It was constructed on the seaside and served as main administrative center for Ottoman Empire after Topkapi Palace. Many of Ottoman Sultans lived in Topkapi Palace which was classical style and largest palace of Ottoman Empire in Istanbul. Abdülmecid wanted to build a modern, luxury and comfort palace for her mother and decided to construct it on the sea side between 1843 and 1856. The architects of Dolmabahce Palace were Garabet Balyan and his son Nigoğayos Balyan.
They spent around 34 tonnes of gold for the construction. Dolmabahce Palace has 285 rooms, 46 halls, 6 baths and 68 toilets and comprises an area of 45,000 square meters. The Palace was constructed with Baroque, Rococo and Neoclassical styles and mixed with traditional Ottoman architecture style. Only six of Ottoman Sultans lived in Dolmabahce Palace.
