Category: Residential
Type: Apartment
Location: Şahkulu, Şahkapısı St. Beyoğlu
Date: 1885 / 2008-2010
Period: Ottoman Empire / Republic of Türkiye
Designer: Guglielmo Semprini / Han Tümertekin
Photos: Tümertekin Architects
The Selimbey Apartment Building, situated adjacent to the Galata Tower, was originally constructed in 1885 by the Italian architect Guglielmo Semprini as a refined example of nineteenth-century neoclassical architecture. Designed initially to serve as a residence and guest house, the structure features distinctive marble reliefs and a characteristic metal gate on its facade that reflect the aesthetic values of the Pera district during that era. In 2008, the building underwent an extensive restoration led by the architect Han Tümertekin, during which it was renamed 2F House. This intervention preserved the historical exterior while modernizing the interior through the use of reinforced concrete, successfully transitioning the space from its previous use as a workshop into a contemporary living and working environment that honors its historical context.
