Category: Residential / Public
Type: Apartment, Office
Location: Tepebaşı, Meşrutiyet Ave. Beyoğlu
Date: 19th Century
Designer: Guglielmo Semprini
Period: Ottoman Empire
Photos: Cemal Emden, Ömer Kokal
The 19th-century Rosolimo Apartment, designed by architect Guglielmo Semprini as a rental property, stands today as the Istanbul Research Institute following an extensive restoration by the Suna and İnan Kıraç Foundation. While the building’s ornate front facade on Meşrutiyet Avenue retains its historical character, the interior was significantly modernized to accommodate the structural demands of a library and contemporary academic facilities. The restoration process addressed severe corrosion in the original masonry and steel floor structure by reinforcing the central section with concrete while meticulously restoring the exterior stonework to its original state. Currently, the institute houses specialized departments for Byzantine, Ottoman, and Republican studies, including the Şevket Rado Manuscripts and Semavi Eyice Library, providing a comprehensive center for scholars that features exhibition spaces and a collection projected to exceed 100,000 volumes.
