Gülhane Prof. Dr. Fuat Sezgin Library

Old telegraph office in Gülhane Park in Sur-i Sultani is refunctioned as a research library. The telegraph office which has a back facade formed by the historical citadel walls is a 19th century
structure. While one part of the two piece structure preserve the original layout and building elements, the inner walls and floor covering of the other part is demolished in the 20th century and rebuilt with concrete.

The old telegraph Office was transformed into a library where users can study and research on the history of Islam science and technology.

It was aimed to establish a relationship from inside to outside between the present structure and the historic walls, also the natural environment of the Gülhane Park. For the users, care was taken to ensure that the feeling of being in a peaceful library in nature was provided by the basic architectural elements to be used in interior design. It was intended to create spacious space for the readers with the mezzanine created by a new structure and the exposed wooden roof trusses. Walls, flooring colors, lighting and graphic design elements are allowing the users to focus and directing to the right areas by themselves.

The original layout and materials are preserved at the entrance with the stone/brick main walls and volta ceiling. In the second part whose interior is re-shaped as a major reading room, additional concrete structures are removed by preserving the original main walls. The recreated large single volume is designed as a library, housing Prof. Fuat Sezgin’s collection of 50.000 books.