Restoration process to begin in Atatürk's ‘Walking Mansion’

YALOVA - Anatolia News Agency

The mansion should be restored every three to four years, according to officials.

A historical structure known as the “Yürüyen Köşk” (Walking Mansion), because modern Turkey’s founder Atatürk had it moved to prevent a plane tree from being trimmed, is about to undergo restoration.
 
The mansion, located in the northwestern province of Yalova, was last restored in 2006 and subsequently opened to public use. Some parts of the historical mansion have been restored twice to date, but have become damaged again because of humidity and salty water, Yalova Mayor Yakup Koçal. “It should be restored at least every three to four years, because it is located on the seashore. The new restoration will now go out to tender,” Koçal said.

The mansion was originally constructed in 1929. Atatürk saw the mansion during a yacht trip and rested under the shadow of the plane tree growing beside it. The branches of the tree had begun to damage the mansion over time, and the gardener proposed trimming them, but Atatürk ordered the mansion be moved instead. It was moved four meters to the east.