ARKAS ART

BORNOVA
MATTHEYS
MANSİON
 History

The restoration work of the Mattheys Mansion, built by the Englishman John Maltass in 1780, which was initiated by Arkas
Holding in 2018 and lasted five years along with the permit processes, has been completed. Mattheys Mansion, which was
visited by Atatürk in 1922, is now waiting to welcome its new guests. Hortense Wood, who is known to have lived in Mattheys
Mansion throughout her life, mentioned "a house in Bornova" in her diary, which shed light on the present day with the important
historical events she noted. This house, which is understood to be a large mansion with many rooms, was once visited by
Atatürk and, in Hortense Wood's own words, was the house where the future of the Republic of Turkey was discussed, in other
words, Mattheys Mansion as it is known today. It is known that the mansion was built by an Englishman named John Maltass.
Some sources state the year of construction as 1860. However, architect Seda Özen Bilgili, who carried out the restoration of
Mattheys Mansion, estimates that the building was built in 1780. Knowledgeable thinks that during the restoration works, the
building was enlarged with additions made in various periods, the biggest change was made in the mid-1800s, and therefore a
false perception may have arisen that the mansion was rebuilt. Mattheys Mansion was called the Wood-Paterson house for
many years. John Maltass left the house, which he bought from the Patersons in 1780 and rebuilt as a summer house, to his
daughter Eugenie Wood in 1840. Eugenie Wood was sent to the British hospital in Izmir as chief physician. She was married to
Charles Wood. The couple had seven children, and Charles Wood left his home to his eldest daughter, Lucy De Cramer. Of the
couple's seven children, only Hortense Wood did not marry and continued to live in her father's house with her nephew Fernand
de Cramer until his death in 1924.
Hortense Wood, one of the well-known names of Bornova during her lifetime, was a versatile intellectual. In
addition to being a painter, poet and composer, she was one of the first feminists of the Ottoman period. He
took piano lessons from the famous composer Franz Liszt. Franz Liszt played the piano, which still stands
in the part of the mansion called the Cairo room. He loved taking photographs. He would take photographs
of the celebrities hosted by Mattheys Mansion, one of the popular mansions of the period. Hortense Wood
was someone who collected newspaper clippings and followed politics closely. Thanks to him, Mattheys
Mansion became a "famous house in Bornova" during the War of Independence. He was an admirer of
Mustafa Kemal and wrote letters to him congratulating him on his successes while the war was still
ongoing. He was 78 years old when he finally met Mustafa Kemal face to face. He asked Mustafa Kemal
Wood to do research on "women's rights in the world" and forward it to him. When he came to Izmir as
Commander-in-Chief, he stayed in the room of the family's son named Ernest, held many important
meetings at home and played chess with Hortense Wood's nephew, Fernand De Cramer. His diary, which
he started writing on June 1, 1922, contained direct observations about the withdrawal of the Greek army
and the entry of the Turkish army into Izmir. Mrs. Wood wrote the following lines on a page of her diary
dated September 16, 1922:
“Mustafa Kemal came to my house. Next to him were İsmet Pasha and other generals and the famous
Turkish woman Halide Edip. Mustafa Kemal Pasha was different among them. The joy I felt from knowing
him and meeting him and talking to him was endless. We sat and chatted for about 15 minutes. Mustafa
Kemal then asked me for permission. Then Fevzi, İsmet, Asım Pasha and Halide Edip went upstairs. Yes,
right now the fate of the Empire is being discussed in the upper part of my house, next to the piano in front
of my bedroom, on velvet armchairs.” Mattheys Mansion on Bornova Gençlik Street was one of the most
striking mansions in those years, with its pleasant lines and arched entrance door surrounded by purple
clusters of lilac flowers blooming in the spring. Many of the houses had stone benches called "pesulaki" in
front of their garden gates. In front of Mattheys Mansion, there were two pesulaki facing each other on
either side of the door. In the glorious times of Mattheys Mansion, neighbors were hosted on these stone
benches in front of the houses of Bornova's former residents. On summer evenings, people would sit at the
pesulaki, and as passers-by were invited, the number of guests would increase and the conversations
would get longer.
History
The mansions of the Levantine families, who contributed greatly to the socio-cultural richness of Izmir, lost their former magnificent
appearance over time for various reasons and were replaced by apartment buildings. Very few of them have survived until today.
Mattheys Mansion was one of them. In order to remind the past, the Arkas Family purchased the mansion from the children of Renee
Steinbüchel and Sonia Whitall, who were the owners of the mansion after Lucy de Cramer, in 2018. As a result of meticulous research
in the archives, restoration work began, remaining true to the original. The findings during the restoration work gave important clues
about the architectural structure of the building. It is thought that Mattheys Mansion, which was originally a simple square structure,
reached its current appearance with additions built by six different families in six different periods. These additions lasted until the
2000s, and Mattheys Mansion had been a “living building” from the very beginning. The most distinctive features of Mattheys Mansion
were the arched entrance gate, which was described as the most elegant among all Bornova mansions, and the wall system built with
stream stones. Thanks to this wall system, the restoration work of the mansion, which survived to the 2000s largely unscathed, took
five years, including the permitting process. Today, the mansion is named after father Tony Mattheys.
 Restoration
The restoration process as explained by Master Architect Restorer Seda Özen Bilgili… I first visited Mattheys Mansion in
December 2017. While I was continuing the preparations for the project in January 2018, my eyes were selecting other building
pieces in the garden. Only the main pavilion was listed as a registered work in official documents. After listening to the
memories of Lucien Arkas and his friends, we first cleared the ground floor of the observation pavilion overlooking Bornova in
the front, and then, with great effort, cleared the ruins of the barn, paddock and greenhouse at the back from the rubble that
covered them. The Main Mansion was built as a summer house in 1780. Over time, the lifestyle of its users was reflected in the
structure. Traces of approximately five different periods were visible. Our aim was to preserve all the additions and period
traces in the building and to discover the stories and original states of all the buildings in the garden. We scanned literature, old
photographs, maps and state archives along with oral history studies. We learned both the photography traditions and the April
Wreath ritual, which heralds spring, at the main entrance stairs of the mansion in Bornova. I think we have reached important
findings for Bornova city memory and have the chance to preserve it.
Some time after I started the projects, I noticed the pesulaki (small bench) next to the main entrance door. Families start the
conversation on these benches, and when the conversation gets longer, cold water and even fruits are carried from the houses
to the door, and when it gets longer, they go to the garden. Among the pesulaki on both sides of the main entrance of Mattheys
Mansion, the one on the right side does not exist today due to the construction of a road. We registered and protected the one
on the left by incorporating it into our projects. We also prepared surveys of the ruins, historical research and restitution of the
units such as the "Grandmother's Mansion", "Observation Pavilion", "Greenhouse", "Pool", "Padock" and the back door where
the servants dispersed to the market and the surrounding stables, blacksmiths and kitchens. We ensured that all these ruins,
which were about to disappear, were registered and included in the zoning plan.

