Konak (tr|konak, el|κονάκι, sr|конак, sq|Konaku, bg|конак) is a name for a house in Turkey and on the territories of the former Ottoman Empire, especially one used as an official residence for the elite members of the Ottoman society.[1]
The konak, a transnational Ottoman architectural style, was commonly referred to as a “Turkish house” in Europe, though it was not inherently tied to any single nation or religion in the Ottoman Empire.[2] In the Ottoman Empire, konaks were prominent urban mansions, especially in Istanbul, which was considered home to the finest examples.[2] After the empire’s fall, various nations rebranded konaks as part of their national heritage, often erasing their Ottoman roots.[2] In Turkey, konaks were integrated into the national identity, while in places like Greece, their Ottoman elements were reinterpreted as Byzantine or Hellenic.[2] Architect Le Corbusier admired Istanbul’s konaks, viewing them as exemplary during his 1911 travels.[2]