The palace, which was constructed in the mid-19th century, was an architectural marvel that boasted a total area of over 110,000 square meters. It was not just a palace, but also included sixteen distinct sections such as stables, a flour mill, a pharmacy, kitchens, an aviary, a glass manufactory, and a foundry. As time passed, Sultan Abdulhamid II (1876-1909) made several additions to the palace, including a clock tower, the apartments for the heir apparent, and the Hareket Pavilion in the gardens behind the palace.
The construction of the main palace was a remarkable feat of architecture, carried out by the leading Ottoman architects of the time, Karabet and Nikogos Balyan. The palace is divided into three parts - the Imperial Mabeyn (State Apartments), Muayede Salon (Ceremonial Hall), and the Imperial Harem, which was exclusively used by the sultan and his family. The Ceremonial Hall, located at the heart of the palace, was used by the sultan to host dignitaries on state occasions and religious festivals.
With a total floor area of 45,000 square meters, the palace has two main stories and a basement. The walls are made of stone for the outer walls and brick for the interior walls, while the floors are made of wood. In 1910-12, modern technology in the form of electricity and central heating systems was introduced to the palace.
The interior design of the palace is characterized by a traditional layout and relations between private rooms and central galleries of the Turkish house, implemented here on a large scale. Although the decoration has a Western-style influence, the Ottoman interpretation is evident in the interior plan.
The palace boasts a total of 285 small rooms, 46 reception rooms, and galleries, 6 hammams (Turkish baths), and 68 lavatories. The 4,454 square meters of finely made parquet floors are laid with carpets made at the palace carpet weaving mill and in Hereke, some of which date back to earlier times.