Manifestation of Tanzimat Period Architecture in Tophana: Tophana Pavilion Designed by an English Architect William James Smith

Abstract

This article is about Tophana Pavilion which is located in Beyoglu, Istanbul and is at disposal of Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University today. Abdulmejid I, had the Pavilion constructed in 1852 to welcome the visitors arriving at the port to the Tophana Military Installation. The Pavilion is still standing since the day of its construction. Its design belongs to the English William James Smith, who was the official salaried architect of the Ottoman Palace. The architectural and ornamental features of Tophana Pavilion are discussed within the framework of the disciplines of art and architectural history in this article. In addition, the physical environment of the structure is assessed in the perspective of historicity. A brief biography of the architecture of the Pavilion, William James Smith, and his role in the XIX century Ottoman architecture are other topics covered in the text. Literature reviews and on-site research were performed in the formation of the text. Moreover relevant documents from the Directorate of State Archives, Ottoman Archive Section were used along with documents and photographs from various archives. © 2022, Osman Kose. All rights reserved.