Rami Barracks facts for kids
Rami Barracks (also known as Rami Kışlası in Turkish) was once a large military building. It was built during the time of the Ottoman Empire and later used by the Turkish Army. You can find it in the Eyüp district on the European side of Istanbul, Turkey. The barracks were first built in the 1770s. Today, this historic building is being made new again to become a huge library.
Quick facts for kids Rami Barracks |
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| Rami Kışlası | |
| Rami, Eyüp, Istanbul, Turkey | |
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Rami Barracks under construction for a redevelopment project.
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 Rami Barracks
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| Coordinates | 41°02′57″N 28°54′56″E / 41.04917°N 28.91556°E |
| Site information | |
| Owner | Metropolitan City of Istanbul |
| Condition | Opened as library |
| Site history | |
| Built | 1774 |
| Built by | Sultan Mustafa III |
| Materials | stone |
Contents
History of Rami Barracks
Building the Barracks: Ottoman Times
The Rami Barracks were built by Ottoman Sultan Mustafa III. Construction took place between 1757 and 1774. Later, another Sultan named Mahmud II made the barracks bigger. This happened in 1828 and 1829.
The barracks are in the Rami area of Eyüp district. This was a quiet part of Istanbul back then. The place was first known as the Artillery Barracks at Rami Ranch. It was a very important place for soldiers. These soldiers were part of a new army called Nizam-ı Cedid. This name means "New Order" and was part of big changes to the Ottoman army.
The barracks also had other names. For a while, it was called Asâkir-i Mansure-i Muhammediye Kışlası. Later, in 1836–1837, it became Fünun-ı Harbiye-i Mansure. This was when engineering students moved in to study at the War School inside the barracks.
During the Crimean War (1853–1856), the barracks became a main military base. Sultan Abdulmejid I used it as his headquarters. The building got its final look under Sultan Abdul Hamid II (1876–1909). When Istanbul was occupied by the Allies of World War I after World War I (1918–1923), French soldiers used the barracks.
Rami Barracks in the Turkish Republic
After 1923, when Turkey became a republic, the barracks were still used. The Turkish Army kept using them until the 1960s. After the army left, the building was empty for some time.
The city council of Eyüp then decided to let food sellers use the building. In 1972, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism said the barracks were an important cultural building. The Turkish Armed Forces gave the building to the Istanbul city government. The idea was to turn it into a place for people to relax.
However, in 1986, the mayor of Istanbul, Bedrettin Dalan, let food wholesalers use it again. Food stores from other crowded parts of Istanbul moved to Rami Barracks. This helped reduce traffic and noise in the city. Since then, parts of the building have been used as a market for food sellers. There are about 1,500 food stores inside the barracks building.
How the Barracks Look
The Rami Barracks building is very large. It covers an area of 75,000 square meters (about 18.5 acres). About 33,000 square meters of this area are covered by the building itself. The total usable space inside is 220,000 square meters.
The barracks are built around a square-shaped open area. This courtyard is 200 meters by 200 meters. The building has eight different sections and five main blocks. It was built using strong stone and has been fixed up many times over the years.
Making Rami Barracks New Again
In 2010, city officials decided to fix up the barracks. Some parts of the building had been damaged or changed from their original design. A plan to restore it was started in 2014.
Now, the building is being fully restored. The goal is to make it look like its original historical design. When the work is finished, it will become the biggest library in Turkey. The library is expected to have about 7 million books and digital documents.
The new library will have special areas for children. It will also have sections for collectors and many reading rooms. Besides being a library, the building will be a place for cultural, social, and art events. There will even be a city museum inside.
The project also includes about 120 shops and businesses. These will include bookstores, souvenir shops, cafes, restaurants, and cinemas. A parking lot for 1,200 cars is also planned. The cost of this big project is around 200 million Turkish Lira. The library officially opened on January 13, 2023.