Seda Özen Bilgili

Master Architect Restorer

 Bornova Mansions

With the Eastern Mediterranean coasts coming under the rule of the Ottoman Empire from the end of the 16th century, port cities
such as Izmir, Istanbul, Thessaloniki, Iskenderun and Aleppo became attractive centers for European merchants. The Europeans
who settled in these cities for trade purposes were called "Levantines", derived from the word "levant", which describes the
Eastern Mediterranean geography. Izmir became a port city where Levantines lived densely. Bornova was initially a summer
resort for Levantine families. It is known that the first members of the Venetian Cortazzi, French Giraud and English Whittall
families to come to Izmir built summer houses in Bornova. With the Izmir-Kasaba railway coming into service in 1866, Bornova
ceased to be a summer resort and became a place of permanent living. The majority of Bornova mansions that have survived to
the present day are located just north of the railway, while some are located to the south. From old photographs, documents and
the settlement of still standing mansions, it is understood that Bornova, which was formed by Levantine families, was formed on
two parallel roads to the north of the railway, perpendicular to Bornova station. The most distinctive feature of Bornova mansions
was that most of them were built in gardens surrounded by walls. The mansions built facing the road had large backyards.
English garden architecture was generally used in these gardens. The majority of these mansions were large, spacious buildings
with two floors, symmetrical, plain facades, placed in square or rectangular gardens, with exterior decoration kept to a minimum,
and where crowded families and helpers could live. Surrounded by elaborate gardens, the reception halls of the Bornova
mansions, especially the first floor, were magnificent, and the interior decoration materials were generally brought from England.
 Bornova Mansions

