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In the modernization process of the Ottoman Empire, the School was an important institution for education, specifically for Greek community. Building was completed in 1885, and education started in 1910. School suspended educational activities in 1988, closed in 2015. Hosting cultural events since 2012, renovation aims new functions by preserving its original character. Design based on a spatial organization that includes exhibition and conference halls, library, archive, and workshop units, including contemporary infrastructure support, suitable for new functions. In the context of financial resources, the entrance was planned as cafe, and terrace as restaurant for the Institution to be self-sufficient. Galata Greek School came back to life in June 2024.
Located in Karaköy, Greek School is one of the most modern and established educational institution that has opened at the beginning of the 20th century. Following the renovation, the center embodies many different identities and accumulations beside Greek Identity, aims to become a cultural, artistic and educational hub with a future perspective while maintaining a relation to its cultural heritage and connection to the memory of the city in which it belongs. Karaköy, once a harbor, was the economic centre of the city; in urban transformation, Istanbul Modern Museum made a considerable impact on the region. Karaköy now welcomes is the young, scholars, artists, and other people with intellectual background due to its bohemian and cultural atmosphere.
Design based on a spatial organization that includes conference, meeting, exhibition halls, library, workshop, and archive units, including the addition of air conditioning systems, providing disabled access, and contemporary infrastructure support suitable for new functions. In the context of financial resources, the entrance was planned as a cafe, and the terrace was used as a restaurant for the Institution to be self-sufficient. Based on the restitution projects (of 1903 and 1958), starting with strengthening the physical structure and improvements aligned with earthquake regulations, and taking all fire and protection measures, the school is restructured and renovated as an institution appealing to the international culture and arts community.
Starting from the iron entrance door, the glass and wooden joinery in the spaces were renewed by the original, along with the necessary cleaning, repair, and strengthening works on the front and all other facades. Additions were cleaned by the original, and mosaics, wooden wall panels, and wooden doors, which were removed due to needs such as reinforcement, fire precautions, and air conditioning, were renewed while preserving their original characters. Spatial richness was gained by cleaning and preserving the surprising layers such as stone courtyard walls and arches that were exposed during the restoration and included in the design. Elevators and stairwells were added at both sides, to enable and facilitate access between floors of the cultural center that host multiple programs. Courtyards at two sides of - multi-purpose - main hall are rearranged as open-air foyer alternatives. Independent from the main entrance, with direct access at street level- two of the shops are designed as entrance foyer, as a single fluid space connected to the main entrance. At the rooftop, the terrace restaurant opens to Galata and Bosphorus views; the roof piece, created with a 20% slope, was designed with contemporary materials. By complying with the ridge level of the existing building the silhouette of the building, on the street side is preserved, the original architectural features are emphasized, also by use of transparent building elements.
After the closure (2015) of the school due to dramatic decrease in the number of students after losing Greek population, the building became dysfunctional. The building, which was returned to the community in 2010 after being taken away by the state for decades, has been hosting many cultural events since 2012. With its restoration, Galata Greek School aims to participate in the socio-cultural life of the city and reach future generations with its new function, preserving its original character.
Founded in 1990 by Murat Tabanlıoğlu and his father; the office’s pronounced affinity for architecture can be traced back to Dr. Hayati Tabanlıoğlu’s architectural work, which stretches back into the 1950s. Melkan Gürsel joined as partner, in 1995. TA_ counts more than 130 employees in offices in Istanbul, New York, Dubai, and Doha. With more than 30 years’ experience TA_ Architects is one of Eurasia’s most recognised, award-wining architectural practices.
Considering the uniqueness of the “place” and the individuality of requirements, the innovative, yet efficient and economically viable design alternatives of the office range from opera houses to airports,
and stadiums, as well as commercial, residential, and industrial buildings, TA_ has been the firm behind several key sites in Turkey and abroad. Additionally, Tabanlioğlu has been involved in the art and design world through exhibitions, installations, publications, and curatorial contributions.
