Bolulu Habib Bey Mansion, popularly known as Bulgur Palas, is one of the unique examples of 20th-century civil architecture in Istanbul. Located on Kocamustafapaşa Hill, known as the seventh hill of the city in the Fatih district, this magnificent structure was commissioned by Mehmet Habib Bey, the Member of Parliament for Bolu at the time. The origin of the name “Bulgur Palas” traces back to Mehmet Habib Bey, who became wealthy through the grain trade and was known as “Bulgur King Habib Bey” among the public.

Constructed in 1912, the building is believed to have been designed by Italian architect Giulio Mongeri. With its architectural features, it represents a remarkable example of the First National Architectural Movement, an approach in which Mongeri was one of the leading figures. However, due to severe financial difficulties during construction, Mehmet Habib Bey was unable to pay his debts and had to transfer ownership to the Ottoman Bank in 1926.

For many years, the building was used as the archive of the Ottoman Bank and also served as accommodation for the bank employees. In 2001, when the Ottoman Bank was privatized, the ownership of the mansion changed hands once more.

After existing as a private property closed off to the city’s residents for years, the building was purchased by Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality in 2021 and was reclaimed for the people of Istanbul.

The restoration process was carried out by KİPTAŞ, while the adaptive reuse project was undertaken by İBB Heritage. In 2024, Bulgur Palas was gifted to Istanbul as a new public living space complete with a library, multipurpose event areas, social spaces, and a terrace with panoramic views.

As a new cultural and arts hub in Istanbul's Historic Peninsula, Bulgur Palas now hosts exhibitions as part of an ongoing collaboration between the world-renowned photo agency Magnum Photos and Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality.