A detail from the Ottoman Bank which is currently serving as Salt Galata
I grew up with stories of my grandfather fighting as a commander in chief in the War of Independence and then working for the Ottoman Bank after his retirement from the Turkish Army right after the establishment of the Republic. Growing up as a young girl, I could never imagine anything exciting about working in a bank in contrast to being a commander in chief in a war that changed Turkish history.
My grandfather Ali Fehmi Doğrusöz
That was until I visited my grandfather’s bank after it was turned into Salt Galata which enabled me to see the glory of this majestic building that changed my vision of what a bank can be.
The building of the Ottoman Bank was constructed in 1890 by Alexander Vallaury and had served as its headquarters from 1892 to 1999. Vallaury was a Levantine born in İstanbul to French parents, studied in Paris and was the founder of the first School of Architecture in İstanbul. When I visited the bank building which was turned into a cultural hub in 2011, I was fascinated by the elegance of it. I could not stop thinking how different the whole building felt in contrast to the simple functionality of current bank buildings.
It is important to note that the whole building has been beautifully renovated and designed to serve new functions such as a library, meeting spaces, book store, exhibition hall, an archive area, a cafe and a restaurant. Simply a perfect cultural center for students and researchers interested in arts, urban planning and history.
After spending time in this majestic building and realising the sophistication of its details, I could not stop thinking how lucky my grandfather must have been for having worked in such a beautiful place!
I learnt later that Vallaury was a true genius for having designed the front facade of the building in Western style in contrast to the back facade which was designed in Oriental style.
I would definitely recommend you to see this fascinating building in order to visit the new coming exhibitions, to spend some time in its library, to have a sip of coffee at its cafe, to visit its book store and definitely dine at its restaurant. Dining at the restaurant will also give you a chance to be in this majestic building in the evening overlooking the Golden Horn. Neolokal restaurant is on the upper floor of the building with an amazing view.
It is so sad to think that we have lost this glorious 19th century architectural style and have to live with a simple functionality in all walks of life in the 21st century!
Here is an old but relevant video that can give you a glimpse of the building’s interior and the sort of exhibitions it holds. Don’t miss it!
