Istanbul Main Post Office, Post office architecture in Sirkeci, Turkey
Istanbul Main Post Office is a four-story rectangular building with two entrance towers and domes topped by metal pavilions at the corners. The ground floor serves as a working post office, while upper floors hold administrative offices.
Architect Vedat Tek designed the building between 1905 and 1909 as the Ministry of Post and Telegraph during Ottoman rule. It marks a turning point when the empire wanted to connect its government buildings with modern styles from Europe.
The building displays Ottoman decorative details like geometric patterns and intricate ceiling work that visitors can see throughout the halls. These hand-crafted elements show how public buildings were dressed up and what mattered to people designing important spaces back then.
The building sits near the Spice Bazaar and New Mosque, making it easy to reach on foot while exploring the neighborhood. Keep in mind that upper floors remain active offices, so public access may be limited to certain areas like the ground floor.
The structure uses specially sourced broken stones from Hereke, a material picked just for this building rather than common alternatives. These stones mixed with marble floors and local tiles create an unusual craft detail you might overlook at first glance.
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