Category: Infrastructure / Educational
Type: Library
Location: Cankurtaran, Gülhane Parkı, Fatih
Date: 1855
Designer: Gaspare Fossati / KOOP Architecture
Period: Ottoman Empire
Photos: Berker Ersoy
The Prof. Dr. Fuat Sezgin Library for Islamic Science History Research, situated within the historic Gülhane Park in Istanbul, occupies a building originally constructed in 1855 as the Ottoman Empire’s first Telegraph Office. Designed by the Italian architect Gaspare Fossati, the structure is a notable example of neoclassical public architecture, reflecting the aesthetic and administrative shifts of the mid-19th century. Following a meticulous restoration and adaptive reuse project that concluded in 2017, the building was transformed into a specialized library to house the vast scholarly collection of Professor Fuat Sezgin. Today, the facility preserves its historical character while serving as a prominent international center for researchers dedicated to the history of Islamic science and technology.
