ArtIstanbul Feshane

Designed by KG Architecture, ArtIstanbul Feshane is located in Eyüpsultan district of Istanbul.

Istanbul has gained a European-wide art base with its units located on an area of 8 thousand square meters and responding to different needs. The historical Feshane-i Amire [Fez Factory Directorate], which was transformed into a new living space with the comprehensive restoration and re-functioning works of IBB Miras [IMM Heritage], opened its doors to become the center of life in the future as it was in the past. “Artİstanbul Feshane” will be the address of national and international meetings with its multifaceted cultural activities and social spaces…

Feshane-i Amire, one of the most important institutions that undertook the transformation of the imperial capital both economically and socio-culturally, which was implemented as one of the most important steps of Westernization in the Ottoman Empire, opened its doors to become the center of attraction of Istanbul again.

Feshane, which has gone far beyond an industrial structure with its nearly 200 years of testimony from the Ottoman Empire to the Republic; an important industrial heritage that integrates with the memory of the city with its pioneering role pointing to modernization, its functions as a school for generations and its impact on social life, has relieved the fatigue of years with IBB Miras. IBB Miras, whose mission is not only to protect Istanbul’s cultural assets but also to bring them into urban life as new living spaces, has carried out a similar work in Feshane.

In line with universal conservation principles, the restoration and re-functioning works were carried out with traditional materials and techniques, and the historical building was comprehensively strengthened. From the floor to the roof; from the original water channels to the original steel columns of Belgian origin; from the walls to the wooden joinery, from the water tower to the storage buildings, the step-by-step applications integrated with the landscaping arrangements and transformed Feshane-i Amire into “Artİstanbul Feshane”.

Artİstanbul Feshane, which came to life in one of the landmark buildings that kept the pulse of life on the Golden Horn throughout its history, was designed as a pioneering center that keeps the pulse of art in Istanbul with its exhibition halls opening to contemporary art, a library offering a rich content from the art world, social spaces, congress, workshop and reading areas.

While preserving Feshane in its original form, IBB Miras has brought Feshane into urban life as a public cultural space, just like Müze Gazhane [Museum Gas House], Kütüphane Troleybüs [Library Trolleybus], Cendere Sanat [Cendere Art], Yedikule Gazhane [Yedikule Gas House] and similar areas.

Located on an 8 thousand square meter area, Artİstanbul Feshane, which attracts attention as an art focus, will accelerate the art world as one of the important art stops not only in Istanbul but also in the country with the versatile content it offers.

Feshane-i Amire History

The story of Feshane-i Amire, one of Istanbul’s most important industrial heritage buildings, began in 1827 with a fez manufacturing workshop in Kadırga Cündi Square. Between 1827 and 1833, Feshane in Kadırga, which continued its production with traditional techniques to meet the fez needs of the army and the public, moved to its new location in 1833, which was determined as Beyhan Sultan Palace in Eyüp Defterdar İskelesi. Following the move, Feshane entered a period of intensive activity, producing various textile products such as fezes, as well as chuha, dress fabrics, upholstery fabrics, military boots, buttons, prayer rugs, carpets and rugs. In 1843, with new machines brought from Europe, Feshane was transformed into a comprehensive weaving factory where steam engines were used for the first time. In 1866, Feshane lost everything except the steam engine in a fire and was rebuilt in the same place in 1868 and equipped with the latest machinery. As a result of the 1877-78 Ottoman-Russian War (93 War), the factory was placed under the command of Bab-ı Seraskeri [Ottoman Chief of Staff] and the building, which was named “Fes ve Melbusat-ı Askeriye Fabrikası” [The Factory of Fez and Military Clothing], remained under military administration until 1921. In 1894, “Sanayi Sıbyan Mektebi” [Industrial Elementary School] was opened in Feshane, which was renovated in line with current needs; new craftsmen were trained at the school by providing practical training in addition to weaving lessons