The Azeryan Yali occupies 400 square meters
of space set in grounds measuring a total of
4,280 square meters in all. On the ground floor
is a gift shop and a small tea room. The ceiling
over the main entrance (which is no longer used)
is decorated with plaster moldings inspired by
ancient Roman architecture. Wooden stairways
lead to the upper floors. The walls are painted
so as to resemble veined marble. The centrally
located main halls of the second and third
floors and the rooms opening onto them are used
for display purposes. The attic is used for
storage and also contains offices and a library.
The crossed wooden moldings decorating the
exterior give the building a distinctive
appearance quite different from that of its
neighbors. It is because of these molded facades
that the building was for a long time popularly
known as the "Threaded Yali".
In 1983 the Vehbi Koc Foundation purchased
the Hüseyin Kocabas collection for the Sadberk
Hanim Museum. It was decided to purchase and
restore a semi-dilapidated yali adjacent to it
to house these new acquisitions. The facade of
this second yali, which is thought to have been
constructed in the early part of this century,
was faithfully reconstructed according to the
original. The restoration project was prepared
by İbrahim Yalcin and the work, including the
construction of the museum, took two years to
complete. This museum, which was opened on
October 24th 1988,
was given the
name the "Sevgi Gonul Wing". It houses works
from the pre-Islamic period. In 1988 it was
awarded the Europa Nostra award as an
outstanding example of modern museum
architecture and design.
This wing is completely constructed of
reinforced concrete. The front is clad in wood
while the side is clad in marble stucco treated
to resemble wood. (This was done as a precaution
against fire.) The building has three stories in
the front and four at the back, including the
ground floor on which are located a
multi-purpose hall and conservation laboratory.
Archaeological objects are displayed in
chronological order on the main and other
floors. The total exhibition space is 625 square
meters. The entrance floor is paved in white
Afyon marble while black Adapazari marble was
used for the floors of the exhibition spaces and
the stairs. All the exhibition areas are sealed
off from daylight and the display cases are
illuminated in keeping with modern museum
techniques.
Open daily between
10:00-17:00 except
Wednesdays.
