by Zeynep Cermen

ISTANBUL, Feb. 14 (Xinhua) -- The pavilion on the Asian bank of the Bosphorus Strait in Istanbul was built 154 years ago to act as a barn for the horse-loving Sultans, looking toward the magnificent silhouette of the European part of the city.

There are three steps leading up to the main gate of the venue which overlooks a giant bronze horse statue in the garden packed with centuries-old trees and a tranquil pond.

"The tenants of this historic Barn Pavilion were the most valuable blood horses of the Ottoman Sultans," Ahmet Capoglu, vice chairman of the Presidency of National Palaces Administration, told Xinhua.

The restoration of the pavilion, built in 1865 upon the order of then Ottoman Sultan Abdulaziz, was completed lately following nine-year hard work.

The Turkish authorities are now planning to transform the venue into a museum to showcase the horse culture of the Ottoman era and the Sultans' passion for horses.

During the restoration process, the experts strictly followed the original architecture and design of the venue located inside the Beylerbeyi Palace compound, the summer residence of Sultan Abdulaziz, said Capoglu.

The gateway of the pavilion leads to a roomy living space reserved for the stable boy, who was in charge of all aspects of the supervision of the horses.

Colorful embellishments adorn the ceiling, depicting scenes of wild animals fighting each other and displaying weapons used by mounted Ottoman soldiers.

Wooden frames on the windows and doors are all in the shape of a horseshoe.

For Capoglu, every minor detail of the pavilion is reflecting Abdulaziz's enthusiasm for horses.

"Owning a horse in the Ottoman Empire was a sign of status," explained Capoglu. "Therefore, as the Sultans had the highest status, it was natural that the best horses were selected for them from across the globe by the state officials or presented as valuable gifts by the heads of other countries."

One of the main tasks for then governor of Baghdad was to find the best Arabian horses in his region and send them to the capital of the empire, he said.

The living room of the stable boy is opening up with three steps down to the barn section, where up to 20 horses could stay, each in separate space.

"These three steps at each side indicate the hygiene of the location," Capoglu said. "Most probably, there was some strict procedure related to the sanitation while going up to the living room from outside and then down to the barn section before accessing the horses."

Sarkis Balyan, architect of the pavilion, used baked bricks on the ground to protect the horses from the cold weather and installed extra wooden layers on the floor to make female horses warmer as they were more easily affected by chill, especially when giving birth.

In the hall, two big horsehead sculptures adorn the high wall, while six chandeliers with horsehead reliefs on their top hang on the ceiling.

"From a certain point of view, each chandelier looks like an eye of a horse," said Capoglu.

For Cem Eris, head of the technical implementation division of the Presidency of National Palaces Administration, the horses at that time were regarded not just as a means of transportation, but as a lifestyle.

"The horse culture was one of the most important elements among the Turkic tribes, even well before the Ottoman era," Eris told Xinhua.

"Horses played a crucial role in their big migration from Central Asia to Anatolia, reflecting a complete different lifestyle for ancient Turks," he said.

During the Ottoman era, horses were also considered a striking power of the army, Eris noted, saying the Sultans looked well after their horses, cared for them and gave their love to them.

Before transforming the pavilion into a museum, the authorities have been conducting a detailed security investigation into the area.

"Just above the pavilion, one of the three bridges spans the two continents over the Bosphorus Strait, with 24-hour heavy traffic," Capoglu explained. Enditem

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