beyazıt state library renovation

by Aziza Chaouni

2019 On Site Review Report

Beyazıt State Library Renovation

Architect Tabanlıoğlu Architects

ClientMinistry of Culture and Tourism, Aydın Doğan Foundation

Design2006-2012

Completed2014

Istanbul, Turkey

5077.TUR

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Beyazıt State Library RenovationIstanbul, Turkey

I. Introduction

LocatedatIstanbul’shistoricalpeninsula,partoftheBeyazıtKulliyah–datingbackto1506–thatspatiallydefinesthehistoricBeyazıtSquare,BeyazıtStateLibrarywasofficiallyfoundedin1884.Composedofarecentbuilding,theAnnexe,twomainhistoricbuildingsandthreecourtyards,theLibraryoriginallyhousedthesoupkitchenandinnoftheBeyazıtmosquecomplex.

FortherehabilitationofthehistoricbuildingsoftheLibrary,TabanlıoğluArchitectssuggestedthattheybeconvertedtohouseitsRareBooksCollection,inadditiontoreadingrooms.

Todoso,thearchitectsproposeda“minimalintervention”approachinordertoensurethepreservationofthespiritoftheplaceandhighlighttheexistingbuildings’volumeandmaterials.Oneofthemainstrategiesusedwastoplacethelibrarystacksinsidesecuredarkglassboxes,whichactsimultaneouslyasstorage,displayandreflectivesurfaces.

Additionally, theexistingbuildingswere rearranged to followanew layout, suited to thecontemporaryneedsofapubliclibrary.Assuch,anewcirculationflowwasintroduced:visitorsenterfromBeyazıtSquaretoacoveredcourtyard,whichactsasanewentrance, thentheycanstroll throughroomsdevotedtothestorageanddisplayofbooksandreadingrooms,endingintherearcourtyardwhichistransformedintoapleasantgardenwithtwocoffeebooths.

II. Contextual information

A. Brief historical background

BeyazıtSquare(officiallynamedHurriyetMeydanı,“FreedomSquare”,butnooneusesthisnameexceptsomehistorians)isalargestone-pavedplazalocatedbetweenIstanbulUniversity’smaingate,theGrandBazaar and theOldBookBazaar (SahaflarÇarşısı).TheSquare standsalong theDivanYoluaxis.StillconsideredoneofthelivelieststreetsofIstanbul,thisthoroughfareactsasthemainhistoricalspineofthepeninsula,startingfromtheHagiaSophiaandheadingwestwardviaSultanahmetSquaretoBeyazıtSquare,theGrandBazaar,Aksarayandoutofthecitywalls.

ThispublicsquaredatesbacktoByzantinetimes.ItwasoriginallyerectedbyConstantinetheGreatandnamedtheForumTauri,andafterexpansionwasrenamedtheForumofTheodosius.

AftertheConquestperiod,MehmettheConquerorbuilthisfirstpalacenearthesquare,asawoodenstructurecalledtheEskiSarayı(OldSeraglio).OncetheTopkapıpalacewasbuilt,theEskiSarayıbecamehometoharemwomenwhentheywerepensionedoutofthemainpalace.Forinstance,theEskiSarayıhousedthemothersofthesultanswhentheirsonsdiedandtheysubsequentlylosttheirpowerfulpositionasheadoftheharem.

TheoriginalbuildingsoftheEskiSarayıweredemolishedinthe19thcenturytomakewayforagrandioseMinistryofWarcomplexdesignedbyMarie-Auguste-AntoineBourgeois,whichaccountsforitsmartial,fortress-likeaspect.ThisOttomanMinistryofWartodayhousestheUniversityofIstanbul.

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The square has functioned as a platform for important cultural and political events such as culturalceremonies, religious festivals, student uprisings and public executions. Indeed, it has been the site ofpoliticalprotests,includingsomein1969knownasBloodySunday,andaterroristattackin1978(BeyazıtMassacre).In1915,twentyArmenianactivistswerehangedinthesquare.

Themostwell-knownbuildingonBeyazıtSquareistheBeyazıtMosque,whichissurroundedbyvariousbuildings that originally formed part of its kulliye (traditionally, a group of buildings near a mosquecomposedofschools, library,caravanserai,hospital,soupkitchenetc.).These include in thecaseof theBeyazıtMosque:amadrasathatnowhousesaMuseumofCalligraphy(currentlyclosedforrestoration);animaret(soupkitchen);andakervansaray(caravanserai)complexnowfunctioningastheBeyazıtStateLibrary.

Thearchitectsofthesoupkitchen,erectedbetween1501and1506underBeyazıtII,areunknown.However,itisbelievedthatitsarchitectswereHayreddinandYakupşahbinSultanşah.Thesoupkitchenbuildingwasnotonlyusedtoprepareandservefreefoodforthepoorbutalsotoofferstablesandahostel.

In1836, the soupkitchenbuildingbecamea library,withwoodflooring,while thehorse stablesof thesoupkitchenkepttheiroriginalprogrammes.Thelibrarycollectionwasfirstestablishedwitharound4,164books,underthedirectionofTahsinEfendi.TheHistoryofNaimavolumesweretheinitialbooksontheshelves.

UnderSultanAbdulhamidII,in1884,thestablesbuildingreceivedanewelaboratefaçadewithneo-Gothicundertones.Thearchitectofthisfacaderemainsunknown.AtthetimetheBeyazıtLibraryhadbothbooksandnewspaperstacks.Until1934,itremainedoneoftwoStateLibrariesinallofTurkey.

Adjacenttothestablesbuilding,atwo-storeybuildingthatisnowcalledtheAnnexewaserectedbetween1875and1882bytheMinistryofDefenceintheperiodoftheTanzimat,underSultanAbdulaziz(1867–1876).Itwasusedasamilitaryguesthouse.

Foralongtime,theMilitaryCommissionandtheArmedPoliceDepartmentusedpartsoftheAnnexe,whiletheMapCommissionwasalsolocatedthere.TheAnnexewasusedbytheFrenchoccupationforcesduringtheoccupationof Istanbul,which evacuated all other programmes.Afterwards, theSchool ofDentistrywasmovedintotheAnnexefrom1925to1964.After1964,theAnnexehousedpartsoftheBeyazıtStateLibrary.

From1924onwards,theLibraryunderwentaseriesoftransformationsandchanges:

• In1924,majorStatecollectionsweretransferredtotheLibrary.• In 1934, in accordancewith the provisions of a new law, theLibrary collectionwas diversified and

expandedwith a copyof eachpublishedbook (as legal deposit state copy) thanks to the support ofAtaturk.

• In1949,partsofthelibrarybuildingswererestored.• In1955,thewoodenboardfloorswereremovedfromthereadingroom(theformerstables)andreplaced

withconcretefloors.Metre-deepchannelsweremadeunderthisnewfloortoaccommodateradiatorsaswellaselectricity.

• In1969,thecentralcourtyardofthesoupkitchenwascoveredwithaconcretecanopysupportedbyalarge,centralcolumn.

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1 Wikipedia,asthemosquewasunderconstructionandIonlysawasmallsectionofitsinterior.2 Idem.

• In1974,theLibraryAnnexe,anadjacentbuildingusedforbookstorage,startedtobeusedasthemainreading room,while the rest of the soup kitchen and stables buildingswere used for administrativeoffices,booksandsmaller,separatereadingrooms.

• In1988,aconnectionwascreatedbetweentheAnnexeandtheformerstables.• In1999,duetoanearthquake,theolderbuildings(thesoupkitchenandstables)wereabandonedbecause

ofcracksintheirdomesandacrosssomewalls.Limitedrepairs,ledbyacontractor,wereinitiated.• In2001,theCulturalandNaturalHeritageProtectionBoardoftheCityofIstanbulregisteredtheentire

BeyazıtcomplexasaHeritageSite.• In2005,thefirmTabanlıoğluArchitectswashiredtodotheprojectfornofees,asvolunteers.

B. Local architectural character, including prevalent forms and materials

ThesurroundingsoftheBeyazıtStateLibraryshowcasestylesfromdifferenterasoftheOttomanEmpire.

TheBeyazıtMosquecomplex, themostsignificantbuildingaroundtheproject,datesfromtheOttomanperiod.Startingfromthebeginningofthe16thcentury,OttomanarchitecturedrewfrombothIslamicandEuropeanartistic traditionsandwas, therefore,apartofboth.It ischaracterisedbydomed,central-planbuildingsfocusedaroundcourtyard(s).Theirstructurereliedonheavyload-bearingstonewallsandtheirroofswere coveredwith lead.TheByzantine tradition,best embodiedby theHagiaSophia,was also amajorsourceofinspirationforOttomanarchitecture.Byzantineinfluenceappearsinsuchfeaturesasstoneandbrickusedtogetherorintheuseofpendentivedomeconstruction.TheBeyazıtMosque,forinstance,is constructedentirelyof cut stoneandmarbleappropriated fromnearbyByzantine ruins. It isorientedalongthenorth-west–south-eastaxiswithacourtyardtothenorth-westthatisalmostequalinareatothatofthemosqueitself.Thecourtyardisacolonnadedperistyle,with“twentyancientcolumnsofporphyry,verdantiqueandgranitesalvagedfromchurchesandancientruins,roofedwith24smalldomes,andwithapavementinpolychromemarble.”1Themosquehasacentraldomeflankedbysemi-domesonallfoursides.TheinteriorofthemosqueresemblestheHagiaSophia’s.“Thedomeissupportedbyhugerectangularpiers,withsmoothpendentivesandstalactitedecorations.Thespaceislitwithtwentywindowsatthebaseofthedomeandsevenwindowsoneachsemi-dome,inadditiontotwotiersofwindowsonthewalls.” 2

Immediatelyadjacent tothelibraryis theGrandBazaarbuilt in1455.It isoneof thelargestandoldestcoveredmarketsintheworld.Ithasmorethansixcoveredstreetsand4,000shops.OriginallytheGrandBazaarstructureswerebuiltwithwood;onlyafterthe1660fireweretheyrebuiltinstoneandbrickworkandcoveredforprotection.Asidefromlatetwo-storeyadditions,mostbuildingsintheBazaararesinglestorey.Theroofsaremainlycoveredwithtiles,whilenewerroofsnowusetarmac.Ingeneral,theGrandBazaararchitectureiscomposedofstonepierswhichsustainrowsofbays,eachbaybeingcoveredbyabrickdomewithablinddrum.Eachbayistiedtotheothersthroughbrickarchestiedbyjuniperbeams,andmasonryismadeofrubble.Somedomeshavebeautifulpaintedfloraldecorations.

