The restoration project of the Sıra Dükkânlar (Shops in a Row) within the Süleymaniye Mosque Complex, one of the most significant cultural heritage structures in Istanbul, and now repurposed as the “Istanbul Design Museum” by İBB Heritage, bears the signature of Özer\Ürger Architecture and Emrah Köşgeroğlu.

The restoration project of the Sıra Dükkânlar in the Süleymaniye Mosque Complex, which is an integral part of Istanbul’s cultural heritage and consists of a total of 53 shops, has been designed by Özer\Ürger Architecture and Emrah Köşgeroğlu. The project was recently inaugurated and reintroduced into use as the Istanbul Design Museum by İBB Heritage.

The 53 shops, an inseparable part of the Süleymaniye Complex, have served Istanbul with their productions for centuries. After losing its original interior design during the repairs in 1950, the shops were left abandoned in recent years. Through the restoration project carried out by Özer\Ürger Architecture and Emrah Köşgeroğlu under the auspices of İBB Heritage in 2023, the Sıra Dükkânlar has been rejuvenated. The restored shops, now repurposed as the Istanbul Design Museum by İBB Heritage, officially opened its doors on January 31st with the participation of Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu.

The Istanbul Design Museum aims to revitalize the region with the dynamism of various components converging in craftsmanship, design, and cultural arts. The museum will bring together esteemed brands and institutions in a wide range from lighting to furniture, design to cultural arts, not only showcasing lost crafts in the historical workshops but also serving as a focal point for the region through its social spaces, workshops, and events that unite artisans, designers, and artists.

Listed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1985, the Süleymaniye Mosque and Complex, built between 1550-57 by the chief architect Sinan under the order of Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent, consists of various structures such as madrasas, elementary schools, soup kitchen, hospital, tombs of Sultan Suleiman and Hürrem Sultan, and the tomb of Mimar Sinan. The Sıra Dükkânlar, an integral part of the Süleymaniye Complex, is situated in a row on Mimar Sinan Street, beneath the courtyard wall on the east side of Süleymaniye Mosque, adjacent to Dârülhadis Madrasa.

The restoration project credits go to Özer\Ürger Architecture and Emrah Köşgeroğlu for architectural aspects, Serdar Ankun for structural projects, MC Engineering for mechanical projects, Esen Engineering for electrical projects, and Özer\Ürger Architecture for landscape projects. The consultancy firm is Bimtaş.

About Özer\Ürger Architecture:

Established in 2002 in Ankara by Ali Özer and Ahmet Mucip Ürger, Özer\Ürger Architecture has contributed to over a hundred projects in education, accommodation, transportation, sports, health, housing, mixed-use, landscape, and urban planning for both private and public clients. Having opened its Istanbul branch in 2010, the office aims to integrate individuals into city life and ensure their enjoyment of it by designing the relationship between the built environment and people.