TAŞKIŞLA
About the Building

IPA /ˈtʌʃ kəʃ lɑ /        spell [tahsh-kuhsh-lah]

The plan scheme of Taşkışla is classical: four equal sides marked with four corner edifices and a vast courtyard. The west façade is crowned with a monumental entrance. This immense building has been constructed all in structural masonry between 1848 and 1853 as a military medicine academy for the Ottoman Army under the rule of Sultan Abdülmecid. However, during construction, the plans drawn by W. James Smith were modified and the building’s function was changed to the military barracks in 1849. This modification was part of a construction plan that included several arsenals and military barracks that were to ensure the safety of the imperial domain around the Dolmabahçe Palace. The building sustained some damage in the earthquake of 10 July 1894, and was restored by architect Raimondo D’Aronco.

In 1909, during the 31 March Incident, the rebellious troops were based in the building, thus it has become the scene of long fighting. Some results are visible in the façade, as few of the gun shells are still embedded in the stone columns of the entrance.

In 1944 the building was handed over to the ITU and restored by architects Paul Bonatz and Emin Onat. Teaching started in the building in 1950, with the civil engineering and architecture faculties. In 1983 it has been classified as a first degree historical monument. In 1996 the World Habitat Congress was organized partly in the Faculty. Ever since it is a natural part of the congress valley of Istanbul.

Historical Taşkışla Building houses ITU Faculty of Architecture and it is located at the intersection of Beyoğlu and Şişli districts of İstanbul. The Faculty of Architecture also includes the Departments of Industrial Product Design, City and Urban Planning, Interior Architecture and Landscape Architecture. It is located only a few minutes walking distance from Taksim Square, the heart of Istanbul, and is extremely close to many hotels, and transportation facilities that provide easy access to cultural and historical sites of Istanbul and it is in the congress valley of Istanbul city.

Taşkışla Building serves as an excellent venue for many international congresses right along with its educational function with its historical value, location, academic atmosphere, impressive interior spaces. The building has a very impressive courtyard with a small pool in it where the students and academic people love to spend time in it. The façades of the building are all restorated and beautifully illuminated at nights.

Navigating Taşkışla

Due to its symmetrical plan scheme, people can have a hard time to navigate Taşkışla before getting used to it. With the tips below you can lose your bearings less often in Taşkışla!

The towers, which mark the four corners of the Taşkışla Building, are named according to their directions (Northeast, Northwest, Southeast and Southwest). If you pair each tower with the function on the top floor, you can find tips that refer to this function on almost all floors of these towers. So you can find your way with a bit of mental rotation.

If you want to go to somewhere in Taşkışla using the shortest way, you will just need to determine which tower you are near, by using the following thematic tips, and remember which tower is the nearest to your destination. It will be a lot easier if you memorize the places that stand out on each floor, as shown in the maps below.