Konak (Turkish: konak, Greek: κονάκι, Serbian: конак, Albanian: Konaku, Bulgarian: конак) is a name for a house in Turkey and on the territories of the former Ottoman Empire, especially one used as an official residence for the elite members of the Ottoman society.

[1] The konak, a transnational Ottoman architectural style, was commonly referred to as a “Turkish house” in Europe, though it was not inherently tied to any single nation or religion in the Ottoman Empire.

[2] In the Ottoman Empire, konaks were prominent urban mansions, especially in Istanbul, which was considered home to the finest examples.

[2] In Turkey, konaks were integrated into the national identity, while in places like Greece, their Ottoman elements were reinterpreted as Byzantine or Hellenic.

[2] Architect Le Corbusier admired Istanbul’s konaks, viewing them as exemplary during his 1911 travels.