This beautiful location on the Asian side of the Istanbul Strait was described by Byzantine historians and later turned into one of the imperial parks known as Kandil Bahçesi during the Ottoman era (Lantern Garden). The name Bagçe-i Göksu, which dates back to the seventh century, is used in some sources, but Sultan Murad IV (1623–1640) popularized it by renaming it Gümüş Selvi (Silver Cypress).
A two-story timber palace was built on this waterfront by Divittar Mehmed Paşa, a minister in the court of Mahmud I (1730–754), and it was used throughout the reigns of Selim III (1789–1807) and Mahmud II (1754–1806). (1808-1839).
The current stone pavilion, also called the royal lodge, was built in the same style as Dolmabahce and Ihlamur during the reign of Mahmud’s son Abdülmecid (1839–1861). This was when western influence on Turkish architecture was at its highest.
The Küçüksu Pavilion was designed and constructed in 1857 by Nikogos Balyan. A larder, kitchen, and servants’ quarters are located in the basement of the pavilion, which has two main stories and a basement measuring 15 by 27 meters. Four corner rooms on the first and second floors open onto a central gallery, resembling the layout of a traditional Turkish home. When the sultan went on hunting expeditions through the woods or on other rural excursions, this pavilion was constructed for his brief stays. Küçüksu didn’t have high walls; instead, it had cast-iron railings with gates on each side. Under the rule of Abdülaziz, the younger brother of Abdülmecid, the exterior was further embellished with elaborate ornamentation (1861–1876). The supporting buildings of the pavilion have long since been destroyed.
The elaborate seaward façade and the double flight of steps that sweep vivaciously around the ornamental pool and fountain are decorated with various western motifs. The interior’s furnishings and accents reflect the European design that Sechan, the stage designer at the Vienna State Opera, established for the building’s exterior.
The ceilings are decorated with painted patterns and carton-pierre molding. Due to the abundance of Italian marble fireplaces in Küçüksu, which come in a variety of colors and styles, the town is like a museum of 19th-century fireplace design. Each room is furnished with paintings, carpets, and furniture reminiscent of those found in European homes and has elegant parquet floors with distinctive patterns. Following the establishment of the Turkish Republic, the Küçüksu Pavilion served as a state guest house for a while; it is now a museum palace accessible to the general public.
After being neglected for many years, the pavilion underwent a significant renovation in 1994. As a result, the garden, parkland, nearby fountain, and quay have all been turned into a park where people can now enjoy picnics and outings as they have for centuries. The Küçüksu Pavilion Garden can be rented out for exclusive events once construction is complete.
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