Karaköy Palas

Karaköy Palas is a historical building located in the Karaköy neighborhood of Beyoğlu district in Istanbul, on Kemeraltı Street (Plot 102, Parcel 3) in the Galata area. Designed in 1920 by Giulio Mongeri, the construction process also involved Vedat Bey and Kemaleddin Bey. The building reflects the architectural trends of its time by integrating Byzantine and Turkish architectural elements with Art Nouveau and Neoclassical styles.

For many years, Karaköy Palas served as branches of Halk Bank and Yapı Kredi Bank. In 2026, it was revitalized by the Culture and Civilization Foundation (KÜME) and repurposed for culture and the arts.

Karaköy Palas (Anadolu Ajansı)

Architectural Features

Originally designed as a four-story rectangular main volume, Karaköy Palas had a fifth story added later. The building has a symmetrical floor plan. The western facade features three entrance doors, with the central one providing access to the main foyer and the staircase leading to upper floors. Only the western facade facing the square is openly exposed; the other facades are surrounded by adjacent buildings.

The facade includes plasterwork, round arches, balcony-like projections, overhanging cornices, pilasters, and panels decorated with geometric and floral motifs. Byzantine capitals, relief decorations at arch corners, and ornamental bands are key elements defining the facade’s character. The use of horizontal and vertical lines with toothed patterns reflects Neoclassical influence, while geometric panels and decorative approaches show Art Nouveau elements. These features reflect the building’s eclectic character, combining diverse architectural styles.^【1】

Interior Space

The interior space is characterized by a gallery layout. On the first floor, an arched gallery system is supported by square-sectioned piers at the corners and circular-sectioned columns in between. The railings surrounding the gallery feature geometric ornaments in the Art Nouveau style. Plant-based decorative elements influenced by Byzantine design are found on the capitals of columns and piers.

Materials and Construction Technique

Karaköy Palas was constructed using stone in a load-bearing masonry system. Plaster and carton-pierre finishes were applied to ceilings, column capitals, and pier capitals within the interior.

Transformation and Restoration for Culture and the Arts

Following a comprehensive restoration process carried out by the KÜME Foundation, Karaköy Palas is scheduled to open its doors on 25 April 2026. Located in a district surrounded by art galleries and independent creative spaces in Beyoğlu, the building aims to serve as a new platform for interaction and production for artists and audiences.

ArtıKÜME 2025 and ODAK Project

Karaköy Palas (pexels)

The building’s new functional phase has been initiated through two key projects:

• ArtıKÜME 2025 Selection: This selection is an output of the ArtıKÜME Art Support Program, launched in March 2025, and features works by 25 artists and students from diverse disciplines.
• ODAK Project: A data-driven initiative aiming to systematically document cultural and artistic activities across Türkiye. The project seeks to consolidate scattered cultural data into a meaningful whole and is supported by both an exhibition and a printed publication titled “ODAK 2025.”

Karaköy Palas will now operate as both an exhibition space and a center for scientific and artistic research contributing to Türkiye’s cultural and artistic heritage.