Old Darülfünun building | |
Native Name: | Eski Darülfünun Binası |
Image Alt: | View from sea point, 1909. Hagia Sophia behind |
Building Type: | University building, parliamentary building |
Location: | Istanbul, Turkey |
Start Date: | 1845 |
Completion Date: | 1854 |
Demolition Date: | 1933 |
Old Darülfünun building (Turkish: Eski Darülfünun Binası) was a university building constructed next to Haghia Sophia in Istanbul, Ottoman Empire in the mid-19th century.
It was a three-storey building in neo-Renaissance style that had a great visual impact on Istanbul's urban character. The building's designer was Swiss architect Gaspare Fossati (1809—1883), who was also responsible for extensive restoration of Hagia Sophia.[1]
After its construction as a university (Turkish, Ottoman (1500-1928);: Darülfünun) building in 1854, it was passed on to the Ministries of Finance and then on to the Ministry of Justice and Foundation. Later it was also used by the Ottoman Parliament, and finally served as Palace of Justice. It was destroyed by a fire in 1933.[2]