This mansion, which belonged to the Salepçizade family—one of the wealthy Turkish families of the city of Izmir in the 19th century—was commissioned by one of the family members, Hacı Ahmet Ağa. Located on 2nd Beyler Street, the mansion consists of two sections: the harem and the selamlık (guest reception area). The materials used in the construction of the residence, its Neoclassical façade characteristics, rectangular plan, stairs opening to the central hall, bay window, basement used for ventilation, masonry walls with a wooden frame, façade decorations, interior ornaments, and pilasters make it one of the characteristic structures built after the mid-19th century known as the “Chios Type,” “Interaction House,” or “Izmir House.” Between 1907 and 1909, the building served as the Izmir Gendarmerie School. In 1912, the harem section hosted the branch headquarters of the Committee of Union and Progress, while the selamlık section housed the National Library. In addition, a cinema was built in the garden of the mansion to generate revenue for the library. The cinema and the library continued to operate within the mansion from the 1910s until the 1930s. Since its construction, Salepçizade Ahmet Ağa Mansion has witnessed many significant events until the first quarter of the 20th century. The building was leased by the Izmir Metropolitan Municipality from the Regional Directorate of Foundations and restored in 2012 within the scope of the “Izmir History Project.” In 2024, it was transformed into the headquarters of the Izmir Planning Agency established by the Izmir Metropolitan Municipality. As in the past, the aim is for Salepçizade Ahmet Ağa Mansion to host educational activities and cultural events for the city, and to develop pioneering, innovative, and sustainable strategies and projects to solve urban problems with the participation of all segments of society.
Şark Cafe (Chateau Restaurant) is one of the first structures built in the area following the opening of Varyant Road, which was part of the modernization and urban planning process of the city of Izmir in the 1950s. The building was inspired by Taşlık Cafe in Istanbul and was designed based on the “National Architecture” concept proposed by Sedat Hakkı Eldem in 1948. Designed by the city’s zoning director of the period, Architect Rıza Aşkan, together with Doğan Tekeli, and completed in 1954, the building was intended as an elegant venue where the public could relax and socialize. Distinguished by its features reflecting a national architectural character and the lightness of its motifs, the building incorporates wide eaves and simplified Turkish motifs. Since the day it was built, Şark Cafe has become one of the iconic structures of the city, serving as a restaurant and entertainment venue and hosting gatherings of senior officials, politicians, and citizens from all segments of Izmir, as well as wedding ceremonies. The building underwent partial renovation in 1994 and was comprehensively restored in 2010, including landscaping and garden arrangements. Between 2019 and 2024, part of the building was used as the mayor’s residence and another part as a library by the Izmir Metropolitan Municipality. In the new phase, the section previously used as a guesthouse has been transformed into part of the Izmir Planning Agency Campus, established by the Izmir Metropolitan Municipality, to host participatory meetings and educational activities, including structures such as an active citizenship office. Additionally, the section functioning as a public library will be redesigned as part of the Izmir Planning Agency together with its terrace garden using the design science workshop method. The purpose of these arrangements is to encourage public participation, develop strategies and plans for the city together with stakeholders, and ultimately create a technology-oriented, innovative, sustainable city with a high quality of life.