Finally,westoftheSquare,standstheOldMinistryofWar,designedbyFrencharchitectMarie-Auguste-AntoineBourgeois in1864.Housing theUniversityof Istanbul since the start of theTurkishRepublic,theOldMinistryofWarrepresentsthelateOttomanstyle.Itsornategatewayisanexcellentexampleofthe “neo-Islamic” traits of this era’s style,whichmixes neo-classical elementswith Islamicmotifs andornaments.

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AdjacenttotheLibrary’soldstablesbuilding(themainreadingroomtoday)standstheAnnexe.Thistwo-storeybuildingbuiltbetween1875and1882hasabareneo-classicalstyle,theonlyornamentsbeingtwoDoriccolumnsmarkingtheentranceandacornicewithsmallsemi-circularpatterndemarcatingthegroundfloorfromthefloorsabove.

C. Climatic conditions

Istanbul’sclimatecanbedefinedastransitionalMediterranean.Istanbulhasfairlycoldwinters,butotherwiseithasaclimatewithMediterraneancharacteristics:therainiestseasonsareautumnandwinter,andsummeris hot and sunny.

Precipitationamounts toabout820millimetresperyear; thewettestmonthsareDecember,JanuaryandFebruary.

Winter,fromDecembertoMarch,isquitecold:theaveragetemperatureinJanuaryandFebruaryis6.5°C.

Springismild,andsunnydaysbecomequicklymorefrequent,whiletherainsbecomerarertowardstheendoftheseason.However,inAprilitcanstillbecold,andtheremaybesuddenchangesintemperature,especiallyinthefirsthalfofthemonth.

Summer,fromJunetoAugust,ishotandsunny,andalsoquitesultry;theheatisfeltespeciallywithinthecity,whilearelievingbreezeblowsattimesfromthesea.TheaveragetemperatureinAugust,albeitthewarmestmonth,is24.5°C.However,duringbothJulyandAugust,andmorerarelyinJune,sometimesthetemperaturecanreach35/37°C.

Autumn,fromSeptembertoNovember,isinitiallywarmandoftensunnyinSeptember,butastheweekspasstheweatherfrontsofAtlanticorigingraduallybecomemorefrequent:thereareonaveragefivedayswithrainfallinSeptember,eightinOctoberand11inNovember.

Please see Annexe 1 for more details on climate.3

D. Immediate surroundings of the site, including architectural character, access, landscaping, etc.

Theprojectislocatedatthenorth-eastcornerofBeyazıtsquare,whichisalargestone-pavedplaza.TheprojectsiteissurroundedbyseveralbuildingsthatareaccessibleeitherfromBeyazıtSquareorOrduandVeznecilezstreets(seeAnnexe2forsiteplans):

• thelibrary’sAnnexebuildingnorth-westoftheproject,accessedfromBeyazıtSquare;• theOldBookBazaartothesouth-east(EarlyOttomanstyle);• IstanbulUniversity’smaingatewaytothenorth-west(LateOttomanstyle);• theBeyazıtMadrasatotheeast,facingBelyazidSquare(EarlyOttomanstyle);• theHasanPashaMadrasatothewest,accessibleviaVeznecilezStreet(EarlyOttomanstyle);• theHasanPashaHan(oldcaravanserai)tothewest,onthesouthsideofOrduStreet(EarlyOttoman

style);• theBeyazıtHammamtothewest,onthenorthsideofOrduStreet(EarlyOttomanstyle);

3 Climatedataretrievedfrom:https://www.climatestotravel.com/climate/turkey/istanbul

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• variouscommercialshopsalongthebusyOrduStreettothesouth(earlytolate20th-centurybuildings),whichhasatramwayline;

• theGrandBazaartothenorth-east(EarlyOttomanstyle);• theBeyazıtMosquetothesouth(EarlyOttomanstyle);• the85-metre-tall18th-centuryBeyazıtfirewatchtowersetintheUniversitygrounds,north-westofthe

Library(theoriginalwatchtowerwasbuiltinwoodbutitwasrebuiltinmasonryin1828afteritburneddown)(LateOttomanstyle).

Currently,severalofthehistoricbuildings,suchastheBeyazıtMosqueareundergoingconstruction,makingthe plaza hard to use and access.

E Topography of the project site

Thelibrarysiteisrelativelyflat,itisatthesamelevelasthesquare.However,itsitshigherthanOrduStreetandlowerthantheUniversitygateway,whichisaccessiblethankstoaseriesofstepsfromthecentralplazaofBeyazıtSquare.

III. Programme

A. History of the inception of the project; how the project was initiated

In1992,theDoganGroup,alargemediaandhospitalityfirm,hiredTabanlıoğluArchitectstodesigntheirmainofficebuildingandprintingcentre.

TheFoundationoftheDoganGroup,theAydinDoganFoundation,wantedtosupporttherehabilitationoftheBeyazıtStateLibrary,sotheyofferedtopaythefeesofallrequiredconsultantstoworkontheprojectwhileTabanlıoğluofferedtowaivetheirarchitectfees.TheMinistryofCulture,theowneroftheLibrary,provided funds for construction.

B. How were the architects and specialists chosen?

TabanlıoğluArchitectshadworkedwith theDoganGroupbefore, so theywere selecteddirectlyby theAydinDoganFoundationtoworkontherehabilitationoftheBeyazıtStateLibrary.Itwasthearchitects’firstrestorationproject.

ThesurveyfirmandconservationconsultantBudowa,ledbythearchitect/engineerYamanIrepoglu,wasbroughtinbythearchitect.Budowawasalsoacontractorinrestorationprojectsatthetime,butwasnottheproject’scontractor.

Alltheotherconsultantswereselectedbythearchitect,includingtheelectricalengineer(HP),themechanicalengineer(GN),thestructuralengineer(CelalErdem),thelightingdesigner(DinnebierLicht)andtherare-booksconsultant(HBPreservation).

However,theselectionofthecontractorwentthroughabiddingprocesslaunchedandrunbytheMinistryofCulture.Thecriteriaforselectionwerereferencesfromsimilarprojectsandaconstructioncostestimate.

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C. General programme objectives

TheinitialprogrammeobjectivesfromtheLibraryadministrationweretwofold:(1)torestorethevariousdamagedelementsinthehistoricbuildingsand(2)toturntheentirebuildinggroundsintobookstacks.ThearchitectsconvincedthemtoturnthebuildingsintoaRareBooksLibrarywithbookstacksasshowcases,andvariousreadingroomsandcourtyardsactingasleisuregardens,whilekeepingtheadministrativeofficesandgeneralstacksintherecentAnnexebuilding.

D. Functional requirements (i.e. architect’s brief)

Aside from state-of-the-art, accessible book stacks, neither the client, theMinistry of Culture, nor thebenefactor,theDoganFoundation,gaveaspecificbrieftothearchitects.Thearchitectshadtodeveloptheprogrammethemselves.

Theysuggestedtheremovalof theconcreteroofover thecentralcourtyard,andtheinclusionofa largereadingroom,twosmallerreadingrooms,outdoorleisurespacesand,finally,roomswhererarebookscanbeshownandsafeguardedatthesametime.

TheLibrarydirector requested that themaincourtyard remaincovered,and laterhedemanded that tworoomsholdhisofficeandhisstaff’soffices,ratherthanbeingplacedintheAnnexebuilding.Indeed,whentheprojectstarted,therehabilitationofthetwoearlyOttomanbuildingswastohouseaRareBooksCollection,whichwastoremainpartoftheBeyazıtStateLibrary.Astheprojectprogressed,theRareBooksCollectionbecamesomewhatindependent,andhenceitsdirectorrequestedseparateofficesandentrances.

Thefinalprogrammelististhefollowing:

• oneofficefortheRareBooksCollectiondirector• oneofficefortheadministrativestaff• threeroomsforbookstorage,eachequippedwithtwoglassboxes• onemainreadingroomwithafrontdesktoborrowbooks• onesmallreadingroom• oneexhibitionroom• onebathroomblock• onereceptiondesk(facingthecentralcourtyard)• tworearyardsforbreaksandleisureforstaffandusers• oneservicestaffroom• onecentralcoveredcourtyard,fittedatitsheartwiththeoriginalfountain,whichwasmovedaside.

(Please refer to Annexe 3 for the project’s programme layout.)

IV. Description

A. Building data: volumetry, massing, number of units, surface in square metres, etc.

Theprojectiscomposedoftwointerconnectedbuildings,thesoupkitchen/caravanseraiandthestables,onecentralcoveredcourtyard,andtworearcourtyards.ItshouldbenotedthatahardlandscapesquareinfrontoftheLibraryentrancewasoriginallyplannedbutitwasneverimplemented.PleaserefertoAnnexe3tosee the concept plan.

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Geometry:

The geometry of both buildings is based on 7-by-7-metre squaremodules and half-modules (with oneexceptioncausedbythesite’sdiagonaleasternedge),coveredwithsemi-sphericaldomes.

Themain building,which used to be a soup kitchen and caravanserai, is centred around a colonnadedperistylecourtyardwithanelevatedloggia.ItsinteriorspacesareorganisedinanalmostperfectU-shapedplan,containingninedistinctspaces/rooms,ofthreedifferentsizes:small,mediumandlarge.Thesespacesare at times interconnected, creating an interesting,maze-like circulation.Also, six of these spaces arecoveredwith7-metre-diameterdomes,onespacesiscoveredwith7-and3.5-metre-diameterdomes,andtwo spaces are coveredwith twovaults.Thedomesprotrude on the roof surface and are adornedwithelevatedlightwells,whilethetwovaultshaveaflatroof.

• Leftoftheentranceamedium-sizespacecomposedoftwo7-by-7-metresquaremodules,eachcoveredbytwodomes(A1intheplaninAnnexe4).

• Facing the entrance, and connected to spaceA, a large space composedof twodome-covered7-by-7-metre square modules and two 7-by-3.5-metre half-modules, each covered with two domes withoctagonalbaldachins(A2intheplaninAnnexe4).

• Facingtheentranceandopeningontothecourtyard,onesmallspacecomposedofa7-by-7-metredome-coveredsquaremodule(A3intheplaninAnnexe4).

• Facingthelargerearcourtyard,onesmallspacecomposedofavaultedhalf-module,7by3.5metres(A4intheplaninAnnex4).

