The Büyük Valide Han is the largest historic Han (caravanserai) in Istanbul. This Han is in the central historic market district that extends from the Grand Bazaar to the Eminönü neighbourhood on the shore of the Golden Horn.

A “Han” is a traditional space for trade in Turkey and date back to the times of the Silkroad. Traders and Handworkers would inhabit a Han and would host travelling traders and craftsmen. Today these historical spaces are threatened by gentrification and urban transformation. Still, you find the unique mixture of high-quality handwork and history in Büyük Valide Han.

Postane is an urban centre for impact-driven work and joint cultural production, based in Galata, Istanbul. In 2021, the former British Post Office building was repurposed as a public venue that serves as a launchpad for activists, promotes cultural heritage, and develops economic models and cultural programs that address social, environmental, and urban challenges.

In 2020, the building was bought from the Ormanlar family and reopened in 2021 after the restoration by Merve Bedir, Eren Onur, Çiğdem Furtuna, Öncül Kırlangıç, Büşra Tunç, and Jorela Karriqi. It continues to serve as Postane, a multi-purpose urban hub.