Fresh Hope for Europe’s Largest Wooden Building, Prinkipo Greek Orthodox Orphanage

The Prinkipo Greek Orthodox Orphanage, Europe’s largest wooden structure, located on Buyukada island near Istanbul, may be saved from decay through its transformation into a luxury hotel.

The Ecumenical Patriarchate’s Synod has unanimously approved development plans, with long-term lease discussions underway involving investors from Turkey, Greece, and global hotel chains.

Designed in 1898 by French-Ottoman architect Alexandre Vallaury as a luxury hotel, the building never opened due to Sultan Abdul Hamid II denying permits. In 1903, Eleni Zarifi, wife of a prominent Greek banker, purchased and donated it to the Patriarchate for use as an orphanage. It housed thousands of children until Turkish authorities closed it in 1964. Following legal battles, the European Court of Human Rights ordered its return to the Patriarchate in 2010.

Restoring the architecturally unique building for hotel use is estimated to cost at least 60 million euros.