• Facing the large rear courtyard, one vaulted 7-by-4.5-metre space that does not follow themodularsystemoftherestofthebuilding(A5intheplaninAnnexe4).

• TotherightofspaceA3,onelargespacecomposedoftwo7-by-7-metresquaremodules,eachcoveredwithonedome(A6intheplaninAnnexe4).

• Rightoftheentrance,twointerconnectedsmallspaces,eachcomposedofonedome-covered7-by-7-metresquaremodule(A7andA8intheplaninAnnexe4).

• Rightoftheentrance,onelargespacecomposedoftwo7-by-7-metresquaremodules,eachcoveredwithonedome(A9intheplaninAnnexe4).

Theoldstablesbuildingisalargeopenspacecomposedofsix7-by-7-metresquaremodules(B1 in the plan in Annexe 4).

Surfaceareas

The total area of the site is 2,717 squaremetres, including the courtyards.Thebuilt area including thecoveredcourtyardis1,430squaremetres.Therearlargecourtyardcovers703squaremetresandtherearsmallcourtyardaround84squaremetres.

Massing

Theexistinghistoricbuildingmassingandrooflineremainedunchanged.Thelibraryiscomposedoftwohistoricone-storeybuildingsofsimilarheight.

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B. Evolution of design concepts, including:

1. Response to physical constraints – siting, climate, plot ratios, etc.

Thearchitectdecidedtorethink therelationshipbetweentheAnnexebuildinghousing thegeneralStateLibraryandthetwohistoricbuildings,housingtheRareBooksCollection,astwoseparateprogrammaticentities,eachwithitsownentrancefacingBeyazıtSquare.However,bothbuildingsshareacommonlargereadingroomwhichservesasabufferbetweenthem.Therearcourtyardsarealsoasharedspace,accessibledirectlyfrombothprogrammaticentities.TherehabilitationoftherecentAnnexebuildingwasnotpartofthe architects’ brief.

ThewintersbeingcoldinIstanbulandsummershot,thearchitectsprovidedanew,undergroundheatingandair-conditioningsystemforthecomfortofusers.TheglassbookcontainershavetheirownHVACsystem.

Theplotratiowasrespectedsincetheprojectisarehabilitationofexistinghistoricalbuildings.Thecentralcourtyardwasoriginallycoveredanditwaskeptassuch.Similarly,therearcourtyardsremaineduncoveredopenspacesastheyusedtobebeforetherehabilitationproject.

2. Response to user requirements; spatial organisation

One of the central requirementswas to provide sufficient storage for theRareBooksCollection of theBeyazıtStateLibrary.

TheusersofboththeRareBooksCollectionandtheGeneralStateLibrary,thevastmajorityofwhomarestudents,requiredspacestoreadandworkcalmly.Thearchitectsprovidedthemwithalargereadingroomwithabookcheck-outfrontdesk(388squaremetres),andasmallreadingroom(65squaremetres).

Inaddition,usersalsoneededaspacetotakebreaksandtorelax.Thearchitectsprovidedthemwithalargerearcourtyard(703squaremetres),equippedwithtwosmallkiosks,providingthemwithfoodandcoffee,andagardenwithbenches.

Itshouldbenotedthatwhenconstructionwasnearingcompletion,thenewdirectoroftheLibrarymadesomenewdemands:hewanted(1)tohavehisofficeandhisstaffofficenearthenewentranceoftheLibrary,facingthecourtyardspace,and(2)tohavethemaincourtyardcoveredinordertoensurethatthebookscanbesafelytransportedfromthestackstothereadingrooms.Thearchitectthenreplacedamedium-sizereadingroom,originallyplacedontheright-handsideofthemainentrance,withtwooffices.Inaddition,theconcretecanopythathadcoveredthedarkcentralcourtyardwasreplacedbyanETFErooffirst,thenbyasteelandglassroofwhentheETFErooffailed.Initially,thearchitectswantedthecourtyardtoremainopen,withoutanyroofing.

3. Purely formal aspects – massing, articulation of façades, decorative features, use of traditional motifs, etc.

AlthoughtheStateLibraryhistoricbuildingsarepartofalargesquaredominatedbytheimpressivelytallandlargeBeyazıtMosque,theirmassingremainsnonethelessremarkable.Indeed,the17protrudingsemi-sphericalhalf-domes,coveredwith lead,and the four small shallowdomes,createabeautiful,dynamicroofscape.Thefourshallowdomesandtwoofthelargedomesaresurmountedwithoctogonallightwellsplacedontheapexesofthedomes.Inaddition,threerectangularchimneysadorntheroof(see Annexe 5).

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BoththeETFEroof,anditsrecentreplacementwithaglassandsteelstructure,werelowerthanthedomesofthehistoricbuildingscomposingtheLibrary,andassuch,didnotcompetewithit.

Themainfaçadeofthesoupkitchenbuilding,itsnorthrearfaçade(facingthelargecourtyard)anditseastrearfaçade(facingthesmallrearcourtyard)allsharethesamelanguageandaresimilarintheirsimplicity.They are composed of smooth and rough cut stones, and have rectangularwindowswith original irongrilles,marbleframesandsurmountedbyarches(characteristicofOttomanArchitecture),andsmallarchedwindowsthatuse“bubbleglass”(glasscomposedofinterconnectedcircularpieces).

Incontrast,themainfaçadeoftheoldstablesbuildingisveryornate,exudingsomewhatGothicundertones.Thisfaçadeisanadditiondatingfrom1884.Itshowcaseslargelancetwindows(pointed-archedwindows)withelaborateirongrilles,acornicedecoratedwithcolouredmarbleandstonecarvings,slendercoloureddecorativemarblecolumnsandanornate,massive irongate (see Annexe 5).Therear façadeof thisoldstablesbuildingissimpler,asitusesthesamecutstonematerialonitsentiretyasthesoupkitchenbuilding.However,itshowcasesthesamelargelancetwindowswithornateirongrillesasitsmainfaçade.

Theinteriorofthesoupkitchenbuildingreflectsitssober,elegantfaçade:itscarcelyhasanyornamentation,onlythecapitalsoftheperistylecourtyardbearingafloralmotif.

Theinterioroftheoldstableshasdomespaintedwithblue-toned,floralmotifs.

Thearchitects’selectedmaterialspalettefortheirinterventions–mainlysteelmesh,glassandsteelstructure–stronglycontrastswiththeoriginalmaterialspalette.

4. Landscaping

Thelandscapeofthemainrearcourtyardiscomposedofalleywayscoveredwithgravel,four9.4-metre-longconcretebenches,witholivestrees(Olea europaea),cypress(Cupressus)andpinetreesplacedinplanterswhileagreenwallofredrobins(Photinia)wereplantedinordertoscreenthenewlyaddedmechanicalsystems of theAnnexe building.The original trees found in the courtyard – a plane (Platanus), a pine (Pinus)andafigtree(Ficus carica)–werekept.Commongrass(Poaceae)isusedasgroundcoverunderthe benches.

Originally,thegardenwastoincludeplantedtrees,butduringconstruction,thearchitectsdiscoveredsomeinfrastructuralsystemsburiedundergroundandthuscouldnotplantfurthertreesorplants,obligingthemtorevert to the use of planters.

Two kiosks, built usingmetal,metalmesh and glass, offer light food and drinks to users. Initially, thearchitectplannedforonlyonekiosk,but theLibrarydecidedtoaddanadditionalkioskbytheentrancefromthesoupkitchenbuilding,crowdingthecirculationflow.Beforetherehabilitation,thiscourtyardhadanareacoveredwithamarblefloorandsteps,twolargetreesandonesmalltreethatwereremoved.

Thelandscapeofthesmallerrearcourtyardisverybare:thegroundiscoveredwithglasssoastorevealtheruinsofa4th-centuryRomanbasilica.Therearenobenchesorplants.Amechanicalroom,withaccesstothelowerlevel,isplacedattherearendofthecourtyard.

Theplazadesignoriginallyenvisionedbythearchitects,withtrees,planters,benches,andakiosk,locatedbetweentheLibrary’snewentranceandtheBeyazıtMosque,wasnevertoberealised.

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C. Structure, materials, technology

1. Structural systems; in restoration projects, structural interventions

1.1 Rehabilitatedexistingstructure

The two historic buildings use a load-bearing wall system with kufeki stone columns, surmounted bymasonryarchessupportingsemi-sphericalbrickdomesandvaults.

Theperistyleof thecentralcourtyard iscomposedofmarblecolumnswithstonearches.Originalmetalreinforcement rods, placed between pairs of arches, contribute to the overall stability of the peristyle’sstructure.

Intheinterior,theopeningsofwindowsanddoorshaveeitherstone,marbleorpinewoodlintels,oraresupportedbybrickarches(semi-circularorpointed).

TheoverallstructureofthetwohistoricbuildingsconstitutingtheLibraryappearstobeingoodconditionandwasrestoredinapristinemanner,sincemostsurfaceswereleftexposed(asidefromthedomesandvaultscoveredwithplaster)andnomajorissueswerevisible.

Cracksonexistingwalls/domes/vaults

Aninjectionmethodwasusedtofixsignificantcracksandthesehavenotreopenednorexpanded.WhenIvisitedtheLibrary,construction(asidefromthecourtyard’snewroof)hadendedfouryearsprior,whichisagoodmeasureoftherepairedstructure’ssoundness.Theonlyunaddressedcracksnoticedwhichcouldpresentathreat,arepresent:

• ontheoutsidefaçadeofthebuilding,facingthesmallrearcourtyard.Thearchitectstatedthatitappearedafterconstructionwascompleted.

• ontheapexofoneofthedomesofthebookstorageroom,northoftheadministrativeaisle.

1.2 Newstructure

Thestructureofthenewinterventions–chieflytheglassboxesforbookstorage,thecounters,thekiosks,the glassfloor of the small rear courtyard, and the newglass roof of the central courtyard – uses steelmembers.

Thenewlyfinishedmetalstructureofthecourtyardglassroofisinmintcondition,asitwasfinishedthedayofmyarrivalformysitevisit.Iwasunabletoassessifthenewlyaddedweightoftheglassroof,whichismuchheavierthantheprecedingETFEroof,willaffecttheexistingstructureornot.ThefoursteelcircularcolumnsthathadbeenplacedattheinnercornersoftheperistyletosupporttheETFEroof,werereusedtoholdthenewpyramidalglazedroofinordertoavoidnewintrusivecolumns.Todoso,thearchitectsandengineersproposeda1.2-metre-wideperipheraltrusscoveredwithmetalsheets.Thissolutionisnoteleganttosaytheleastandmakesthenewrooflookheavyandoverwhelming.

