For nearly five decades, Mimar Sinan—otherwise known simply as Grand Sinan—oversaw all major construction projects for the Ottoman Empire, reshaping the greater Mediterranean area one bridge, mosque, and mausoleum at a time. Today, five centuries later, a little-known wonder by the architect is welcoming back the public in Istanbul. The Zeyrek Çinili Hamam, so named for the blue Iznik tiles that once lined it, first opened around 1540, its domed rooms a breathtaking backdrop for communal bathing. History took its toll (those tiles, for instance, were long ago sold off to private and public collections), and the complex eventually fell into disrepair. But thanks to the Turkish hospitality and real estate company The Marmara Group, it has now been reimagined as a multipurpose arts and wellness center, with exhibition spaces and hot and cold rooms. KA-BA Architecture led the 13-year design and preservation project, unearthing Roman, Byzantine, and Ottoman artifacts along the way, including fragments of those original Iznik beauties. That trove is displayed in a new museum dedicated to hammam traditions. The complex’s Byzantine cisterns, meanwhile, serve as a venue for contemporary art. Inaugural shows also span the bathing areas, in advance of their official splash opening next year. zeyrekcinilihamam.com
Magazine
KA-BA Architecture firm led the 13-year project
More Great Stories From AD
Not a subscriber? Join AD for print and digital access now.
Browse the AD PRO Directory to find an AD-approved design expert for your next project.
Architecture + Design
Discover the 10 Most Beautiful Ceilings in the World
These incredible beauties are both engineering feats and ornate spectacles
By Amir Capogrossi Badreddine
AD Pro
Monumental Les Lalanne Show Opens in New York, Muriel Brandolini Unveils Online Shop, and More News
Here’s what you need to know
By Alia Akkam
Clever
This Couple’s Colorful, Pattern-Rich San Francisco Home Is Designed to Last Forever
Designer Christine Lin mined moments from their clients’ past to set the stage for their future
By Vaishnavi Nayel Talawadekar
Architecture + Design
Step Inside June Diane Raphael and Paul Scheer’s Character-Filled Los Feliz Home
LA’s Lafayette Studio updated and preserved the 1928 house’s strong sense of history for the comedic couple and their two children
By Jessica Ritz