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Turkish American Hour | Türk Amerikan Televizyonu
A Tour of Ambassador’s Residence in Washington D.C.
Interview with Mrs. Gülgün Şensoy, wife of Turkish Ambassador Mr. Nabi Şensoy

by Hassan Bekir Ali
January 6, 2009

Before taking us on a tour of her residence, Mrs. Gülgün Şensoy briefly described the fascinating history of the magnificent building. The building was designed by local architect George Oakley Totten Jr. for businessman and philanthropist Edward Hamlin Everett, and completed in 1914. However, the residence had a “Turkish connection” even before it was designed and built. Totten went to Turkey in 1908 and designed a beautiful residence for Izzet Pasha, the Grand Vizier at the time. Sultan Abdul-Hamid was so impressed with Totten that he wanted him as his private architect—but this was not to be, as the sultan was deposed before this could happen. Back in the U.S., Totten was commissioned by Edward Hamlin Everett, the “bottle top king”, to build a mansion. Combining architectural influences from both East and West, including Ottoman Turkish motifs, Totten unwittingly created the ideal Turkish residence. Everett’s second wife approached the Turkish Government, who leased the building in 1932, and used it as both the Chancellery and the residence of the Turkish Ambassador. In 1934 the home and its furnishings were purchased by the Turkish government.

In 1934 Münir Ertegün arrived in Washington, D.C., the first Turkish ambassador of the young Turkish Republic. He was accompanied by his two sons, Nasuhi and Ahmet Ertegün, who were great fans of jazz and blues music, and also for hosting integrated musical evenings where both African-American and other groups performed together, thereby defying Washington’s social segregation barriers. Ahmet Ertegün later founded Atlantic Records and became a music industry icon, making famous such figures as Roberta Flack, Ray Charles, Aretha Franklin, and so forth. The building was used as both the Embassy and the ambassador’s residence until 1997, when the Embassy moved to another location on Massachusetts Ave.

Mrs. Şensoy started the tour in the turquoise and gold drawing room, one of the most beautiful rooms of the house, and her favorite because of its colors. Standing in front of one of the 12 fireplaces of the residence, she pointed out numerous works of art which decorate and occupy the room, including: two valuable 18th Century cobalt urns; the new beautiful green and gold Turkish carpet, an exact replica of Sultan Beyazit II’s Kaftan made especially for the house and donated by a Turkish factory; the Ambassador's antique silver collection, gathered over many years, crafted by Turkish silversmiths in Istanbul; works of well-known 19th Century Turkish artist adorning the walls; 19th Century porcelain made in Limoges; etc.

The conservatory, with its Romanesque and Ottoman atmosphere and magnificent signature stained-glass windows, colorful mosaic ceilings, elaborate wrought bronze gate and Art Nouveaux furniture, is an ideal venue where lunches or dinners are held for small gatherings of friends. The musician's or minstrel’s alcove, where musicians played as guests arrived during the Everett days, is characterized by elegant stained-glass windows, a carved ceiling replete with 18th century gold leaf allegorical paintings giving it a Sistine Chapel -like air. And there is much, much more which make this house as much a beautiful museum as a residence.