Allthenewlintelsoftheexistingdoors,inadditiontothenewopeningcreatedbetweenthereadingroomandtheexhibitionroom,wererespectfullyputinplacewithnodamagetothenearbywallsorthestructureof the spaces.

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2. Materials

Fortherehabilitationwork

Structural members

The load-bearing walls are built using kufeki stone. Between the stones, khorasan mortar is applied.Khorasanmortarisabindermaterialcomposedofpittedandgroundsoil.

Aninjectionmethodwasusedbythearchitectinordertostrengthentheexistingstructurewhenitdisplayedcracks.Thismethod consists of drilling approximately 10-to-20-centimetre-deep holes in thewalls anddomes,theninjectinghydrauliclimewithahoseatapressureof4–6bars.

One column in spaceA3 (seeAnnexe4)was toounstable andnecessitated a steel bracing system (see Annexe 6).

Theoriginalpinewoodlintelsontopofallwindowswereinpoorconditionandwereremovedandreplacedwithnewones.

Infill materials

Stonesandbricks,which,whenjudgedtoounsafetomaintain,werereplaced.

Renderings and finishes

Mostoriginalrenderingsandfinisheswererestoredtotheiroriginalconditionorrevalorised:

• Thelimestoneandmarbleusedonthefaçadesandwallswasleftexposed:paint,stainsandcoveringswereremoved.

• Thelimestoneandmarblefloorsofthecentralcourtyardwerecleanedandrepaired.• Thewrought-ironwindowgrillse,whichwerepaintedgreenafewdecadesago,wereblastedandpainted

grey.Theiroriginalcolourremainsunknown.• Theoriginalcolourfulfloralpaintedmotifsoftheoldstables’/mainreadingroom’sdomeswererestored:

theremnantsoftheoriginalpaintingsfoundwereleftuntouched,showingclearlywhatwasoriginalandwhatwasrecreated.

• Theoriginalpineceilingoftheperistylewasentirelyreplaced.• Allinteriorwooddoorswerereplacedbypinewooddoors.• Thebuilding’scast-irondoors,includingthemainentrancedoor,wereblastedandrestored.

Fortheadditions(glassroof,bookboxes,flooringandHVACsystem)

Structure

• Thepyramid-shapedglassroofofthecentralcourtyardofthebuildingisheldbyfour30-centimetre-diametercolumnsmadeof1-centimetre-thicksteel.Locatedontheinnercornersoftheperistyle,thesecolumnsareconnectedtoeachotherby30-by-30-by-1-centimetresteelbeamsat therooflevel.Thediagonalsof thepyramidarecreatedbyfour30-by-10-by-1-centimetrecrossbeams.Secondarysteelmemberscompletethepyramidandholdtheargon-filleddouble-glazedwindows.

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• TheglassboxesholdingthebookshaveafloatingI-beamsteelstructure.• Theexhibitionunitsandtwocountersarecomposedofasteelstructure.

Renderings and finishes

• Theglassboxesarecoveredwithadark,reflectiveglass.• Thedisplaycasesandthetwowelcome/receptioncountershaveagreylacqueredwoodfinish,darkglass

andmetalmeshfinishes.• Thelargeclosethidingtheelectricalroom(behindthewelcomedesk)hasagreylacqueredwoodfinish.• Thegardenkioskshaveagreymetalmeshfinishandglassdoorsandwindows.• Theplantersofthereargardenhaveagreymetalmeshfinish.• Therailingsinthereargardenareingreymetalandglass.• Thebenchesoftherearcourtyardareinconcretewithwoodseatingareas.• Themechanicalroominthesmallrearcourtyardiscoveredwithfrostedglass.• Thenewlyaddedbathroomdoorsareinmetalsheeting.• Theinteriorofthebathroomsisinwhitemarblefromthegroundto1.2metres.• Thedamagedstoneentrancestepwascoveredwithhigh-resistanceglasskeptinplacewithalargesteel

bolt. • Theconcretefloors,whichin1969replacedtheoriginalwoodfloors,wereremovedandreplacedwith

terrazzoflooring.• Theglassboxeshaveelevatedterrazzoflooring.• Thegroundventperforatedcoversareinaluminium.• Thesofasplacedintheperistylehaveawoodstructureandpleathercovering.• Allsmallnewlightingfixturesareinmetalandpaintedgrey.• Alllargecircularlightingfixturesareinblackiron.

3. Construction / rehabilitation technology

Foundations

Thebuildingfoundationswere isolatedfromtherearcourtyards’soilwithconcretechannels inorder topreventwaterdamage.

Glazing

Thetypeofdoubleglazingfortheglassboxesandexhibitionunitswasspecifiedbytheconsultants(rare-booksandmechanicalconsultants):

• two layersof10-millimetre laminatedUV-shielded/smoked-grey securityglasswithawavelengthof320–380nanometresand99%filteredandanti-reflective,adheringtoBS6206,BS6262andBS5544(fortheglassboxes);

• one layer of 6-millimetre and one layer of 12-millimetre laminatedUV-shielded/clear anti-reflectivesecurityglass(fortheexhibitionunits).

Inordertoreducethecoolingcostsandgreenhouseeffectofthebuilding,16%ofthedouble-glazedpanelsofthecentralcourtyard’sglassroofareoperablewitharemotecontrol.Theouterglasspanelsofthisnewroofarecomposedof8-millimetretemperedsolarlow-E50/33witha16-millimetreargon-filledvoidwhileitsinnerglasspanelsuse5+0,76PVB+5-millimetrelaminatedclearglass.

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Protectionofwoodelements

Sincewoodisanorganicmaterial,itcanbedegradedbybioticandabioticprocesses,andsoitneedstobewellprotected.Themosteffectivemethodsarebiotic(againstfungus, insects, termites,etc.)andabiotic(against externalweather conditions, fire, etc.) impregnation.All the newwood used in the building isimpregnated.

Consideringtheheavydamageoftheoriginalwoodusedinthewindowframesthroughoutthebuilding,all window frames and glazingwere changed. However, their original forms and dimensions were re-manufactured.Inaddition,theywerefittedwithdoubleglazinginordertopreventheatloss.

Protectionofmetallicelements

Allmetallicelements,suchas irondoorsandwrought-ironwindowgrilles throughout thebuilding,hadseveralcoatsofoldpaintpriortotherehabilitationproject.

Due to corrosion, especially on the original entrance doors, a controlled blastingmethodwas used forcleaningironelementsandornamentation.After theclean-upoperation,aprotectiveZinga / tannicacidvarnishwasappliedtopreventcorrosion.Inaddition,twoprotectivepaintlayerswereappliedontopofthevarnish.Themissingpartsofthedoorsandgrillesweredeterminedandwerereplacedusingironrecycledfromotherpartsofthebuilding.

Marbleelementsrestoration

Cracksandjointswerefoundinthebuilding’soriginalstepsandflooring.Thearchitectsreinforcedthesewith fillers.All marble surfaces were desalinated first. Then, damaged surfaces were cleaned by sandblasting.Intheareaswheretherewasamissingmarblefloorpanelorafloorpanelbeyondrepair,thebestcorrespondingmaterialwasemployed.

4. Building services, site utilities

TwoHVACsystemswere installed in all spaces aside from the courtyard and the toilets.Theyprovidehot andcool air fromnewlycreatedvents,placedalong theperimetersof each roomandcoveredwithanaluminumgrill.An indirect lightingsystemwas integratedwithin thisventsystem.OneHVACunit,servicingtheeastpartofthebuilding,wasplacedontherearendandlowerlevelofthecourtyardinwhichtheRomanbasilicaruinswerefound.Theotherunit,servicingthewWestendofthebuilding, isplacedunderneaththelargerearcourtyard,withanairintakeextrudingoutandelegantlycoveredbyawoodenbench.

Inordertokeeptheglassboxes’temperaturebetween18and22°Candrelativehumidityvaluesat45%(+/-5%),aprecisionHVACsystemwasspeciallyintroducedforthem.

Thebuilding’splumbingsystemisconnectedtotheexistingmunicipalseweragegrid.

Thebuilding’selectricalsystemandhigh-speedinternetsystemarebothconnectedtotheexistingmunicipalgrid.

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Existingconcretechannels,datingfrom1969,wereusedtosupportthenewHVACsystemaswellastheelectricalandplumbingsystems.Bothelectricalandairductswerecarriedthroughthesechannels,allowingthemtoconnectinaninvisiblemannerdirectlytotheglassboxesandthebookdisplaycases.

D. Origin of:

Pleasenotethatneitherthearchitectnortheengineercould100%confirmtheinformationbelow:

1. Technology

Alltechnologyusedwaspurchasedlocally(TurkishandEuropeanproducts)asidefromthefirstinflatablemembraneroofwhichwasimported.

2. Materials

AllTurkish.

3. Labour force

AllTurkish

4. Professionals

Architects: AllTurkish Contractors: AllTurkish Consultants: AllTurkishasidefromthelightingconsultantwhoisGerman

V. Construction schedule and costs

A. History of project design and implementation, with dates

• 2005:TabanlıoğluArchitectswerecommissioned toundertake the rehabilitationof theBeyazıtStateLibrary(MelkanGursel,principalincharge;HandePusat,projectarchitect).

• 2006:Theconceptdesignphasewasstarted,includingtheanalysisofthesquareandoldmaps,researchonlibrarytypologies,andtestingofprogrammaticschemes.TheLibraryAnnexewaspartofthefirstsketchesoftheLibraryconcept.Thesurveydrawingsphasewasinitiated,andlastedtwoyears.

• End of 2006 – 2007: Submission of the survey drawings. Permissionwas granted to undertake therehabilitation of the Library.

• 2008:Drawingsof theproposed twoschemeswerepresented to theHeritageBoard.Everythingwasapproved;however,theETFEroofhadtobedetailedmore.

Thefirstschemeproposedanopencourtyardandthesecondschemeacoveredcourtyard.ThesecondschemewaspreferredbyboththeHeritageBoardandtheLibrarydirector.

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• 2009:FinaldrawingpackagesubmissionandacceptancebytheHeritageBoard.

• 2009:AlltechnicaldocumentssubmittedtotheCityCouncil,whichrunandoverseethebiddingprocess.

• Endof2009:RenaConstructionstartedconstruction.Thefirststepsincludedcleaningofthespaceandsafestorageofthebooks.

