Florya Atatürk Sea Pavilion

Florya Atatürk Sea Pavilion is a summer residence built in 1936 in the Florya neighborhood of Istanbul’s Bakırköy district for the founder of the Republic of Türkiye Mustafa Kemal Atatürk.

Florya Atatürk Sea Pavilion

Located on the coast, the pavilion was designed by Seyfi Arkan, one of the leading architects of the period, and constructed as a reinforced concrete pier extending from the shoreline into the sea wood.

The pavilion, accessible via an 80-meter-long bridge walkway, is built entirely of wood on a concrete foundation supported by 238 iron piles driven into the sea bed. The total area occupied by the pavilion amounts to 1534 square meters, comprising 626 square meters of enclosed space, 281 square meters of terrace, 275 square meters of pier, and 320 square meters of bridge deck.^【1】 

Constructed in approximately 43 day such as short days during the June and July months of 1935, the pavilion along with its auxiliary buildings and service structures was completed in 1936 as the Presidential Compound. Atatürk personally selected the site and visited the construction site three times during the building process.

Although conceived as a summer retreat and leisure pavilion, Atatürk used it to follow government affairs and, when necessary, convened the Council of Ministers there—the first meeting on 21 August 1935 and the second on 17 June 1936. The “Sea Meetings” previously held at Çankaya Pavilion in Ankara and Dolmabahçe Palace in Istanbul were also conducted at the Florya Atatürk Sea Pavilion. These meetings primarily focused on topics related to the Turkish Language and History.^【2】 Many prominent figures, including King Edward VIII of England and Mrs. Simpson, visited the pavilion for various meetings and official visits.

The pavilion, last used by Atatürk on 28 May 1938, remained in use until 1988 by successive Presidents of the Republic of Türkiye—İsmet İnönü, Celal Bayar, Cemal Gürsel, Cevdet Sunay, Fahri Korutürk and Kenan Evren—after Atatürk’s death. In 1988, the pavilion was transferred to the Presidency of Palaces and underwent a five-year restoration. Since 1993, it has been operated by the Grand National Assembly of Türkiye as the “Museum Pavilion.”

The interior arrangements and furniture designs, reflecting the aesthetic sensibilities of the period and harmonizing with the building’s character, were created by the pavilion’s architect Seyfi Arkan and his team.

Florya Atatürk Sea Pavilion - Atatürk's Apartment

Inside the pavilion is Atatürk’s Apartment, which includes a meeting hall, a bedroom, a study room, and a bathroom place. At the center of the meeting hall stands a large wooden table known as “Atatürk’s Table,” where numerous political, scientific, and public figures gathered for meetings and discussions. Adjacent to the meeting hall is Atatürk’s study and library.

Atatürk and his spiritual daughter Ülkü

The pavilion also houses the apartment of Afet İnan, Atatürk’s spiritual daughter. Like the other rooms in the pavilion, her apartment follows a simple design aesthetic. Another of Atatürk’s spiritual daughters, Ideal Adatepe, also had an apartment in the pavilion. The room designated for Ülkü Adatepe has been arranged according to her identity and contains clothing and personal items from her childhood, as well as a model ship donated by her.

In addition, the pavilion includes guest quarters, a service kitchen, and staff rooms.

Basınköy, Drawer Istanbul Cd. No:23, 34153 Bakırköy/Istanbul.