Neşet Efendi House

Neşet Efendi Mansion is a historic building reflecting the traditional residential architecture of Kilis. It was constructed between 1925 and 1927 by Neşet Efendi, a member of Kilis’s elite. Inspired by the floor plan of his close friend Cabirizade Nuri Bey’s house in Aleppo, it was commissioned from Hacı Ahmet Usta, the Aleppo-based architect known as “Mimaru’s-Sultan,” along with his skilled craftsmen. This same master builder also constructed the Kilis Government Mansion.

Architectural Features and Construction

Neşet Efendi Mansion is a two-story structure built entirely of load-bearing stone masonry. The cut stones used in its construction were transported from quarries in Kesmelik, located north of Kilis, and were worked by local craftsmen in the city. The mansion features a large roof, constructed by Naccar (carpenter) Mehmet Usta. Interior joinery, shutters, and doors were completed by Naccar Halit Usta using gomalak wood. Interior walls were plastered with a material known locally as “sabun sıva,” made from lime, hemp, and fine ash—a common mixture in Kilis at the time. The building was reinforced beneath the roof with flat iron bars.

Neşet Efendi Mansion (Kilis Municipality)

Interior Spaces and Material Use

The first floor of the mansion consists of six rooms, a reception hall, a kitchen, a bathroom, and a toilet. The rooms are tiled with ceramic tiles, while the large room is clad in red and white Italian marble. The small salon housing the kitchen and bathroom, as well as the staircases, are constructed from Gaziantep marble. On the second floor, the rooms are also tiled with ceramic tiles, and the large reception hall is entirely covered in Italian marble. The kitchen, bathroom, small salon, and staircases on the second floor match those on the first floor. The marble and ceramic tiles used in the mansion were transported by sea from Italy to Kilis via İskenderun.

Garden and Other Sections

The mansion is situated within a spacious garden. Water needs were met by two wells—one inside the building and one in the garden. Additionally, a cistern with an opening on the first floor collected rainwater. The northern side of the mansion was enclosed by iron railings. Pools and flower gardens were located on both the northern and southern facades. The garden was adorned with flowers and rare pine trees brought from Mersin. A poultry house for peacocks was built on the southern side, while on the eastern side, a granary, stables for horses, and two garages for carriages were constructed.

Historical Role and Subsequent Uses

Neşet Efendi Mansion played a significant historical role, particularly during the 1930s and 1940s, by hosting meetings between Turkish and Syrian border governors and receiving visits from the governors of Gaziantep and Aleppo. Until Neşet Efendi’s death, the mansion served as a shared residence for the entire family, especially during summer months. Neşet Efendi Topaloğlu passed away on 6 April 1969, and his wife Rukiye Hanım (Topaloğlu) died on 19 July 1940. After Neşet Efendi’s death, his children put the mansion up for sale, and it was subsequently sold to private individuals. Facing the threat of demolition, the mansion was expropriated by the Ministry of Culture in 1979. The General Directorate of Cultural Heritage and Museums undertook its restoration. Subsequently, through an agreement, the building was transferred to the General Directorate of Libraries and served as the Provincial Public Library from 1986 to 2008. Following Kilis’s elevation to provincial status in 1995, the first floor was allocated to the Provincial Directorate of Culture, while the second floor continued to function as a library. In 2008, the building was vacated for conversion into a museum and was assigned to the General Directorate of Cultural Heritage and Museums in 2009. Neşet Efendi Mansion was opened to the public on 20 June 2012 as the Kilis Ethnography Museum.