İstanbul’s Rami Library Named World’s Best Green Library

İstanbul’s Rami Library has been recognised as the world’s greenest library after winning a global award for its transformation from a 19th-century military barracks into a climate-resilient public space.

Türkiye’s largest library won the Grand-Scale Project category at the 2026 IFLA Green Library Awards, standing out among 62 entries from 27 countries. The awards are organised by the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA), with this year’s winners announced during the IFLA World Library and Information Congress in Busan, Republic of Korea.

The award recognises Rami Library’s combination of historic conservation, environmentally conscious design and inclusive community services. Now one of İstanbul’s most distinctive cultural landmarks, the library offers travellers a quieter side of the city beyond its best-known historic attractions.

Open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, the library has welcomed more than 8.2 million visitors since opening in 2023 through the end of 2025.

From Historic Barracks to Living Library

Constructed between 1826 and 1828, Rami Barracks reopened as a library in 2023 following an extensive restoration and redevelopment project. The transformation preserved the building’s historic character and original materials while creating a modern cultural and learning space.

Covering 36,000m² and accommodating up to 4,200 readers, Rami Library is one of Türkiye’s leading centres for learning and research. Its facilities include dedicated digital, youth and adult libraries, alongside several specialist collections.

A Green Space in the Heart of İstanbul

Environmental sustainability sits at the heart of Rami Library’s design. Its 51,000m² of landscaped grounds contain 696 trees, 99,000 shrubs, a biological pond and reed beds, helping to support urban biodiversity and improve the surrounding microclimate.

Rainwater collected from the building’s roofs is reused for landscape irrigation and toilet flushing. Energy-saving measures include LED lighting, sensor systems, low-consumption equipment and solar-energy technology.

The library also separates waste at source, manages hazardous materials independently, limits single-use plastics and has digitised many of its internal processes.

Supporting Culture, Education and the Community

Rami Library’s approach to sustainability extends beyond its environmental features. Its programme of exhibitions, training sessions and practical workshops supports cultural engagement, education and climate awareness, bringing to life its concept of a “living library”.

An Accessible Resources Centre helps visitors of different ages and abilities use the library’s services. Its dedicated restoration unit, known as the Şifahane, preserves and repairs rare manuscripts and printed works for future generations.

The site also serves as a designated assembly point during emergencies, strengthening its role as a safe and resilient public space for the surrounding community.

Rami Library was the first library in Türkiye to receive Biosphere Sustainable Museum Certification. It was also the country’s first library to hold both Zero Waste and Green Energy certificates.

Its latest international award demonstrates how historic buildings can be sensitively reimagined for modern life, while offering visitors to İstanbul a greener and more community-focused cultural experience.