• Mattheys MansionPaterson Lodge

• De Andria Pavilion
• Edward Whithall Lodge
• Charlton Whittall Mansion (The Big House)
• Bardisbanian Pavilion
• Pierre Pagy Mansion
• Belhomme Pavilion
• Aliberti Pavilion
 Mattheys Mansion

The restoration work of the Mattheys Mansion, built by the

Englishman John Maltass in 1780, which was initiated by
Arkas Holding in 2018 and lasted five years along with the
permit processes, has been completed. Mattheys
Mansion, which was visited by Atatürk in 1922, is now
waiting to welcome its new guests. Hortense Wood, who
is known to have lived in Mattheys Mansion throughout
her life, mentioned "a house in Bornova" in her diary,
which shed light on the present day with the important
historical events she noted. This house, which is
understood to be a large mansion with many rooms, was
once visited by Atatürk and, in Hortense Wood's own
words, was the house where the future of the Republic of
Turkey was discussed, in other words, Mattheys Mansion
as it is known today.
 Paterson Lodge
The first owner of the mansion was a grain merchant named John
Paterson, who came to Izmir from Leith, Scotland. The Paterson
mansion, which started to be built in 1859, was a large building with 38
rooms. John Paterson and his family left Izmir during the War of
Independence and settled on the island of Crete. When they returned
after the war, the family found that their mansion had not suffered any
damage and continued their commercial activities during the Republic
years, but they were not as successful as during the Ottoman period.
The Paterson family lived in this mansion until they left Turkey and
immigrated to England in 1963. The mansion was used as the NATO
union office for nearly five years. It was partially demolished in 1973 by
a company to be converted into a carpet factory. It was expropriated by
the Izmir Provincial Administration, High Institution of Monuments, in
1978. However, although various restoration projects were put on the
agenda for many years, it remained half-demolished and abandoned.
In 2017, it was leased to Izmir Metropolitan Municipality for 49 years.
The first horse races were held in Izmir in the name of the sultan and
then became widespread throughout Turkey until today. Paterson
Lodge was built on approximately fifty-four acres of land, half of which
was used for stables where racehorses were bred. This is why
Paterson Mansion is symbolized by “Horse Racing”.
 De Andria Pavilion

De Andria Mansion was built by the Zipcy family in the

1830s. It was first purchased by Richard Mattheys and
then by Charles Balladur in 1928. Izmir-born Edouard
Balladur, who was the Prime Minister of France between
1993 and 1995, also lived in the mansion from time to
time. After Charles Balladur's death, the mansion was
inherited by his daughter Denise De Andria. Denise De
Andria lived with her husband Remo De Andria in this
mansion surrounded by high walls until 1973. The main
business of most of the owners of the mansions in the
Bornova region was carpet export. The De Andria family,
originating from Genoa, Italy, was one of the first Levantine
families to trade carpets in Izmir. One of the most used
motifs in period carpets was the star motif. For this reason,
the De Andria Pavilion is symbolized by the star figure that
represents productivity, birth, peaceful life and renewal of
the universe.
 Edward Whithall Lodge
The construction date of this mansion is unknown. Until
today, it has been owned by the Corsi, Perkins, Barry,
Whittall and Giraud families. Edward Whittall, who once
owned the house, was a well-known botanist. It is
known that the mansion hosted many famous names
such as Lord Byron, Gustave Flaubert, Alphonse De
Lamartine, Pierre Loti, İsmet İnönü, Falih Rıfkı Atay and
Yakup Kadri Karaosmanoğlu. With the decision taken
on September 14, 1922, it was used as the Western
Front Command and Erkan-ı Harp Riyaset (Chief of
General Staff) for a while. Although Edward Whittall,
who was born in 1851 and gave his name to the
mansion, died in 1917, the garden of this extraordinary
mansion continues to develop in the hands of his
grandson Brian Giraud. Edward Whittall made his
name in the literature with the tulip species he
introduced to the botanical world from bulbs grown in
Anatolia. Edward Whittal's passion for botany is
symbolized by the "Tulip" figure.
 Charlton Whittall Mansion (The Big House)
It is known that there was a convent built for Dutch nuns in the early
18th century where the Big House is located. The building, which was
first built as a single-storey building by a Dutch immigrant, was
purchased in the 1820s by James Whittall, who settled in Izmir in 1817.
After his death, the house became the property of his brother, Charlton
Whittall, and was expanded in later years, floors were added, and
became known as the "Big House”. Engaged in international trade, the
Whittall Family had an important position in the social and political life of
Izmir and Bornova. For this reason, the Great House hosted many
important names on different dates, such as Sultan Abdülaziz in 1863,
Alfred Ernest Albert, Duke of Edinburgh in 1886, George Frederick
Ernest Albert, who ascended to the British throne under the name
George V. in 1910, and Greek Prince Andrew in 1921. . The Big House
came into the ownership of the Giraud family, who were related to the
Whittall family, in the 1930s; It was nationalized in 1960 and transferred
to the Turkish Treasury. Today, the Big House is used as the Ege
University Rectorate Building. The Whittall family, who were engaged in
trade, also had boats. Izmir boats were an important tool for
transporting both the products on the ship and the passengers to the
port.
For this reason, the Big House is symbolized by the "Smyrna Boat".
 Bardisbanian Pavilion