• 2012:TheremainsofaRomanbasilicawerefoundinthesmallrearcourtyard.AreportwitharevisedschemeofthecourtyardwithaglassfloorwassubmittedtotheArchaeologicalCouncil.Theschemewasapproved.

• 2013:Constructionfinished.

• 2014:Finalreceptionofwork

• 2018–April2019:ReplacementofETFEroofwithadouble-glazedpyramidalroof

B. Totalcostsandmainsourcesoffinancing

Overallrestorationcosts: 8,566,251.6TL+VAT=10,108,176.8TL(4,553,232.79USDaspertheexchangerateof10February2014)

Restorationofthecourtyardglassstructure: 1,533,738.4TL+VAT=1,809,811.3TL(314,925.21USDaspertheexchangerateof15April2019)

Thefirst-phasemobilisationtenderedbytheIstanbulGovernorshipInvestmentMonitoringCoordinationDepartmentNaturalResourcesLicensesandCulturalPropertyon29January2009was2,990,632.79TL(includingVAT), and the second-stagemobilisation on 2August 2011was 5,575,618.81TL (includingVAT).Bothphaseswerecontrolledbythesameinstitution.ThetenderfortheglassroofwasmadebytheMinistryofCultureandTourismon18December2017,as1,022,492.28TL(includingVAT),additionally50%511,246.14TL(includingVAT)priceincreaserealised.Itwasdeliveredon18April2019.

Sourceoffinancing:PrivateAdministrationoftheCity(whichhasaspecialbudgetforimportanthistoricalprojects thatgoesbeyondtheregularallocatedbudgetsforrestorationprojects),DoganFoundation,andMinistryofCultureandTourism.

Please note that the initial construction cost increased because of the discovery of the Roman basilicaremainsunderneaththesmallrearcourtyard.

C. Comparative costs (if relevant)

For this typeof rehabilitationproject, thecostvariesgreatlybasedon thestateof theoriginalbuilding,hencecomparativecostisnotrelevant.

D. Qualitative analysis of costs (per square metre, per unit, etc.)

1,791.74USD/m2(thesurfacesofthetworearcourtyardsareincludedinthisestimation).

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E. Maintenance costs (heating, cooling, etc.)

Yearlymaintenanceexpenses:

Costofelectricity: 227,744TLCostofphoneandinternet: 2,640TLMaintenanceforgeneratorandair-conditioningsystems: 18,600TLCostofdrinkingwater: 3,000TLSalariesoftwocleaningstaff: 64,800TLCostofcleaningmaterials: 20,000TLYearlymaintenanceforsecuritysystems: 8,000TLYearlymaintenancepowersupply: 2,000TLOtherexpenses: 20,000TL

Total: 366,784TL (63,825USDaspertheexchangerateof17April2019)

F. Ongoing costs and “life performance” of building, in terms of materials, maintenance, etc.

When theETFE roofwas inplace, it necessitatedan electricaldevice to constantlypump in air.WhenIstanbul experienced electricity cuts, the device stopped functioning.Agenerator, put in place for suchinstances,couldhavebeenusedbutitrequiredmaintenanceandcostlyfueltofunction.Unfortunately,theLibrary’smonthlybudgetdidnotaccountforthisadditionalexpenseandtheETFEroofremaineddeflatedduringtheseshortages.Thisledtoitsfailure.

Theglassboxesandtheexhibitionunitshavespecificclimatecontrolneedsrelatingtohumidityandair.Currently, during electricity shortages, climate control cannot be ensured.The library staff check dailythemeasurementsforbothtemperatureandhumidityinsidetheboxesandexhibitionunits.Thisistime-consuming.

Afire-alarmsystemandsecuritycamerascreensareconstantlymonitoredbydayandnightguards.

Twocleaningstaffcleanthelibraryandtendthecourtyardgardeneveryday.Theywashtheglassboxesandexhibitionunitsonceaweek.Ittakesonepersonbetweentwoandthreehourstoproperlywashaglassbox.Thestaffremoveleavesfromtheroofguttersonceamonth.Whenthebudgetallows,aprivatecleaningserviceinspectsandcleansthemechanicalsystem.

Basedonmyinterviewofthetwocleaningstaff,theday-to-daycleaningandmaintenanceofthebuildingiseasybuttheyarenotabletofixelectricalormechanicalproblemswhentheseemerge.

VI. Technical assessment

A. Functional assessment (use)

Therehabilitationprojecthascreatedanidealenvironmentfor(1)rare-booksstorageandpreservation,(2)exhibitionsand(3)study.

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Basedonmyinterviewswithusersandstaff,theconditionsforstudyareperfect:themainreadingroomisbright,withplentyofnaturallight,perfectthermalcomfortinallseasons,fastinternetconnectionandconformabletablesandchairs.

Similarly,theglassboxesallowforasafespaceforbookstorage,followinginternationalstandards,whicharelightyearsfromthestorageconditionspriortotherehabilitationproject(see Annexe 7 for photos). The boxesarenoweasilyaccessible,compactandwelllit,makingthelibrarians’worksimpleandpleasant.

Thestaffanddirectorareverypleasedwith theirnewoffices,whichareconducive toefficient researchwork.ResearchersvisitingtheRareBooksCollectionarealsodelightedbytheauraandcalmofitsspaces.

However, theLibrary’sfunctionalneedsanddirectorshiphavingchangedthroughoutthealmostdecade-longdurationoftheproject,andsomemajorfunctionalissuesexisttoday(see the plans in Annexe 9).

Indeed,theLibraryrehabilitationprojectdidnotintegratetheAnnexebuildingwithinitsscheme,creatinganambiguoussituationinwhichtwoentitiesbelongingtothesameorganisationdonotdialoguewithorcomplementeachother.TheprojectpresentedfortheAgaKhanAwardconstitutestheRareBooksCollectionportionoftheBeyazıtStateLibrary,whichincludesareadingroomandgarden,supposedlysharedbyusers,staffandthepublic.Inactuality,themainreadingroomisonlyusedbytheStateLibraryusers,thatispeoplewithstudentcards,whocanonlyaccessitthroughtheAnnexeentrancedoor.TheycanborrowbooksattheAnnexefrontdesk,renderingthefrontdeskbuiltinthereadingroomobsolete.Inaddition,thedoorsthatconnectthereadingroomtotheexhibitionroom,thebookstorageroomandthereargardenareclosedtoday.Thus,usersofthemainreadingroomcannotdirectlyaccesstheRareBooksCollectionportionoftheLibrary.Infact,noneofthefiveusersIinterviewedhaseverenteredit,andsomedonotevenknowofitsexistence.Also,usersofthemainreadingroomhavetoentertheAnnexebuildinginordertoaccessthereargardenorusethetoilets.

TheRareBooksCollectionactsasitsownseparateentitywithitsownentrance,frontdesk,administration,bathroomsandsmallreadingroom.ItismeanttohostadvancedstudentsandexpertswhowanttoconsulttheRareBooksCollection.Assuch,thepublicdimensionofthearchitects’originalambitionfortheprojecthasbeenseverelydiminished.

Oneofthemainreasonsbehindthisunfortunateturnofeventsisthefactthatsecuritycamerasandguardsare not judged sufficient to protect theglass boxes, andhencepublic access is not desirable.Similarly,thelibraryadministrationjudgesthatvisitorstotheRareBooksCollectionexpectacalmandcontrolledenvironment,whichmightbecompromisedbyregularstudentssharingandcompetingforspace.

Somestrangefunctionalincongruitiesoccur:

• Thedirectorhastoenterthestaffofficestoaccesshisownoffice.• Staff/visitorshavetoenterthestaffofficetoaccessoneofthestoragerooms.• Thewelcome/informationdesk is far removed from theRareBooksCollection’smainentrance, and

visitorsaredisorientedastheyenterthebuilding.• A second kiosk run by the Rare Books Collection staff was built in the rear garden, repeating the

programmeofthealready-existingkiosk.• Noisy air-conditioning unit vents were placed on the courtyard level beside the Annexe, with no

consultationwiththeRareBooksCollectionarchitects.Thisconflictswiththerestandleisureprogrammeimaginedforthiscourtyard.

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• ThetallblankwalloftheAnnexefacingtherearcourtyardcouldhavecontributedtothegreeningofthespace.

• Accesstothesmallcourtyardwiththeruinsofthebasilicaisnotdefinedforvisitors(lackofmapsandinformationleafletsattheinformationdesk).Today,itisaccessibleduringguidedtoursonly.

ItseemsthatthedeficienciesinthefunctionalitiesoftheplanaroseasmuchfromthelackofalignmentbetweentheambitionofthearchitectsandtheneedsoftheLibraryadministration,asfromthelackofclaritybetweenthepublicandtheLibraryusers’circulations,andthesecurityrequirementsfromtheoutset.

To their credit, the architects are currently attempting to convince the administration to open themainreadingroomonceamonthtotheRareBooksCollectionsection.

B. Climatic performance, lighting, natural and/or mechanical ventilation, sun control, insect control, acoustics, orientation, etc.; description of systems developed and utilised

Climateperformance

By limiting the book storage to compact glass boxes, the architects limited the volume of controlledenvironments,hencerenderingtheirbuildingmorethermallyefficient.

Thethermalcomfortinsidethelibraryisverygood.Firstofallthereadingroomsandofficesbenefitfromnatural ventilation (thanks to facingwindows), an air-conditioning systemwhich canbe activated, newdouble-glazedwindows,theoriginal1-metre-thickwalls,andhighdomeswhichallowhotairtorisetothetop.Itshouldbenotedthattheoriginaldomes’skylightshadnoglazing,whichmostcertainlyaugmentedthe thermal performance of the building in the summertime, by letting the accumulated hot air escape.However,despitethefactthattheseskylightwindowsareclosedandnotoperabletoday,thespacesseemtoperformquitewellinthesummertime.

Acounterbalancetotheclosureoftheskylightsisthepresenceoffivechimneyswhoseshaftsareleftopen,improvingtheoverallnaturalventilationofthebuilding(seeAnnexe10fortheirlocalisationintheplan.)

In thewinter, the heating system through the ground vents is activated,making users feel comfortabledespitethelargevolumeofthespaces.Thisismainlyduetotheirproximitytothehot-airexhaust.

Thebathroomshavesmallwindowswithnoglazingopeningtothecourtyard,andnoceiling,allowingforampleventilation.

