The Grand Vizier’s Mansion, commissioned by Sultan Osman III in 1756, was the first known official building of the Grand Vizierate. The structure was completely destroyed by fires in the years 1755, 1808, 1826, and 1839, and partially in 1878 and 1911. It was reconstructed each time. In its early days, the building was referred to as “Paşa Kapısı” and “Bâb-ı Âsafi.” After an explosion during the 1808 uprising while Grand Vizier Alemdar Mustafa Pasha was in Office destroyed the building again, it was rebuilt and renamed “Mahmud-ı Adli” in reference to Sultan Mahmud II. Over time, this name evolved into 
“Bâb-ı Adl” or “Bâb-ı Adli,” and eventually, in the latter half of the 19th century, into the now well-known “Bâb-ı Âli.”

Until the fire of 1839, the building had always been constructed of wood. In 1844, for the first time, it was rebuilt in stone by Stefan Kalfa. From then on, it ceased to be a residence for the Grand Vizier and became entirely a state administrative building. Although altered due to subsequent fires and restorations, this version forms the basis of the current structure.

In the fire of 1878, the Şura-yı Devlet Hall, Ahkam-ı Adliye Hall, and the Ministries of the Interior and Foreign Affairs were completely destroyed and later reconstructed. In 1910, a small addition was made to the Bâb-ı Âli complex. However, another fire in 1911 destroyed the Şura-yı Devlet, the Ministry of the Interior, and offices such as the Mektubcu, Teşrifatçı, Beylikçi, Grand Vizier’s Chancellery, and the Court Historian’s office. These departments occupied what was then the central section of the unified Bâb-ı Âli building. After the fire, this central section was not restored, effectively dividing the Bâb-ı Âli into two separate buildings for the first time.

As ALBA İNŞAAT, we completed the restoration works on the official chambers of the building between 2019 and 2020.