". Zaman. Istanbul. Retrieved 24 January 2013.
2. "Mısır Apartmanı`nın 102 Yıllık Geçmişi". Haber 34 (in Turkish). 2007-12-29.
3. Karahan, Jülide. "A Hundred Years Old, The Misir Apartments". SkyLife. Retrieved 25 January 2013.
4. Yale, Pat (3 January 2010). "İstanbul's forgotten art nouveau heritage". Zaman. Istanbul. Retrieved 25 January 2013.
5. "A pasha's house". Gate to Turkey. Retrieved 25 January 2013.
6. Smith, Terry Richardson; with additional contributions by Zoe. The rough guide to Istanbul (2nd ed.). London: Rough Guides. ISBN 9781409358442.
7. "Sanatın yeni adresi 5 galerili Mısır Apartmanı". Hurriyet (in Turkish). Retrieved 24 January 2013.
8. "Faruk Süren Galatasaray'ın Efsane Başkanı" (in Turkish). Farkli Renkler. 26 November 2009. Archived from the original on 5 October 2013. Retrieved 26 January 2013.
9. Bali, Rıfat N. (2003). Musa'nın evlatları, cumhuriyetin yurttaşları (3. basım ed.). İstanbul: İletişim Yayınları. ISBN 9789754708875.
10. Bali, Rıfat N. (2007). Sarayın ve cumhuriyetin dişçibaşısı Sami Günzberg. Cağaloğlu, İstanbul: Kitabevi. ISBN 9789759173418.
11. "Iraïda Barry Papers". Bakhmeteff Archive, Columbia University.