Themaincourtyardalsobenefitsfrompassiveventilationsinceithastwodoorswhich,whenopen,cancreateanairflow.Inadditionthenewdouble-glazedroofhasanacceptableUvalueandseveralofitspanelsareoperable,allowingfortheaccumulatedhotairtoescape.Sincethisroofwasnew,Icouldnotaskusershowitperformsinthesummertime.

Acoustics

Nothingwasdonetoimprovetheacousticsofthebuilding.Yettheacousticsinallspacesbutthebathroomblockareverygood:spacesarecalm,despitethepresenceoftheglassboxes.Theterrazzofloorcompositioncouldhavebeendesignedsoastoabsorbsomeofthenoise.

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Thelackofceilinginthebathroomaccentuatesnoiseemanatingfromthestallswheninuse.

Termitecontrol

Allwoodusedintherehabilitationhasbeentreated.

Sunlightcontrol

Nosunlight-controlmechanismswereproposedfortheinteriorspaces,eventhoughthemainfaçadesofthehistoricbuildingsfaceeastandwest.The1-metre-thickwallsprovidesomeprotection,butthearchitecthasnotshownmeanydiagramsordrawingsstudyingsunexposureandangleswhichcouldhaveprovedthatnosunlightcontrolisneeded.

Theglassboxesandexhibitionunitswere,however,verycloselystudied,soastoprotecttheircontentfromUVrays:

• Fortheglassboxes,thearchitectsusedtwolayersof10-millimetrelaminatedUV-shielded/smoked-greysecurityglasswithawavelengthof320–380nanometresand99%filteredandanti-reflective.

• For theexhibitionunits, thearchitectsusedone layerof6-millimetreandone layerof12-millimetrelaminatedUV-shielded/clearanti-reflectivesecurityglass.

For the newglazed roof of the courtyard, the architects used for the exterior glass panels 8-millimetretemperedsolarlow-E50/33witha16-millimetreargon-filledvoid,andforitsinnerpanels5+0,76PVB+5-millimetrelaminatedclearglass.

Nodatawereprovidedfortheglassusedintheglassfloorofthesmallcourtyard.

C. Response to treatment of water and rainfall; discharge of water, and retention and release system(s), if any

Nowatercollectionsystemwasputinplace.Blackandgreywateraresenttothemunicipalgrid.

Responsetowater/rainfall:

Roof

Theroofwaterproofingmembranewasremovedandreplacedwithadoublelayerofbitumenandre-coveredwitha leadcovering,whichwasexecutedwithincrediblecare.Indeed, theconnectionbetweentheleadpieces,thecurvaturetoformdrainagechannels,aswellasthetransitionbetweentheleadcoveringandthewindowframes,issomasterfulthatitlookslikeembroiderywork.

Allthewindowframesandglazingonthedomesandontheskylightswereentirelyredonetoavoidleaks.

ThefourstonerainwaterspoutsonthemainfaçadefacingBeyazıtSquareweremadelarger.

A40-centimetre-wideand80-centimetre-deepmetalgutterwascreatedaround theperimeterof thenewpyramidalroof.Anewverticalpipecollectingwaterfromthischannelwasadded,andsadlythisisvisiblealongthewesternwallof theperistyle.It ispaintedwiththesamegreycolourasthenewlyaddedsteelcolumnssupportingthepyramidalroof,inordertohelpitblendin.

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Maincourtyard

Thefountainusedtohavedrainagechannelsarounditsperipherybeforeitwasmoved.Whenthearchitectsplaceditbackinitsoriginallocation,thesedrainagechannelswererevived.

Rear courtyard

Inordertoprotecttheruinsfromtherainandflooding,theglassfloorwascarefullybuiltandsealed,andfittedwithperipheral40-centimetre-widechannels.

D. Environmentalresponse;adaptationtothenaturalenvironment;adaptationtonativefloraandfauna

Thethreetreespresentintherearcourtyardwerepreserved.Newlyaddedolivetreesandcypresstreeswereplantedinpotsbecausetherearemechanicalroomsandinfrastructureunderneaththecourtyard.Thesetreesareallnative.Grasswasplantedaroundandunderneaththebenches.Inthefuture,frequentsteppingonthegrassbyuserswillalmostcertainlycausedamagetoandindeedkillthegrass.

The small rear courtyard lacks greenery and is not verywelcoming. Itwould have benefitted from theintegrationofplantersoragreenwall.

Thenative faunawas not studiedmuch in this project. For instance, the architects failed to notice thatseagullsarepresentaroundthesite,andareattractedbyshiny,reflectivesurfacesthatlooklikewater.TheETFEroofwasabigattractorforthem:theyflockedtoitandpeckedit,furthercontributingtoitsdemise.

E. Choice of materials, level of technology

The rehabilitation of the historic buildingswas donewith great care and taste.The architects chose toenhancetherawbeautyoftheoriginalbuildingmaterialsbyexposingthemandremovingallcoverings,asidefromthedomesandvaultswhichwereplastered.

Whennewmaterialwasused, thearchitectswerecareful to select similar limestone,marble,woodandbricks,yetwithaslightlylightertonetodifferentiatebetweenoldandnew.

Asacontrasttotheorganicnatureofthematerialsofthehistoricbuildings,allnewinterventionssharedadrasticallydifferentvocabulary,limitedtoasmallpaletteofmodernmaterials:steel(paintedgrey),glass,greymetalmesh,aluminium,paintedgreywoodandlightbeigeterrazzo.

Thetypeofglazingoftheglassboxeswasperfectlygauged:transparentenoughtorevealthebooksinside,yetreflectiveenoughtomirrorthematerialsofthehistoricbuilding.

TechnologylevelsforconstructionweresuitedtothelabourandmaterialsavailableinTurkey.

F. Response to, and planning for, emergency situations, i.e. natural disasters, floods, winds, fires,earthquakes, etc.

Security: Thereisacentralisedsecuritysystem,withcamerasplacedinallmainroomsandattheentrance.Thefront-

deskguardhasaccesstolive-streamvideosfromthese.

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Fire: Therearefiredetectorsineveryroomandineveryglassbox.Eachroomisequippedwithafireextinguisher.

Emergencysituations: There are four exits: two towards the rear courtyard, one towardsBeyazıt Square and one towards the

Annex.Therearenoautomaticdoors,sinceallexteriordoorsareoriginal.

Earthquakes: The historic buildings endured the 1999 Istanbul earthquake and some serious crackswere detected in

someofthedomestructures,masonrywallsandcolumns.Forthisreason,thesestructuralcomponentshaveundergonein-depthanalysisandtests,reportswereissuedbytheconsultantsandopinionsweresoughtfromtheIstanbulTechnicalUniversityCivilEngineeringdepartment.Duringtherestorationprocess,thesedomestructureswerestitchedwithsteelstapleswhichwerelatercladwithhorasanharcı,atraditionallimemortar.Somecolumnswerereinforcedbyasteelcage-likesystem(seephotoinAnnexe6).

Disabledaccess: TheLibraryisnotaccessibletouserswithlimitedmobility.

G. Ageing and maintenance problems

NomaintenancemanualormaintenancetrainingwasprovidedtotheclientortoLibrarystaff.Thefollowingageingandmaintenanceproblemswerenoted(seeAnnexe11forphotos):

Roof:• Theslopedroofofthetoiletsalreadydisplayssignsofdamageduetowateraccumulation.• Theframeofoneoftheskylightsofthetoiletshasstartedtorustduetothiswateraccumulation.

Reargarden:• TheeasternneighbouringwalloftheBazaar,whichthearchitectwasnotallowedtotouchandrestore,

hassomepartswhichareonthevergeofcollapsing.• Ahoseusedforwateringthegardenisleaking,whichcouldpotentiallycausedamagetothebuilding

foundations.

Rearcourtyard:• Themetalstructureoftheglassfloorhasstartedtorust.Theslopeofthefloorwasnotinclinedenough

andwaterpuddlesformwhenitrains.• Therainwaterthatisexpelledbytheguttersonthefaçadescreatesstainsonthesouthfaçade.• Theperipheralrainwaterchannelisnotregularlycleanedandwatergathersinthewestcorner,creating

mossonthelowerpartofthelimestonefaçadewall.

Interior:• Theglassdoorsoftheglassboxesarenotall100%hermetic.Thiscouldcausetheinteriorenvironment

tobecomeinstable.Asiliconejointshouldhavebeenaddedtoensurethattheyclosetightly.• Thealuminiumcoveringofthegroundventshasstartedtodeforminsomeplaces.

Mechanical:• TheHVACsystemhasbeendownforseveralmonths.Thereisnobudgetavailabletofixityet.

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H. Design features: massing and volume, articulation of spaces, integration into the site (topography and neighbouring buildings)

Themassingandvolumeoftheoriginalbuildingswererespectedasthenewpyramidalroof’sapexislowerthanthebaseofthedomes.ThenewroofisnotvisiblefromBeyazıtSquare.However,itssteelstructureandsub-structure read tooheavily incontrastwith theslendercolumnsof theperistyleand thescaleofthecourtyard.Besides,thepyramidhasan80-centimetrebasewhichhidestheperipheralstructureandan80-centimetre-deepdrainagechannel(seeAnnexe12foradetailof thesectionacrossthecourtyardandnewroof).Thearchitects’initialinflatablemembraneroofwasmoreelegant.Theirsubsequentideawastoreplaceitwithashallowglassdome,butthebudgetwasnotsufficienttomaterialisetheiridea.Thedesignofthenewroofwasmainlycompletedbyanengineer,HalilUbuzfromArcenArchitects,whichexplainstheheavy-handednatureofitsformwhencomparedtotherestoftheproject.Sincethearchitectsworkedforyearsonthisprojectonavoluntarybasis,thereplacementoftheroofcouldbenotfullyundertakenbytheirofficeinduetime.

I. Impact of the project on the site, in terms of increased circulation or vehicular movement, changes required for infrastructure (particularly for projects in high-density areas), etc.

TheLibrary’smainentranceand theentranceof theAnnexebothfaceBeyazıtSquare,which isa largepedestrianplaza.Hence,theincreasedpedestriancirculationinadditiontothelinesofpeoplewaitingtoaccessthepopularreadingroomareeasilyaccommodatedbythesquare.

J. Durability and long-term viability of the project

Theproject’smeticulousrehabilitationandstate-of-the-artbookstoragesystemwillensuretheRareBooksCollectionLibrary’slong-termviability,aslongastheMinistryofCultureandTourismprovidessufficientandsustained funds formaintenanceand repairs.Thecurrent twocleaningstaffareneithersufficient innumbernorsufficientlywell-equipped/trainedtomaintainthebuilding’sinfrastructureingoodcondition.

