Istanbul Research Institute, Turkey

As manifested through Pera Museum founded in 2005, İstanbul Research Institute is the second significant step in the wide spectrum of culture and arts projects Suna and İnan Kıraç Foundation has pioneered since its establishment in 2003, in the fields of culture, arts, education and healthcare.

The renowned capital of Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman civilizations, İstanbul is the foremost starting point in discovering its identity as a megalopolis, or “mega city,” shaped over thousands of years, as well as in exploring the diverse cultural geographies surrounding the city. Therefore, İstanbul Research Institute follows the traces of civilization from the center towards the periphery, focusing on the cultural structure and the human profile, including Byzantine, Ottoman and the Republican periods of the İstanbul. In doing so, the Institute aims as its main targets, to develop and support projects in light of these relevant research areas and to organize local and international conferences and other activities, consequently sharing the results with relevant institutions and the public through the media. The Institute aspires to realize its main objectives through the programs of the Byzantine, Ottoman and Republic Studies Sections its holds.

İstanbul Research Institute continues to exist within the premises of a historical building constructed in Tepebaşı by renowned architect Guglielmo Semprini in the 19th century. Aside from its “Gallery,” designed to carry the exhibitions the establishment produces, and the “Atatürk and Republic Studies” Ottoman Studies” and “Byzantine Studies” sections, the institute houses a library accessible to the public, as well as an Information-Documentation Center. Through these sub-divisions, İRI is designed a research institution, which strives to represent İstanbul impeccably on an international platform, while upholding contemporary scientific criteria.

Atatürk and the Republican Era
Atatürk and the Republic Studies Section on the first floor of the Institute is comprised of a main library, including scientific research on the subject matter, as well as an İstanbul and reference libraries. Endowed to the foundation by Suna and İnan Kıraç over the years, “Atatürk and İstanbul Photographs Collection” provides a strong base for the archives of this section. The same floor holds the “İstanbul Information-Documentation Center,” which will store data and documents pertaining to İstanbul, in digital form. This center is designed to expand concurrently with the scientific endeavors of the Institute.

Ottoman Era – Şevket Rado Manuscript Library
The second floor, which holds the “Ottoman Studies Section” and Şevket Rado Manuscript Library does not only constitute a rich library of Ottoman research but also includes a rich collection of nearly a thousand manuscripts, accumulated by Şevket Rado himself. The Şevket Rado manuscripts have been transferred to a digital platform in order to provide easier access to researchers and to prevent damage. Moreover, presenting an İstanbul of the past, 4500 photographs, captured by renowned photographers of the 19th century, as well as numerous engravings and maps are preserved in these archives. The collection is being steadfastly expanded.

Byzantine Era – Semavi Eyice Library
Settled on the third floor, the “Byzantine Studies” Library is comprised of contemporary Byzantine research and Semavi Eyice Library. Regarded as the pioneer of Byzantine studies in Turkey, Prof. Semvai Eyice was the founder of the Byzantine Art Department at İstanbul University and published numerous works on Ottoman architecture and art. A number of archive materials, as well as more than thirty thousand rare editions and books of Prof. Eyice are presented to the use of researchers in this section. Semavi Eyice Library includes not only books pertaining to Byzantine history and art but also works on Islamic, Turkish and Ottoman history, art and literature, as well as archaeological-art publications and travel journals from various periods, reflecting the diverse areas of interest of this man of science.