The Büyükada Greek Orphanage, the world's first multi-storey wooden structure, has been closed since 1964. It is also believed to be the largest wooden building worldwide. BIMTAŞ began restoration works on the orphanage in August 2020. This content provides comprehensive information about the Büyükada Greek Orphanage, including its history, significance, and restoration efforts. Discover everything you need to know about this remarkable structure in the following sections.
Prinkipo Greek Orphanage or Büyükada Greek Orphanage, as it is more commonly known, is an orphanage that has been closed since 1964. The Büyükada Greek Orphanage, built as a hotel on the Monastery Hill of Büyükada, was built by one of the famous architects of the period, Alexandre Vallaury.
The Büyükada Greek Orphanage, which is claimed to be the world's first multi-storey wooden structure and still the largest wooden building, was purchased by a Greek woman named Eleni Zarifi because the necessary permission could not be obtained from the management of the period, even though it was built as a hotel.
The Greek Orphanage within the Balıklı Greek Hospital in Yedikule was moved here in 1902. Kuleli Military School settled in the structure, the purpose of which has changed over time, during the First World War. Later, the orphanage in the structure housing the Greek immigrants sent to the island by the occupation forces was transferred to Heybeliada. The building was then closed and is still closed.
The Büyükada Greek Orphanage was built on a wooden carcass system. Büyükada Greek Orphanage, which has 6 floors in the side sections and 5 floors in the other sections, is quite imposing, but despite this, its external appearance is extremely simple.
Mobility is added to the facades with repeated exits on top of each other in the building, while the interior in the theater hall is dominated by a simple architecture in the other interiors, in contrast to the details of wooden decoration.
The Büyükada Greek Orphanage, a former orphanage built on a hill and considered the largest wooden building in Europe, is located on the Monastery Hill on the island.
It is possible to watch the structure, the entrance of which is prohibited, from the outside. Restoration works were started here in August 2020.
You can access the address and location information of Büyükada Greek Orphanage from below:
Address: Buyukada-maden, Islands, 34970 Islands/Istanbul
Büyükada Greek Orphanage is an institution whose door was locked in 1964. As a matter of fact, its current situation is devastated. Today, the story of this building is told as follows:
Built by the French in the late 1800s, this building was the largest wooden structure in Europe and the second largest in the world. It was envisaged to be used as a casino and hotel similar to those in France. However, since this casino-hotel concept was contrary to the customs and customs of the Ottoman administration of the period, the necessary permission could not be obtained, the building was put up for sale. The building, whose construction could not be completed, was purchased by the Andreas Syngros Foundation, belonging to one of the richest Greek families of the period, for the use of the Balikli Greek Orphanage for 15 thousand Ottoman liras. Another rich Greek family, the Zarifis, was given to the protection of the Greek Patriarchate with 3,700 gold Ottoman liras and 1,180 Ottoman liras donated by Sultan Abdulhamit. The building was opened for service as an orphanage on May 21, 1903 with a ceremony attended by Sultan Abdulhamit and the Greek Patriarch of the period Ioakim. By the Sultan's decree, 7.5 okka of meat and enough bread were sent to the orphanage every day. The orphanage consisted of 206 rooms, a large kitchen, a magnificent library. there were also 15 staff members. It also housed a primary school and various vocational schools. There were three Greek and two Turkish teachers. However, the orphanage was suddenly closed after 61 years, on April 21, 1964 by the General Directorate of Foundations, the building was sealed. 177 Children in the orphanage were quickly transferred to churches and monasteries in Büyükada with their own means. 1964 was the year when Turkish warplanes gave 'intervention signals' by making low flights on the island after fascist Greek Cypriot gangs massacred Turkish Cypriots, and 12 thousand Greek Cypriot families of Greek nationality living in Istanbul were confiscated and deported in accordance with the Turkey-Greece Friendship Agreement of 1930...'
The last director of the orphanage, Marika Hatsu, wrote in her book about the orphanage in 2011, in which she wrote her memoirs::
'The Ministry of Education has requested that the building be evacuated within two days and handed over to them. The fire danger was cited as the reason. When the request for a few days' stay was refused, the children were quickly packed into two monasteries located on the island. A very sad sight appeared. By the evening, everyone, including small children, is running around carrying things in a panic. Some had a blanket in their hands, some had books in their hands, some had clothes in their hands, crockery. 177 of our children lost their homes like this. On the April 23 Youth and Sports Day, celebrated two days after the closure of the orphanage, orphaned children who were taken to the monastery would also participate in the ceremonies held on the island and sing anthems. The drama of our children would not end here either. The Ministry of Education requested the evacuation of the monasteries where the children were sent on the grounds that they did not meet the orphanage standards, and the children started looking for a family to shelter themselves this time.'
The Greek Patriarchate of Fener had requested the return of the building by submitting the donation documents of the Zafiris and Sygngros families. When this request was rejected, the Patriarchate applied to the ECHR and sued the General Directorate of Foundations.
The case was concluded on November 29, 2010. The deed of the Büyükada Greek Orphanage was transferred to the Fener Greek Patriarchate.
According to a rumor, there was a fire at the Büyükada Greek Orphanage. The incident is described in the following words:
'During the period when it was serving as an orphanage, a fire occurred at the Büyükada Greek Orphanage, the cause of which is unknown. It is said that some children died by burning during the fire. A child falls into a water well in the garden while fleeing from the fire. During the searches after the fire, no one thinks of looking at the well, and the child is left to die in the well. The people of the island are so affected by this incident that some nights they claim to hear children screaming from the orphanage.'
When you come to the orphanage area, the places you should definitely see here are as follows:
Aya Yorgi Church
Museum of the Islands
Dilburnu Nature Park
Buyukada National Park