The Bardisbanian Mansion, known today as the Green

Mansion, was built by the merchant DA Bardisbanian
from Izmir in 1880. When the Bardisbanian Family
immigrated to France in the late 1800s, the Gasparian
family took over the mansion and left Izmir, and the
mansion was nationalized in 1922. The building was
used as Bornova Agricultural School. It was transferred
to the Turkish Treasury in 1949. After its first repair in
1986, it was put into service of Ege University in 1990.
The mansion, which was used as the guest house of Ege
University, was restored in 1993, 1995 and 2004. Today,
it is used as a social facility serving university employees
and students. Bardisbanian Mansion is located opposite
the Bornova station of the Izmir - Town railway, which
was built in 1865 with the contribution of Levantine
Families. For this reason, the Bardisbanian Pavilion is
symbolized by the “Locomotive”.
 Pierre Pagy Mansion
The mansion was built by Fondan d'Escalon, who settled
in Bornova after the French Revolution. The Pierre Pagy
Mansion came into the possession of the La Fontaine
family and then the Whittall family through marriage.
Sheila Whittall, granddaughter of the first owner of the
house, Fondan d'Escalon, sold the mansion to William
Giraud. William Giraud sold it to the current owners, the
Pagy Family. Pagy family is one of the oldest French
Levantine families in Izmir. The first Pagy to come to
Izmir was Sieur Gabriel Pagy, who was sent from
Marseille to investigate trade opportunities in the early
1700s. Pierre Pagy, from the Pagy family involved in the
cotton trade, was going to marry Count Aliotti's daughter,
Marguerite; That's why he bought the mansion. Today,
the mansion is owned by the Fercken and Arkas families,
grandchildren of Pierre Pagy. For this reason, the Pierre
Pagy Mansion is symbolized by the logo of Arkas
Holding.
 Belhomme Pavilion
The mansion was built by the British merchant Wolf
brothers in the 1880s. It later came into the
possession of the Greek Xenopolou and the English
Belhomme families. Belhomme Mansion bears
Renaissance architectural features with its double-
arm staircase on the front and columns with Ionic
capitals. Civilian Italian architecture influences can
be seen on the rear façade, where there is a veranda
enriched with natural stone columns and arches with
brick joints. Ownership of the mansion passed to a
Turkish family in the 1950s. It was nationalized in the
1960s. After it came into public use, it was used as a
district governor's office, a health center and a
municipal conservatory. Today, the mansion is used
as the Atatürk Library belonging to Bornova
Municipality.Column capitals, which add a
monumental dimension to the structure, are used as
the symbol of Belhomme Mansion.
 Aliberti Pavilion
Aliberti Mansion was severely damaged during the War
of Independence and was sold to the Italian Zandonatti
family by the La Fontaine family after the declaration of
the Republic. The Zandonatti family renovated the
mansion extensively and sold it to the Italian Aliberti
family in the late 1950s. A tennis court and a large
garden with fruit trees were added to the Aliberti
Mansion, built in colonial style, in 1856; However, these
were damaged during the War of Independence. After
the Aliberti family bought the mansion, they rearranged
the garden with the trees and plants they brought from
Italy. Football, which was one of the important activities
of Levantine families in the late 19th century, spread
from Izmir to all over Turkey. James La Fontaine, who
lived in the Aliberti mansion for a while, organized a
football league in which Greek and Armenian teams in
Izmir participated in the 1890s and was held until 1922.
The organization in question was Turkey's first football
league. The interest of Bornova Levantine residents in
football is symbolized by the "Football Ball".
 Why Golf Story
Bornova was a settlement chosen for summer houses due to its beautiful weather and nature.
With the Izmir-Kasaba railway coming into service in 1866, it became a place of permanent
habitation. Today's famous mansions of Bornova started to be built after these dates. While
Mattheys Mansion comes to life again today, it makes a reference to the history and culture of
