Significant investments were made aiming to turn this district into a center where city festivals and special events take place among the museums and cultural centers during the post-industrial transformation process of the Golden Horn. In particular these substantial and significant investments are being made paying utmost respect to the building heritage located in the Northern part of the Golden Horn (factories, shipyards, building cradles and launch ways, electricity power stations, slaughterhouses and so on). Now, the Northern part of the Golden Horn is in the process of being transformed into a cultural centre where historical buildings starting from the Istanbul Museum of Modern Art, “Tersane-i Amire (Maritime Arsenal and Dockyard of the Kaptan Pasha (Captain of the Sea), “Aynalıkavak Pavillion”, Rahmi M. Koç Industry Museum”, “Sütlüce Culture Center” “Miniatürk” and “Silahtarağa Museum District” with their rich cultural heritage stand all along its coastal line. For the Southern coastal line of the Golden Horn, in particular the district between Eminönü and Eyüp where almost all historical and cultural heritage of its port structure was destroyed, it is however, unfortunately not possible to mention about a concentrated activity similar to that of Northern part. Although some important points of attraction such as Fener- Balat and Tahtakale are situated at the inner side, the southern coastal line of the Golden Horn remains poor in terms of cultural structuring other than Feshane-i Âmire”, “Women’s Work Library” “Zindan Han” and “Baba Cafer Zindanı” whereas a very intensive cultural structuring has been taking place at the north shoreline of the Golden Horn. The Golden Horn is being transformed into a “port museum”, nevertheless the Southern part should also be balanced through intensive activities similar to that of the Northern part. In this sense, the “Rezan Has Museum for Golden Horn Cultures” that will be established and located inside the Kadir Has University is a very important initiative and will fill a very important gap within the framework of such an important strategic geography.

It is known that the main building of the Kadir Has University, which represents the rich historical heritage of the city of Istanbul, consists of four layers. At the bottom layer there is a Byzantium cistern dating back to the 11th century and on top of it, ruins of a historical hammam belonging to the Ottoman Empire dating back to the 17th is found. The Cibali Tobacco Factory established in the 1880’s is located right on top of this foundation.

The main building of the Kadir Has University rooted in a history of 1400 years won the 2003 Europe Nostra Award, the European Union Prize for Cultural Heritage as the best preserved building.

A Byzantine cistern dated to 11th century with 48 columns and 24 domes, built to meet the water needs of the district was brought to light during excavations in 1944 by Istanbul Archaeological Museums and it is situated inside the Rezan Has Musuem Golden Horn Cultures.

It is presumed that the cistern was used as a shelter by the workers of the tobacco factory in the pre-republican period, in other words during the war years. The cistern also served as a warehouse for food and witnessed the events of that period.

The cistern which was used as a hammam in the 17th century, after conquer of Istanbul, also witnessed the historical events of that period. The part of the cistern which is used as a hammam was discovered as a result of excavation studies.