Rum Orphanage, Büyükada, Istanbul, Turkey

This large wooden building on Büyükada, off the coast of Turkey, was originally designed to be a luxury hotel and casino. However, due to issues with permits, the building was sold and eventually turned into an orphanage in the early 20th century.

The approximately 215,000 square foot building is reportedly the largest historic timber building in Europe, according to the World Monuments Fund.

After ending operations as an orphanage in 1964, the building remained unoccupied for decades. In 2012, restoration began to turn the site into an environmental institute.