Rami Library’s holistic approach has earned it well-deserved recognition at the 2026 Green Library Awards.
Istanbul celebrates both its rich cultural heritage and its embrace of modernity. The city’s largest library, Rami Library, is a testament to both. Once an Ottoman-era military barracks, the 18th-century building was restored and reconfigured in 2023 into not only one of Türkiye’s major information centres but also a climate-resilient urban commons, with diversity and accessibility being among its most important design requirements.
Celebrating this approach, the Green Library Awards organized by the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA) has awarded the library its 2026 Green Library/Grand Scale Project prize.
With an interior area of 387,500 square feet and seating capacity for up to 4,200 people, the library includes a digital library, a youth library, an adult library, various specialized libraries and an Accessible Resources Centre, creating a modern experience for people of all ages and needs.
Rami Library stands out for its holistic approach and its incorporation of social, cultural, and educational elements throughout its programming and spaces. The on-site Şifahane (manuscript restoration unit) preserves cultural heritage for future generations by conserving and restoring rare manuscripts and printed materials. The library also promotes sustainability through climate literacy programs that include environmental-themed information services, training sessions and hands-on workshops.
Diversity and accessibility are important considerations, with these many sections creating a modern experience for people of all ages.
The library has also been designed to support urban biodiversity and help improve the local microclimate. It features a landscaped area of more than 12 acres that includes 696 trees, 99,000 plants, and a biological pond and reed beds, making it the library with the largest indoor landscape space in Europe.
With these diverse sustainability initiatives, Rami Library has become the first library in Türkiye to obtain the Biosphere Sustainable Museum Certification and is the nation’s first to be granted both a Zero Waste Certificate and a Green Energy Certificate.
The library is open 24/7 and as of the end of 2025 already welcomed more than 8.2 million visitors. It also provides a secure gathering point during disasters.
With its unique approach to sustainability, Rami Library is writing a new chapter as a diverse urban information centre.
