Category: Educational, Residential
Type: School
Location: Büyükada
Date: 19th Century
Designer: Unknown
Period: Ottoman Empire
Photos: Egemen Karakaya
As the largest of the Princes’ Islands, Büyükada has historically served as a site of exile and sanctuary due to its geographic proximity to the city coupled with its residential isolation, while alternatively acting as a haven for those seeking leisure, entertainment, and inspiration. Situated on Kadıyoran Avenue, Taş Mektep (The Stone School) was commissioned in the second half of the 19th century by the Greek Orthodox Patriarch of the period, Sophronius. Although its architect remains unknown, the building—also known as the Sophronius Mansion—was used by the Patriarch as a summer residence for many years. In 1922, the property was acquired by the Istanbul Municipality and repurposed as Büyükada’s first official Turkish school under the name Köprülü Mehmed Paşa Numune Mektebi. Renamed Büyükada Primary School in 1925, the building became colloquially known as Eski Mektep (The Old School). It served as a primary school until 1967 and subsequently as a middle school until the 1978-79 academic year, when it was evacuated following a fire hazard. The structure remained abandoned until a restoration decision was made in 2021. Bearing the imprints of various eras and administrative shifts, the building reflects the broader historical narrative of Büyükada itself. In 2022, the Taş Mektep Adaptive Reuse Project, an IBB Miras restoration initiative, was completed by Novos Architecture.
