In the Rumelihisarı district of Istanbul, overlooking the Bosphorus, stands a striking yet melancholic structure: The Haunted Mansion (Perili Köşk). Officially known as the Egyptian Yusuf Ziya Pasha Mansion, it is one of Istanbul's most enigmatic buildings, not only for its architecture but also for the stories hidden within its walls.

Ambition Born from Rivalry

The owner of the mansion was Egyptian Yusuf Ziya Pasha, a prominent merchant of the early 20th century. He traded between Italy and the Ottoman lands with his fleet of ships. He was also known for his rivalry with Abbas Hilmi Pasha, the Khedive (Viceroy) of Egypt at the time. Legend has it that Yusuf Ziya Pasha could not bear the thought of having a smaller residence than the Khedive's palace. To outdo his rival, he planned his mansion to be ten stories high, including a seven-story tower. His goal was to never fall behind in the game of status.

An Unfinished Dream

Construction of the mansion began in the 1910s. However, with the outbreak of World War I in 1914, work came to a halt. The master builders were drafted into the army, leaving the construction incomplete. To make matters worse, two of the Pasha's trading ships sank. Yusuf Ziya Pasha fell into severe financial hardship, even approaching bankruptcy. Because the second and third floors remained unfinished for a long time, the abandoned, silent building began to be called "The Haunted Mansion" by the public. When work eventually resumed, it was not master architects but journeymen and apprentices who completed it. In a sign of the times, stones from the very cliff on which the mansion stood were broken up and used in place of bricks. As a result, the building never had the fine craftsmanship originally intended.

Legends and Ghost Stories

The mansion earned its "Haunted" name not only because it was left unfinished. Over the years, so many legends formed around it that even workers during renovations claimed to have seen the ghost of the Pasha's wife. With its eerie appearance alone, the mansion inspired novels and fueled countless tales.

The Pasha's Death and an Extraordinary Will

Yusuf Ziya Pasha later moved to Egypt and passed away there in 1926. But his will revealed both his unique character and his lasting attachment to Istanbul:

"The stones from the top floor of the mansion's tower shall be removed, taken to Egypt, and my tomb shall be built from them." His wish was carried out exactly. In this way, the Pasha transported the panoramic room (cihannüma) – where he had spent his happiest days overlooking the cool breezes of the Bosphorus – to the banks of the Nile River after his death. Today, his tomb in Egypt is made of stones from Istanbul.

Family Life at the Mansion

Until his death, Yusuf Ziya Pasha lived in the mansion with his second wife, Nebiye Hanım, and her daughters from her first marriage, Sabiha and Melek. After the Pasha's death in 1926, the family continued to live there. The mansion remained a family home until 1993.

Rebirth: Restoration and a New Purpose

In 1993, the mansion was purchased by Basri Erdoğan, who began restoration work. However, the building was found to be nearly beyond repair. By a decision of the Board of Monuments, it was decided to rebuild the mansion from scratch, faithfully adhering to its original design. Thus, the Haunted Mansion rose again, true to its historical form. After being left to solitude for thirty years, the mansion was leased in 2002 to a holding company for a period of 25 years. One of the lease conditions was that the exterior of the mansion must remain unchanged. This rule was strictly followed: from the outside, it still looks exactly like a historic waterfront mansion. The interior, however, has been completely transformed into a modern office environment.

A First in Turkey: The Light Tube

The Haunted Mansion draws attention not only for its history but also for its technology. The light tube system that passes through four floors of the building is the first of its kind in Turkey. This system works as follows:

• Heliostats (sun-tracking devices) capture sunlight and reflect it onto a large mirror, channeling natural light into the interior.
• At night, the building's interior and exterior can be illuminated with over 1,400 different color options. In this way, the Haunted Mansion has become one of those rare structures where past and future, legend and technology, coexist.