HEY! Beyoğlu: Buildings, Architects, Stories
"Location: Doğan Apartment"
Moderator: Cem Sorguç
Speaker: Okan Bayülgen
Built in 1894 with an Italian architectural influence, Doğan Apartment, located in Istanbul's Galata district, was commissioned by the Belgian Helbig Family. Over time, it changed owners and names, being referred to as Helbig Apartment, Botton Han, Victoria Han, and more. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, it served as a rented residence for wealthy Levantine, Jewish, and Greek families. In later years, Doğan Apartment hosted various personalities from Turkey's cultural, artistic, and scientific circles, from Mualla Eyüboğlu, one of Turkey's first female architects, to researcher-writer and collector Rasih Nuri İleri. It also served as a filming location for Yavuz Turgul's movies "Muhsin Bey" and "Eşkiya." Okan Bayülgen, who has been living in this building for many years and has maintained a connection with it since his high school years, narrates the story.
Listen to the podcast episode here.