Sultanate Gate – Çirağan Palace in Istanbul, Turkiye

Project Sultanate Gate – Çırağan Palace in Istanbul

The Oriental-style Sultanate Gate of Çırağan Palace in Istanbul stands as one of the most majestic monumental entrances built in marble during the Ottoman era. Designed by Nikagos Balyan, Çırağan Palace was built between 1863 and 1871 during the reign of Sultan Abdulaziz. The palace has a total of four marble gates, each of which showcases exceptional advanced craftsmanship of its time in its architecture and ornamentation.

In 1910, a devastating fire severely damaged the palace, although the marble gates were relatively unscathed. For more than 70 years, Çırağan Palace and its marble gates remained neglected until they were restored in 1986.

In 2022, 36 years after the last restoration, a comprehensive conservation-restoration concept were conducted for the Sultanate Gate. These included in-depth historical research, material analysis, damage and condition assessment, static analysis, and mappings. Intervention strategies were developed and defined by an interdisciplinary team of experts. In 2023 the conservation-restoration work was carried out under the supervision of national and international experts.

Project architect (concept, planning, coordination, project management and supervision)

Betül Degirmenci Breitenfeldt (bdb-architects)

Consulting and Restoration Supervision (Chief Restorer, Consulting Engineer)

Dipl.-Restorer Jörg Breitenfeldt M.A. (Office for Restoration-Conservation, Berlin, Germany)

Consultation for Structural Engineering and Statics

Dr.-Ing. Cenk Üstündağ (Structural Engineering and Statics)

Execution (Restoration-Conservation)

Portneo Science and Building Technologies A.S.

Location

Istanbul / Turkey

Year

2022 Planning restoration-conservation
March – December 2023 Restoration-Conservation

Status

Submitted and approved in 2022
Restoration and conservation completed in December 2023