An Elegy for an Erased Heritage

• Prize
  Gold in Architecture/Others Architecture
• Photographer
  Esra Belgin, Germany
• Date of Photograph
  2015
• Website
  http://esrabelgin.com
• Instagram
  @mnemosynea

This is the story of a building that once held a soul—now lost. I took these photos a decade ago, when it was already vanishing. In the early 20th century, "Narmanlı Han" echoed Istanbul’s artistic spirit. Poets, painters, wanderers found refuge within its stone walls. Today, that fragile beauty is gone. In its place stands a polished replica—restored for tourism, rebranded for commerce. This photo story is not just about a building—it is a lament for a cultural inheritance overwritten by profit. It is my farewell—to the "Narmanlı Han" that was, and the Istanbul that quietly let it go.

With more than three decades of experience, Esra Belgin works primarily in documentary photography, street photography, and photojournalism. Her approach is rooted in observation and authenticity, concentrating on candid moments that reflect social realities and everyday life. Her photographs have been recognized with several awards in national and international competitions.

Awards PX3 State of the World selection 2024
PX3 Gold in Architecture - Other 2025
PX3 Gold in Press - Political 2025
PX3 Honorable Mention in People - Character 2025
PX3 Shortlisted in State of the World 2025
TIFA Silver in Architecture - Historic 2025
TIFA Honorable Mention in People- Children 2025
TIFA Honorable Mention in Editorial - Political 2025
World Street Photography - Finalist - 2025
Street Photography France - Editor's Pick in Passages - 2026