Metrohan

Metrohan is the building where one of the oldest metros, Tunnel, functions in Beyoğlu District of Istanbul, and it is located at Tünel Square between Eskiharp Street and Birinci Belediye Street. This fascinating building is used as İETT Administrative Headquarters today, and Tunnel metro is accessible from its gate opening to İstiklal Street.

Planned to be built as a train station and a hotel, Metrohan’s design idea goes back to the 1870s. French Architect Eugène-Henri Gavand projected the building, and the drawings and texts related to the building were included in the work of 44 pages, which was published in 1876 in Paris. This project included in Gavand’s work was not implemented except the ground floor, and the building shaped according to the projects drawn in 1912 and 1913 has reached today almost in the original form.

The building was first built as a six-storey building including the ground floor, and the seventh floor was added in 1930. The building as the centre for all transportation and tunnel operations was built using steel construction and in a rectangular plan. The building has six entrances with round arches, and the ground and stairs are made of marble material. The handrails are adorned with iron bars designed in art nouveau style, and also an elevator is available inside the building.