Maçka Weapon House

Maçka, one of the quarters of Şişli district on the European side of Istanbul, is famous for its historical buildings dating to the first half of the 19th and 20th century. Maçka Weapon House among them serves as a classroom within the Istanbul Technical University, one of the prominent educational institutions of the city.

The building, which was assigned to Gendarmerie Command during the Ottoman period, continued to be used for military purposes with the Republic. In the 1950s, after staying in the form of a technical school for a while, it was incorporated into ITU. The construction year of the historical building is mentioned as 1873 in the records. The unique style and artistic balance of Sarkiz Balyan, who has undertaken the architecture of many buildings in the region, is evident throughout the building.

Maçka Weapon House consists of a high basement and two floors above it. Elevation difference is felt visually on the front and rear facade. One facade is low. Its monumental gate draws attention. The balcony and its elegant windows, including some arched windows, stand out from an aesthetic point of view.

There are long corridors and connected classrooms in the interior side. It is among the first buildings that come to mind in Istanbul when we say neo-classical style strongly reflects the historical ambiance inside as well as outside.