Layers of Istanbul: Exploring Heritage Structures of Beyoğlu

Location: Beyoglu, Istanbul

Facilitator: Özge Altuntaş

Organizer: Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Heritage

Language:Turkish

Date / Time: October 6, 14:00-17:00

This urban route offers participants a unique opportunity to walk and explore Beyoglu, guided by the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Heritage team. From Istiklal Avenue to Galata, participants of this urban route will learn more about the rich history of four buildings along the way.

Taksim Maksem is a water depository commissioned by Sultan Mahmud I that gives its name to Taksim Square. We will see a beautiful marble fountain on the left as we enter through the gate on Istiklal Avenue. The inscription on the arched fountain reads, "We have given life to everything with water," in Turkish. Restoration work on this historic site began in December 2022 and is ongoing under the supervision of the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Heritage team.

Botter Apartment was built in 1901 for Jean Botter, a Dutch national who served as the official tailor and fashion designer of the palace during the reign of Sultan Abdulhamid II. Italian architect Raimondo D'Aronco designed this building. The ground floor of the Botter Apartment served as a fashion house, while the first floor and subsequent floors were used as the family's residence. After a restoration project initiated by the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Heritage team, the ground floor and the first floor of the Botter Apartment were opened as the "Casa Botter Art and Design Center" in 2023.

Metrohan is a building that connects Beyoğlu and Karaköy in Istanbul. Built by a Frenchman named Eugene Henri Gavand in the 1860s, the project for this area led to the construction of Metrohan (Tunnel Inn) in 1914. Today, Metrohan is used as the General Directorate Building by Istanbul Electric, Tramway, and Tunnel Enterprises (İETT) under the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality. The Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Heritage team has initiated a comprehensive restoration process for Metrohan to host multi-purpose cultural and artistic spaces after the completion of the restoration work.

St. Pierre Han has served various purposes over the years, including as the French National Bank, the Greek Chamber of Commerce, and the "Bank-ı Osmani-i Şahane" (Ottoman Bank) established in 1863, and law and architecture offices. This building was constructed between 1771 and 1775 by the Dominican Order as one of the main buildings of the monastery complex to generate income for the church. It is known that some of the era's prominent architects had their offices in this building.

Notes:

All participants must be in front of the Istanbul Congress Center at 13:30 with their tour tickets.

The route will start in front of the Istanbul Congress Center.

The starting point of the route will be reached by walking.