Rami Library by Han Tümertekin Design & Consultancy

The Rami Library, designed by Han Tümertekin Design & Consultancy, stands as one of the most significant adaptive reuse projects in contemporary Turkish architecture. Located in Istanbul, the project transforms the historic Rami Barracks, a monumental military structure constructed between 1826 and 1828, into a large-scale public library that responds to present-day cultural, educational, and social needs. Originally built for the Asakir-i Mansure-i Muhammediye and attributed to Seyyid Abdülhalim Efendi, the barracks offered a powerful architectural framework defined by its single-storey massing and vast central courtyard.

Rather than imposing a new architectural identity, the project adopts a strategy of clarity, continuity, and restraint, allowing the existing structure to guide the transformation. The result is a civic space where history and contemporary use coexist seamlessly, and where architecture becomes a quiet mediator between past and present.

Restoring Spatial Order Through Minimal Intervention

At the core of the design approach is the careful recovery of the building’s original spatial logic. Over time, the barracks had accumulated layers of later additions that disrupted circulation, proportions, and visual continuity. The first step of the project involved removing these intrusive elements to reveal the inherent rhythm of the historic masonry structure.

Once this clarity was restored, new library functions were inserted with precision. Rather than subdividing or fragmenting the interior, the design respects the openness and repetition of the original architecture. Reading rooms, manuscript collections, children’s and adult libraries, research spaces, and support functions are placed within the existing envelope using a deliberately neutral architectural language. This approach ensures that the historic fabric remains legible, while new uses are accommodated without visual competition.

The Corridor as an Urban Interior

One of the defining features of the Rami Library is its 5-metre-wide internal corridor, which stretches for approximately 1.4 kilometres throughout the complex. More than a circulation route, this linear space acts as the project’s primary organizational and social spine.

The corridor connects all major programmatic zones, allowing visitors to intuitively navigate the vast complex. At the same time, it functions as an informal public interior, encouraging movement, pause, and interaction. In certain sections, the corridor expands into amphitheatre-like seating areas, creating spaces for spontaneous gatherings, reading, discussion, and learning. These moments transform circulation into occupation, reinforcing the idea of the library as a shared civic environment rather than a silent repository of books.

Lightweight Structures Within a Heavy Shell

To meet contemporary spatial demands—particularly for study and research areas—without compromising the integrity of the historic masonry, the project introduces lightweight steel mezzanines as reversible interventions. These structures are carefully aligned with the existing bookshelf systems and are supported by a minimal steel framework that sits gently within the historic shell.

Materially, the mezzanines are expressed in steel and timber, subtly distinguishing new elements from the original stone and brick construction. This clear differentiation avoids mimicry while maintaining harmony. Importantly, the mezzanines preserve long sightlines and spatial continuity, ensuring that the scale and monumentality of the original barracks remain perceptible throughout the library.

Courtyard as a Cultural and Climatic Core

The monumental courtyard, once a military parade ground, has been reimagined as the heart of the library complex. It acts as a visual anchor, an orientation device, and a shared open space that balances the density of interior functions. The courtyard brings daylight deep into the surrounding interiors, improves natural ventilation, and provides areas for rest, reading, and public events.

By retaining the courtyard’s openness and proportion, the project reinforces the historic character of the barracks while redefining it as a space of knowledge, leisure, and civic life. The relationship between interior reading rooms and the courtyard establishes a continuous dialogue between enclosed and open spaces, enhancing the overall user experience.

A Library as Social Infrastructure

The Rami Library challenges traditional notions of what a library can be. Rather than prioritizing silence and isolation, the design encourages social interaction, visibility, and shared presence. The long corridor, amphitheatre zones, mezzanines, and courtyard collectively create a diverse spatial ecosystem that supports multiple modes of use—from focused study to collective learning and casual encounter.

This inclusive spatial strategy has proven remarkably successful. Since opening, the library has rapidly become one of Istanbul’s most visited cultural destinations, welcoming over 6.2 million visitors by April 2025, with projections exceeding 7.2 million visitors by the end of the year. These numbers underscore the effectiveness of an architectural approach that prioritizes accessibility, legibility, and civic generosity.

Conclusion: Architecture of Continuity and Care

The Rami Library demonstrates how adaptive reuse, when guided by restraint and deep respect for existing structures, can produce spaces of exceptional cultural value. By restoring spatial order, introducing reversible interventions, and redefining circulation as social space, Han Tümertekin Design & Consultancy has transformed a 19th-century military complex into a vibrant, contemporary knowledge landscape.

Rather than overshadowing history, the project amplifies it—allowing the architecture to speak through continuity rather than spectacle. The Rami Library stands as a powerful model for the future of public architecture, proving that meaningful transformation often lies not in adding more, but in revealing what is already there.

Photography: Cemal Emden