Istanbul's Rami Library Named World's Most Sustainable at IFLA Green Library Awards 2026

Key facts

• The Rami Library in Istanbul won the Grand-Scale Project category at the IFLA Green Library Awards 2026.
• It beat over 60 candidates worldwide; Jinjiang Library in China placed second and Munster Technological University in Ireland third.
• The library is open 24/7 and received over 8 million visitors from 2023 to 2025.
• The building is the restored Rami Barracks, constructed between 1826 and 1828 for the Asakir-i Mansure-i Muhammediye and attributed to Seyyid Abdülhalim Efendi.
• It was used for military purposes until 1971 and reopened to the public in 2023 after renovation by Han Tümertekin Design & Consultancy.
• The library claims to be the largest library complex in Europe, with 36,000 square meters of interior space and capacity for 4,200 people.
• The campus includes 51,000 square meters of landscaping with 696 trees, 99,000 shrubs, a biological pond, and reed zones.
• Sustainability features include rainwater irrigation, LED lighting, solar-powered applications, and designation as a safe gathering place during natural disasters.