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| HISTORY |
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The Rahmi M Koç Museum is fortunate to be housed
in two splendid, historical building complexes on the shores of
the Golden Horn, at the heart of old Istanbul. These buildings are
themselves icons of industrial archaeology, which makes it all the
more appropriate that they now host our collection of industrial
exhibits. |
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The Lengerhane
 Now
a Class II historical monument, this former Ottoman Navy anchor foundry
was constructed on the 12th Century foundations of a Byzantine building
during the reign of Sultan Ahmet III. (By the way, 'lenger' means
'anchor and chain', and 'hane' means 'house'). The building was subsequently
restored in the reign of Sultan Selim III (1789 - 1807), before passing
into the ownership of Ministry of Finance and finally, in the Republican
era, the Turkish State Monopolies' Cibali Tobacco factory. The roof
of the Lengerhane was largely destroyed by fire in 1984 and the building
was effectively abandoned until it was purchased by the Rahmi M Koç
Museum and Culture Foundation in 1991. |
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The Hasköy Dockyard
This historic dockyard was founded in 1861 by the former Ottoman Maritime
Company (Sirket-I Hayriye) for the maintenance and repair of its own
ships. The yard initially comprised just two workshop buildings, and
was gradually extended as needs and opportunities arose. A 45m long
cradle, powered by a steam capstan was constructed in 1884: later,
in 1910, a second cradle was added and the capstan converted to electric
power.
Some of the earliest ferry boats were constructed here, including
public favourites such as the Kocatas and Sariyer vessels laid down
in 1938 and in service for nearly half a century. The dockyard went
through many changes of State Ownership before ending up under the
control of the Ministry of Communications In 1984. It was finally
purchased by the Rahmi M Koç Museum and Culture Foundation in 1996. |
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The Restoration
 The Rahmi M Koç Museum was founded in the Lengerhane building. The
Lengerhane itself had been purchased in 1991 and was the subject of
a thorough and sympathetic restoration by the firm of Garanti Koza.
The original building was supplemented by an underground gallery reached
by a long glazed ramp, and finally opened in December 1994. The first
phase of the Museum rapidly outgrew itself, and in 1996 the Hasköy
Dockyard, then just a ruin on the shores of the Golden Horn opposite
the Lengerhane, was purchased. 14 derelict buildings plus the historic
ship cradle and lathes were faithfully restored to their original
condition, and the second phase opened to the public in July 2001.
The museum now has more than 11,000 square metres of galleries. |
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The ‘TEKEL’ land
 In 2004 the Rahmi M. Koç Museology and Culture Foundation bid successfully in a tender for the sale of the adjoining parcel of land to the North of the Museum, which formerly belonged to the Turkish Alcohol and Cigarette Monopoly TEKEL. For a while the 7,000m2 area was used as extra parking and a children’s playground, but after permission was received to build on the land, the following were constructed, and opened in 2007:
- Railway station and sidings for the Hasköy-Sütlüce Railway (60cm narrow gauge)
- Boathouse for the Koç University rowing team
- Covered display of steam pumping engines form the Elmalı Dam
- Covered display of classic aircraft, including the salvaged B-24 ‘Hadley’s Harem’
- Windmill-driven water pump
- The sheerlegs from the floating crane barge ‘Turgut Alp’
- A merry-go-round and children’s playground
- A car park
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Surroundings
While you're in the area, take the chance
to visit some of Istanbul's oldest and most interesting districts…
Fener and Balat
Located just across the Golden Horn from Hasköy, these are two very
conservative and religious districts, with much evidence of the
former diversity of the city's citizens - the area abounds in relics
of Jewish and Christian society as well as ancient and modern Islam.
Highlights include many Orthodox churches, the Fener Greek School,
the Greek Patriarchate, and the Jewish Quarter in Balat. There are
also great views of the Museum, from an unusual angle!
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