Kethüda Yahya Ağa Fountain restored in Istanbul

The Kethüda Yahya Ağa Fountain in Karaköy, Istanbul, has been restored and returned to urban life by İBB Miras, a department of the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality. Built in 1732-1733 by Yahya Ağa, the steward of Grand Vizier Hekimoğlu Ali Paşa, the structure is a classic Ottoman-style square fountain made of cut stone featuring pointed arches and basins.

Over time, the fountain had lost some of its original elements, such as its mirror stone and basin, and had begun to tilt toward the sea due to ground shifts. During the restoration process, the existing stones were individually documented and inventoried before being carefully removed. The ground was stabilized, and vegetation was cleared from the site.

The restoration followed an approved project from the Regional Conservation Board, utilizing original materials and techniques. The wall bricks were rebuilt, existing stones were repositioned, and missing sections were completed with new stones to ensure the historical integrity of the three-century-old monument.