Given thatallmaterialsand technologyused in thebuilding iseasilyreplaceable locally, repairscanbecompletedwithnomajorhurdles.

ThesocialdurabilityoftheprojectwilldependonhowtheRareBooksCollectionLibrarypositionsitselfvis-à-vis theStateLibrary’susers and thegeneral public in thenear future.The architects’ ambition toconceiveofalibraryasexhibitionspace,opentoall,canonlybeaccomplishediftheRareBooksCollectionLibrarydevelopsapublicoutreachprogramme,proposesopen-doordaysetc.

K. Ease and appropriateness of furnishings; interior design and furnishing

Theinteriorfurnishingisverywellsuitedto thespaces: theglassboxesarecompact,elevatedfromthegroundandreflectthearchitectureofthehistoricbuildingwhereitiscontained,theexhibitionunitsarewelllitandtheircontentreadilyvisible,andthewhitechairsandtablesinthereadingroomsarecomfortable.Thefurnitureoftheofficesoftheadministration,builtinheavydarkwood,wasselectedbytheMinistryofCulture,anddoesnotmatchtherestoftheelegantfurnitureintheproject.

Theinteriordesignstandspurposelyinstarkcontrasttothehistoricbuilding’sarchitecture,makingabluntstatementthattherehabilitationofheritagecanbecontemporaryinnature.Thelightingsystems,developed

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specificallyfortheproject,echotheOttoman-stylechandeliers,yetremainverymoderninboththeirformand suspension concept.

VII. Users

A. Descriptionofthosewhouseorbenefitfromtheproject(e.g.incomelevel,socio-culturalprofile,etc.)

Theusersofthemainreadingroomandrearcourtyardrangefromlow-incometohigher-middle-incomestudents,andinagefrom16yearsold(high-schoolstudents)to65yearsold(usuallyretireesreturningtotheUniversity).

TheusersoftheRareBooksCollectionare(1)middle-to-high-incomegraduatestudents,experts,researchersandprofessorsfromTurkeyandabroad,and(2)thelibrarystaffwhospendtheirworkingdaysorganising,cataloguing,scanning,restoringandstudyingrarebooksandmanuscripts.

B. Response to project by clients, users, community, etc.

1. What do architectural professionals and the cultural “intelligentsia” think about the project?

Turkish architectural professionals think that the rehabilitationwork is stellar, thanks to the architects’sensitiveapproach,butmostimportantlybecausetheygatheredanincredibleteamofexpertsandcontractors,amongthebestinIstanbul.Thetechnicalprowesstoachieveminimalintervention,hidingallmechanicalandelectricalsystems,wasalsoacknowledged.

Thestoneworkrestorationwaspraisedbyalocalstonerestorationprofessor.

Someprofessionalsthinkthattheprojectsetsanexcellentprecedentandbest-practicestandardsforsimilarrehabilitationprojectsacrossTurkey,sinceitintroducesamodernvocabularyamidheritagebuildings.

2. What is the popular reaction to the project?

Mostofthelocals/usersIinterviewedwerethrilledwithandproudoftheproject,chieflyofthemainreadingroomandthereargardencourtyardwhichtheyallknewwell.MostoftheAnnexe’suserswishedthatmorespacewasavailableforthemtostudy.

3. What do neighbours and those in the immediate vicinity think about the project?

ThetwoneighboursIinterviewedwerenotawareoftherehabilitationprojectoftheLibrarybuttheyknewoftheStateLibraryinitspriordilapidatedcondition.

Thebookseller I interviewed in theOldBookBazaar adjacent to theLibrarywas awareof the lengthyrestorationproject.Hewas,however,unclearaboutthepossibilityofaccessingthenewlyrestoredspaces.

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VIII. Persons involved

A. Identificationofprojectpersonnelandtheirrolesintheproject(e.g.client,architect,planner,consultant,craftsmen, etc.)

Architect: Tabanlıoğlu Architects MuratTabanlıoğlu–firmprincipal/designer MelkanGursel–firmprincipal/designer HandePusat–projectarchitect DeryaGenç–designer/sitesupervison SelcenTuncerOzen–projectmanager SenaAltundag–researcher

Projectconsultantfordemolition,scaffolding,restitutionandrestoration: Budowa Architects YamanIrepoglu–firmprincipal

Consultantforrestoration: Rena Construction AyseNuvitBayar–maasterarchitectandrestorationspecialist

Contractor: Rena Construction SinanMatarasi–owner

Structuralengineer: CE Engineering and Consultancy CelalErdem–owner

Mechanicalengineer: GN Engineering GurkanGörgun–owner

Electricalengineer: HB Engineering HuseyinGulsoy–owner

Bookpreservationconsultant: HB Preservation NilBaydar–director PaulHemmert–director

Lightingconsultant: Dinnebier Licht JanDinnebier–ownerandlightingdesigner

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Engineerandcontractorforthenewroofofthecourtyard: Arcen Architects HalilUbuz–owner

Clientfortheroofrestoration: Survey and Monuments in Istanbul OlcayAydemir–director

HeritageCouncil: ErcanSezen–member

IX. Bibliography

A. List of publications

PleaserefertothepdftitledBeyazit_press_selection.pdfinsidetheBeyazitTextMaterial>PressMaterialfolder

Aziza ChaouniMay 2019

i

Annexe 1: Climate

Source:https://www.meteoblue.com/en/weather/forecast/modelclimate/istanbul_turkey_745044

Theclimatediagramsarebasedon30yearsofhourlyweathermodelsimulations.

Ps:moreinformationisprovidedinthefoldersshared.

ii

Annexe 2

CityplanshowingtheconnectionofBeyazıtSquarewithimportantlandmarksinthecity

Siteplan19th century

iii

Siteplan1904

iv

Siteplantoday

Contextualsite plan today

v

Annexe 3: Conceptplan

1. Mainentrance2. Courtyard3. Mainreadingroomwithbook borrowingdesk4. Administrativeoffice5. Exhibition6. Frontdesk/informationdesk7. OfficeoftheRareBooksCollection director8. Readcourtyardwithgarden9. Kioskforcoffeeandfood10. Smallkioskforcoffee11. Servicestaffroom

12. Bathroomblock13. Smallrearcourtyardwithglassfloor protectingtheruinsofthebasilica14. Mechanicalroom15. Smallreadingroom16. Closethidingtheelectricalroom

* PleasenotethattheplanssubmittedbythearchitectsdonotreflectthefinalconditionanduseoftheLibrary,sopleaserefertomylegend.

vi

Annexe 4: Plangeometry

A1,A6andA9: mediumspace,two7x7mmodulesA2: largespace,two7x7mmodules+27x3.5mhalfmodulesA3,A7andA8: smallspaceone7x7mmoduleA4: smallspaceone7x3.5mhalfmoduleA5: smallspaceone7x4.5mspace(exception)A6: mediumspace,7x7mmodules

vii

Annexe 5: Facades and roofscape

Mainfaçade(facingBeyazutSquare)

Ontheleft,theelaboratefaçadeoftheoldstable,todaythemainreadingroom.Ontherighthefaçadeoftheoldsoupkitchen.

Rearfaçade(facingthecourtyard)

Ontheleft,thefaçadeoftheoldsoupkitchen.Ontheright,thefaçadeoftheoldstablewithpointedarchesanddoor,todaythemainreadingroom.

Thesectionthroughtherearcourtyardshowsthemechanicalroomhiddenundergroundandsurmountedbyanexhaust/intakeventsurmountedbyabench.

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Roof plan

ix

Annexe 6: Columnreinforcementcage

x

Annexe 7: Bookstorageconditionsbeforetherehabilitation

Therarebooksandmanuscriptscollectionswerepileddirectlyonthefloororstackedondustyshelvesinanunsafeenvironment,vulnerabletodust,humidityandpollution.

xi

Annexe 8: Newmaterialscloseupshots

xii

Annexe 9: Circulationdiagramoftheoriginalscheme(donebythereviewer) Pleasenotethelackofclaritybetweenpublicandprivateaccessandlackofsecuritystrategy.

1. Mainentrance2. Courtyard3. Mainreadingroomwithbook borrowingdesk4. Administrativeoffice5. Exhibition6. Frontdesk/informationdesk7. OfficeoftheRareBooksCollection director8. Readcourtyardwithgarden9. Kioskforcoffeeandfood10. Smallkioskforcoffee

11. Servicestaffroom12. Bathroomblock13. Smallrearcourtyardwithglassfloor protectingtheruinsofthebasilica14. Mechanicalroom15. Smallreadingroom16. Closethidingtheelectricalroom

* PleasenotethattheplanssubmittedbythearchitectsdonotreflectthefinalconditionanduseoftheLibrary,sopleaserefertomylegend

xiii

CirculationdiagramoftheLibrarytoday(donebythereviewer)PleasenotetheseparationbetweentheAnnexe(BeyazıtStateLibrary)anditsRareBooksCollectiontotheright.Onlytherearcourtyardisasharedprogramtoday.

1. Mainentrance2. Courtyard3. Mainreadingroomwithbook borrowingdesk4. Administrativeoffice5. Exhibition6. Frontdesk/informationdesk7. OfficeoftheRareBooksCollection director8. Readcourtyardwithgarden9. Kioskforcoffeeandfood10. Smallkioskforcoffee

11. Servicestaffroom12. Bathroomblock13. Smallrearcourtyardwithglassfloor protectingtheruinsofthebasilica14. Mechanicalroom15. Smallreadingroom16. Closethidingtheelectricalroom

* PleasenotethattheplanssubmittedbythearchitectsdonotreflectthefinalconditionanduseoftheLibrary,sopleaserefertomylegend

xiv

Annexe 10: Crossventilationandchimneyventslocalization

xv

Annexe 11: Photosofdamageduetomaintenanceandagingproblems

Outletwithdisplacedgrill

Crackbeneathabathroomstallskylight

Patchrepairsoftheroofabovethebathroomblockduetowaterstagnation

Damagedventinthecentralcourtyard

xvi

Bazaarwallfacingthereargardencourtyard,inpoorshape

Rainwaterdamageonthemainfaçade

Deteriorationandrustingofthemetalstructureoftheglassfloor,duetowaterstagnation

Damageduetowaterleakageinanoctogonalskylight

Mossgrowthonlimestoneofthefaçade,inthesmallcourtyard

xvii

Annexe 12

Sectionacrossthecentralcourtyardanditsnewglassroof

Notethatthenewroofapexislowerthanthebaseofthedomes,thatitsitsontheouteredgeofperistyleroof,andthatithasan80cmmetalcoveredbandatitsbase(showninredbelow).

xviii

Annexe 13

Ottomanbookshelves used in the Library prior to its restoration, displayed today inthemainexhibitionroom

BeyazıtStateLibraryisoneoftheoldeststatelibrariesinIstanbul,foundedin1884andsituatedinBeyazıtSquare.ThebuildingwasoriginallythesoupkitchenandCaravanseraiofacomplexthatincludedakitchen,aprimaryschool,ahospital,amadrasahandahammam.

