In the 1850s, gas consumption started to become a part of Istanbul’s daily life. Kadıköy Hasanpaşa Gashouse was the second plant built on the Anatolian side in 1891 and the last in Istanbul. The gas obtained from this plant was used for street and indoor lighting for the Anatolian part of Istanbul. It started operation in 1892 and operated regularly until World War 1. In the 1920s, with the arrival of electricity, coal gas began to lose importance. Between 1938 and 1944, Kadıköy Hasanpaşa Gashouse operated autonomously and later handed to IETT (Istanbul Electric Tramway and Tunnel Establishments) in 1945.

It was under IETT jurisdiction until its closure in 1993 alongside other gashouses. After being around for 101 years and used as a garage in its last years, it became a graveyard for its heritage. As it was ready to be destroyed, via a campaign led by Gazhane Çevre Gönüllüleri (Gashouse Environmental Volunteers), it caught attention. In 1994, the site was declared a protected area and restoration projects started by ITU (Istanbul Technical University) academics led by Prof. Afife Batur.

As one of the most important examples of Ottoman industrial heritage, the 32.000 m2 extensive restoration project started in 2014 and was finalized in July 2021 by IBB (Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality). Kadıköy Hasanpaşa Gashouse came to life again as “Müze Gazhane” (Museum Gashouse) as a new center of attraction in the city’s cultural and artistic scene. As for the restoration planning process, the main considerations were the original functions of the buildings and their linkages, structural and contemporary social needs. Some instance of building transformations includes the administrative building becoming an information center, the workshop and warehouse becoming a scientific center and children’s workshop area, the building dedicated to workers becoming a bookshop, the furnace becoming a gallery, and the compressor becoming a library.

The major goal of the design and refurbishing operations was to avoid disturbing the existing structures, aesthetics, and heritage, which I believe was an excellent approach. By engaging with the structure as little as possible, it is designed as a flexible space. In terms of material choices, natural and recyclable materials were used. For younger generations who are unfamiliar with the architecture of a gashouse and what it was used for, encountering the main parts of its structure may be a whole new experience.

The transformed complex consists of a Climate Museum, Cartoon and Humor Museum, Children’s Science Center, Afife Batur Library, Gazhane Gallery, a temporary exhibition space, coworking spaces, two IBB (Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality) city theaters and concert halls, and a bookstore. It also includes restaurants, cafes and parking lots. The visitors are accompanied by sculptures in the historical area’s gardens made by seven different sculptors using waste materials gathered from the old Haliç Shipyard.

Alongside the architectural renovations, one of the important focuses of this project was to integrate this historical area into contemporary daily life as a daily occupied space by the public, especially local residents. The motto of Müze Gazhane and the approach to the project while designing is specified as to create a new “living space”. The choice of words matters in this sense. In essence, the municipality and the design team wanted to do more than just a well-executed restoration; they also wanted to educate the public by adding more informative features and sharing the history of the area with multiple generations.

The area is hidden in between the streets of Hasanpaşa district and cannot be seen unless being physically present in the adjacent streets. Müze Gazhane is surrounded by residential structures that are near another historically significant cultural event that has become a local institution and is well-known to the general public. The “Salı Pazarı” (Tuesday Bazaar), is an open-air market, located in a renovated area. In a region that is mostly occupied by locals and the public that has been visiting for years, a completely new and contemporary structure just wouldn’t have engaged with people. So, the sociological approach to this project is quite successful in theory.

The project being run by the IBB (Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality) is making the area more inviting to the public because the pricing of the events, cafes, and restaurants is more friendly. Furthermore, the focus on involving children’s participation draws in families. It may take some time for people to adjust to the new scenery and events, but it has a promising chance to serve as a destination for everyday leisure activities. The Kadıköy Hasanpaşa Gashouse, currently known as Müze Gazhane, offers all-day access and serves as a community hub for people of all ages, while protecting its past.