The Theodosius Cistern is open again to the public

The Theodosius Cistern reopened after 8 years of restoration works and is ready to operate again as a museum. The Cistern is a closed water storage tank in Istanbul with a capacity of 11,250 m2, which was constructed during the reign of Emperor Theodosius II.

It has 32 marble columns of Corinthian and Doric order, which indicates that is was potentially built during different times of the Empire. Its shape is rectangular with a surface of 45 x 25 m2, while the marble from which the columns were constructed was transferred from Proconnesus or Proiconnesus, an islet at the Sea of Marmara.

The interventions made by the Cafer Bozcurt Architects office are deliberately visible to the visitors in order to be obvious which materials were added for the restoration of the damage and which parts belong to the original building.

Visitors can easily detect the rings of steel used for the reinforcement of the 32 columns and the prevention of future damage. Furthermore, bricks have been replaced, the addition of which is visible and other detectable materials which emphasize the continuity of the building to our days as well as and the different restoration levels.