Thehistoriclibrarywasinastateofdismaythatneededurgentattention,forthesakeofthebooksandthefunctionalityofthecomplex.

HistoricphotosofBeyazıtStateLibrary.ThelibraryisasectionoftheKulliyahoftheBeyazıtMosquetheoldestsurvivingimperialmosqueinthecity–builtbySultanBeyazıtIIandcompletedin1506.

Thebuildingbeingahistoricmonument,therenovation, aswellasthestructuralworksandtechnologicaladditionswerecarriedoutwithminimalalterationtotheoriginalframework.

TherestorationoftheStateLibraryhasinvolvedthereorganizationoftheinteriorandrestorationofthebuildingfabricwithitsmultidomedroof.

Welcomingdailyusers,theserenereadingroomletsinmysticaldaylightthroughthelightholes.Theinnerroomscontainthepreservationboxeswithartificiallightingandair-conditioning.

Blackglassboxes,devotedtothemanuscriptsandrarebooks,standasamonolithicobject,contrasttotheirsurroundingswhilereflectingstonewallsofcenturiesago.

Thereorganisationintroducedapublicflowthroughthelibrary,fromthesquaretothebackyard,passingthroughspaces devoted to the display of rare manuscripts.Thereadingroomsaregroupedaroundthecourtyard.

Thecoveredcourtyardoffersanadditionalzoneforexhibitionsandmeetings.Itcanbeusedatallseasonsandinallweatherconditions.

Theflowthroughthebuildingwasmodifiedinordertobestserveitsmodernfunction,themainentrancenowbeingthroughthecourtyard.

ModernTurkishpublications sit on thesecondfloorand periodicals onthefirst,whilethegroundlevelhouses the rare bookcollection,publicationsfromtheOttomaneraandotherOttoman,ArabicandPersianmanuscripts.Allthelatterarenowkeptinair conditioned transparent cabins that create a controlled atmosphereforthesafe preservation ofthedocumentswithin.

Theremainsof a Byzantine basilicawererevealedduringthe construction works.Theyarenowpreservedunderaflatglassroofonwhichitissafetowalk.The transparent structure protects theremainsandallowsthevisitortogetacloseview.

Architect Tabanlıoğlu Architects

Client Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Aydın Doğan Foundation

Design 2006-2012

Completed 2014

Founded in 1884 inside a 16th century building, Beyazıt State Library, one of the oldest and largest libraries in Istanbul, underwent an important restoration. A reorganisation of the library space introduced a public flow through the library, from the square to the backyard, passing through spaces devoted to the display of over 25,000 rare manuscripts and reading rooms grouped around the courtyard. The existing 1980’s concrete roof, covering the courtyard, was replaced with a new structure, which filters light and provides a controlled atmosphere. The Library, now open 24/7, hosts exhibitions and cultural events during which the public can admire the Byzantine remains that were uncovered during the work.

5077.TUR

2019 Award Cycle

Istanbul, Turkey


Beyazıt State Library is the oldest state library in Turkey,

being founded in 1884. Located in the most important public

space in the historical peninsula, the environs are strongly

associated with books and The exemplary updating and

fine-tuning of the State Library involved the sensitive re-

organisation of the interior and careful restoration of the

building fabric with its prominent multi-domed roof. In

place of the former concrete roof, a light and transparent

inflatable membrane structure which covers the courtyard,

filtering the daylight and providing a controlled atmosphere.

In the renovated shell of the building, the black glass boxes

devoted to the manuscripts stand as a monolithic object of

awe that are of a stark contrast to their surroundings.

BEYAZIT STATE LIBRARYConveying the knowledge and the building into 21st century and beyond

Istanbul, Turkey

N

BEYAZIT STATE LIBRARY 21The Beyazıt Complex, Istanbul

Multi-domed reading room provides a serene and well balanced atmosphere for the readers, many of them are highschool and university students.

Beyazit State Library Renovation

Istanbul, Turkey

Architects Tabanlioglu ArchitectsIstanbul, Turkey

Client Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Aydin Dogan Foundation

Commission 2006Design 2006 – 2008Construction 2015 – 2017Occupancy 2017

Site 2,925 m2

Ground Floor 2,925 m2

Total Floor 2,925 m2

Costs n.a.

Programme The renovation of the library, founded in 1884 within a 16th century heritage building, and the oldest state library in Turkey, included the preservation of the building’s fabric as well as the re-organisation of the interior space. The reorganisation introduced a public flow through the library, from the square to the backyard, passing through spaces devoted to the display of rare manuscripts, and reading rooms grouped around the courtyard. The existing concrete roof was replaced with a transparent, inflatable membrane structure covering the courtyard, which filters light and provides a controlled atmosphere. Byzantine remains uncovered during the work were excavated and are displayed below a flat glass roof.

Building Type Cultural Facilities2019 Award Cycle 5077.TUR

BEYAZIT STATE LIBRARY 21

The edge of the public square, front entrance of the library.

Dedicated bookshelves providing optimal storage conditions for the manuscripts.

Exhibition Hall and Multi-Purpose room

Byzantinium Church remains found on site is excavated and put on display.

The courtyard, covered with inflatable membrane structure welcomes the visitors.

5077.TUR

1


Istanbul, Turkey

Client

Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Istanbul, Turkey

Aydın Doğan Foundation, Istanbul, Turkey

Directorate of Surveying and Monuments, Istanbul, Turkey

Olcay Aydemir, director

Regional Directorate for the Protection of Cultural Assets, Istanbul, Turkey

Ercan Sezen, member of the heritage council

Architect

Tabanlıoğlu Architects, Istanbul, Turkey

Murat Tabanlıoğlu, Melkan Gürsel, founders and partnersw

Hande Pusat, design director

Derya Genç, senior associate

Selcen Tuncer Özer, tenders and contracts director

Sena Altundağ, research, publication and communication director

Irem Çatay, Kivanç Cucur, Nazli Tinaztepe, Deniz Manisali, project team

Contractors

General contractor:

Rena Construction Company, Istanbul, Turkey

Sinan Mataraci, director

Courtyard roof contractor:

Arcen Mimarlık Mühendislik İnşaat, Istanbul, Turkey

Halil Ubuz, director

Restoration Consultant:

Rena Construction Company, Istanbul, Turkey

Ayşe Nüvit Bayar, master architect and restorer

Budova Architects, Istanbul, Turkey

Yaman İrepoğlu, director

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Structural Consultant:

CE Engineering Company, Istanbul, Turkey

Celal Erdem, director

Mechanical Consultant:

GN Engineering Company, Istanbul, Turkey

Gürkan Görgün, director

Electrical Consultant:

HB Technical Engineering Services, Istanbul, Turkey

Hüseyin Gülsoy, director

Lighting Designer:

Studio Dinnebier, Berlin, Germany

Jan Dinnebier, director

Book Preservation Consultant:

HB Protection Company, Istanbul, Turkey

Nil Baydar, Paul Hepworth, directors

Project Data:

Site area: 2,717 m2

Built area: 1,430 m2

Ground floor area: 1,430 m2

Cost: 4,900,000 USD

Commission: March 2005

Design: 2006 - March 2012

Construction: January 2009 - December 2013

Occupancy: February 2014

3

Tabanlıoğlu Architects

İstanbul-based architecture firm TA_ was founded in 1990 by Murat Tabanlioğlu and his father Dr Hayati Tabanlioğlu, whose modernist architectural work (such as Ataturk Cultural Center, İstanbul Ataturk Airport etc.) stretches back to the 1950s. Melkan Gürsel joined as partner in 1995. Demonstrating a professionalism based on rigour and know-how, TA_ have a distinguished track record as designers of high-profile cultural buildings as well as megastructures, mixed-used complexes, masterplans, revitalising existing historical fabrics and urban regeneration projects. The practice currently has 150 employees and is engaged in major assignments worldwide with offices in Istanbul, Dubai, Doha and New York.

Tabanlıoğlu Architects develop innovative yet efficient and economically viable design alternatives considering the uniqueness of ‘place’ and the individuality of ‘requirements’. TA_ projects focus on environmental and urban issues especially in big cities, protecting not only natural resources, but also urban, local, social and cultural values and public memory, to both indicate the marks of the past and the layer of the modern.

Introducing state-of-the-art technologies alongside traditional materials and methods in a smart local understanding, TA_ addresses a longer-term future, with culture and the arts involved as strong tools to describe ‘time’ and ‘timelessness’.

Website

www.tabanlioglu.com

http://www.tabanlioglu.com/

5077.TUR Beyazit State Library Renovation

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P05077_TUR_00_beyazıt square_L60.jpg© Melkan Gursel / Murat Tabanlioglu

P05077_TUR_01_after_renovation.jpg© Melkan Gursel / Murat Tabanlioglu

P05077_TUR_01_before_renovation.jpg© Melkan Gursel / Murat Tabanlioglu

P05077_TUR_01_site.jpg© Melkan Gursel / Murat Tabanlioglu

P05077_TUR_02_plan compared.jpg© Melkan Gursel / Murat Tabanlioglu

P05077_TUR_02_Section A_compared.jpg© Melkan Gursel / Murat Tabanlioglu

P05077_TUR_02_sections_B.jpg© Melkan Gursel / Murat Tabanlioglu

P05077_TUR_03_plan_.jpg© Melkan Gursel / Murat Tabanlioglu


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P05077_TUR_03_section_b.jpg© Melkan Gursel / Murat Tabanlioglu

P05077_TUR_04_basilica_remains.jpg© Melkan Gursel / Murat Tabanlioglu

P05077_TUR_05_diagram_plan.jpg© Melkan Gursel / Murat Tabanlioglu

P05077_TUR_beyazit_diagram.jpg© Melkan Gursel / Murat Tabanlioglu

P05077_TUR_Section_detail.jpg© Melkan Gursel / Murat Tabanlioglu


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