by Zeynep M. Ersavcı rue Jules Lejeune 74 The Resıdence of the Ambassador of the Republıc of ...

69 Pages·2016·5.28 MB·English

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With profound gratitude
to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of
the Republic of Turkey.
Special thanks to:
İdil Biret, for the original idea, my husband Murat and son Derin
for giving me my joie de vivre; my mother Melda Güvenç,
for always telling me to write, and my father Professor Bozkurt Güvenç
for showing me how; Marc Cools, Echevin d’Uccle and
the President of Brussels City and Communes and his team
for providing valuable information on the original plans of the residence;
and Counsellor Korkut Tufan, Architect İlhan Türegün, Dominique Misson-Berrebi,
David Barchard, Lord John Scott, Lady Scott, Lady Patricia Daunt Tony Barrell,
Tony de Liedekerke, Yıldız Keyükkaan, Corrine Devleeshouwer, Hülya Arslan,
Hatice Salar, Nele Callebert-Hermans, Nathalie de Misson, Roby de Tennerman,
İnci Dallı of İznik Vakfı, İstanbul, Sermet Tolan of Ofset Yapımevi A.Ş.,
who were all instrumental in their own way in the realisation of this booklet.
Editor
Tony Barrell
Photographs
José- Noël Doumont, McArnolds.com
Lay-out
José- Noël Doumont, McArnolds.com
Bilge Barhana, BEK
Printed by
Ofset Yapımevi
Şair Sokak No:4
Çağlayan Mahallesi
Kağıthane 34410
İstanbul
ISBN: 978-605-87744-0-7
rue
Jules
Lejeune
74
The Resıdence of
the Ambassador of
the Republıc of
Turkey ın Brussels
by
Zeynep M.
Ersavcı
4
“What you leave behind is not what is
engraved in stone monuments, but what
is woven into the lives of others.”
PERICLES
“Art necessitates savoir-faire, which is
an understanding of work. Whoever
admires a work of art is admiring
work that is skilful and successful.
It is therefore essential to know
something about this work if one wishes
to admire and enjoy the result, which
is the work of art.
For art requires awareness.
The observation of art may provide true
pleasure only if the art of observation
is present.”
BERTOLT BRECHT
Ecrits sur la littérature et l’art
(cid:87) The original plans of the Beaux-Arts-style building, drawn by the
famous Parisian architects René Sergent, Léon Fagnen and René
Bétourné, whose signatures are visible in the bottom right-hand
corner

(cid:87) The elegant façade, of hand-
moulded and kiln-fi red Klampsteen
bricks with Doric columns of pierre
d’Euville (limestone).
(cid:88) Forged iron ‘ropes’ make ingenious
guardrails.
7
Preface
culture and provide hospitality. Receptions are held
not only for the dignitaries of the host country but also
Turco-Belgian ties date back to 1837, with the Ottoman
for compatriots and foreign representatives. These are
Empire’s recognition of the de facto independence
not simply places where ambassadors live, but also
of The Kingdom of Belgium in its sixth year. The
where harmonious personal connections are made to
first permanent Ottoman legation in Brussels was
accomplish the main goal of the diplomatic mission.
established in 1848, and on 24 November of the
The spirit of the residences frequently alters as their
following year, the Ottoman ambassador Kalimaki
inhabitants change, bringing different tastes and
(Callimachi) Bey presented his credentials to King
styles.
Leopold I. In turn, the Sublime Porte (Istanbul) was
also among the first 14 foreign legations of the newly
During the tenure of my husband, Ambassador
founded Kingdom (1838).
Murat N. Ersavcı (2009-11), the 40th representative/
ambassador to the Kingdom of Belgium, we were
During the 173 years of diplomatic relations, Turkey
fortunate to live in Brussels and in this remarkable
(initially the Ottoman Empire, and later the Republic
residence. The ambassador and I wished to use
of Turkey) has been represented by numerous chargès
this building not only for official duties, for visiting
d’affaires and ambassadors in various addresses
ministers and delegations, but also for welcoming
in Brussels. The embassies and residences of the
members of the royal family, foreign diplomats,
Ottoman Empire were all very impressive, palatial
members of Turco-Belgian community and our
buildings. This tradition continued when the Republic
friends. Diverse activities were organised to promote
of Turkey was established in 1923.
Turkish culture. The residence was shared with
members of the Belgian and international women’s
This is intended to be a modest book on the residence
associations attending numerous lectures on Turkish
of the Ambassador of the Republic of Turkey to the
culture and Anatolian civilisations, which were the
Kingdom of Belgium on Rue Jules Lejeune 74. With
topics of my presentations. This is also where projects
its size and grandeur, the building is an Hôtel de
for women and children of the Turkish community,
Maître, in contrast to the other Maisons de Maîtres
concerning educational and social responsibility, were
in the area. It was first leased as a residence and
discussed and planned.
chancery in 1945, and was eventually purchased
on 8 May 1958 from Count Raoul de Liedekerke by
Ambassador Rıfkı Rüştü Zorlu. The matrice cadastrale
(title register) indicates that 3,750,000 Belgian francs
was paid for this new Turkish state property.
Zeynep M. Ersavcı
Residences are important vehicles for ambassadors May 2011, Brussels
to represent their countries’ interests, display their
8
Photo Matrice cadastrale
9