Bornova with the Miniature Bornova Mansions Themed Mini Golf Course. The wealth that the
Levantines, who lived in Izmir for many years, brought to socio-cultural life as well as
economic life, was also evident in sports. They had a great role in the emergence of modern
sports such as football, tennis, horse riding, cycling, athletics and swimming in Izmir. Golf was
one of these sports. In the database of the London-based Levantine Heritage Foundation,
which was established to research and preserve the cultural heritage of the Levantines who
lived in the lands of the Ottoman Empire between the 17th and 20th centuries, the beginning
of golf in Izmir is described as follows: “Around 1903-1904, two Scots , gathered a few
relatives and drilled nine holes at the race course in Paradiso, about 10 miles outside of town.
“The beginnings were humble.” The current name of Paradiso is Şirinyer. The place described
as a city is probably Buca, formerly known as Boudja. It is not known who the two Scottish
young men are or what their names are, but it seems that they opened their golf holes in an
area where horse races were held. Therefore, the golf course could not stay there for a long
time and the club moved to Bornova, formerly known as Bournabat, in 1931. According to
written history, the first golf club in Izmir started operating in 1905 under the name Izmir-
Bournabat Golf Club. This club was the second golf club established in Ottoman territory. The
first one was established in Istanbul in 1895. Its 12-hole course was in Okmeydanı. Today, it
continues its activities under the name of Istanbul Golf Sports Specialization Club and is one
of the oldest clubs in the world.
Why Golf Story
Izmir-Bournabat Golf Club survived two world wars, albeit with ups and downs. II. With the onset of World War II, the golf
course shrank first from twelve to nine holes and then to just six holes. With the end of the war in 1945, it returned to its
former glory days. If it had not had to cease its operations in 1970, Izmir-Bournabat Golf Club would have been one of the
oldest golf clubs in the world. Izmir-Bournabat Golf Club was not just a sports club, it was a social center. Alfred A. Simes,
born in Izmir in 1909, described the importance of the golf club for the community he belonged to in an interview he gave
before his death in 2001: “Bornova golf club was an important venue for the British community before and after the
Second World War. Many events were held there, including parties we attended in fancy dresses that now remain in photo
albums.” Izmir-Bournabat Golf Club has been the center of Bornova's social life since the day it was founded. In addition to
the balls mentioned by Mr. Simes, Christmas celebrations were also held at the club. Important guests, such as members
of dynasties from Europe, were hosted at the club. Another memory is from Arthur Lawrence, born in Izmir in 1905: “I was
seven years old when my father introduced me to golf. I'm left-handed and there were no left-handed bats. He cut one of
his own golf clubs into a left-handed club. The course at Paradiso was a nine-hole course with unmowed greens and sand-
centered holes. "In the spring, when the grass was long, we spent our time looking for balls lost in the grass rather than
playing golf.” Frederick de Cramer, born in Izmir in 1960, tells about the times when Izmir-Bournabat Golf Club lost its
former power: “There was a golf course in Bornova. My parents used to play golf there. The English Club in Bornova was
no longer active in my time. People mostly played cards, bridge, billiards, tennis and darts.” In 1970, Izmir-Bournabat Golf
Club closed. The Mini Golf course, now revived in Mattheys Gardens, consists of nine courses, and on each golf course
there are Miniature Bornova Mansions, which reflect the architectural features of the nine mansions in Bornova, which
were the symbol of that period and have survived to the present day, and the sociocultural and economic values of the
period. With the Miniature Bornova Mansions located on each course, it reminds us of a piece of history and revives the
sport of golf identified with Bornova.