Istanbul Modern has opened its new museum building in Karaköy, designed by Renzo Piano.
Istanbul Modern welcomes visitors to its new museum building in Karaköy, designed by Renzo Piano. Established in 2004 as Turkey's first museum of modern and contemporary art, Istanbul Modern now offers art enthusiasts a unique experience in its new building, constructed at its original location in Karaköy after its temporary address in Beyoğlu.
The new structure is positioned next to the Bosphorus, overlooking the Anatolian side, the Princes' Islands, and the Historic Peninsula. Designed by Renzo Piano Building Workshop, the museum building enhances the relationship between Tophane Park and the waterfront with its transparent ground floor inspired by the glittering waters of the sea.
The building features circular section columns and mechanical chimneys, creating a striking architectural landscape. The circular shape of these structural elements softens the transitions between light and shadow, creating an impressive atmosphere.
The ground floor houses a café, a shop, a library, information points, and educational workshops designed as spaces surrounding the main lobby. The transparent glass walls beneath the main mass of the building provide a protected environment for outdoor sculpture displays and children's workshops.
The main staircase in the center of the lobby connects the public areas of the museum and provides access to the 156-seat auditorium on the entrance floor. The first floor accommodates a photography gallery, a temporary exhibition hall, working offices, and education/activity rooms. The restaurant on the southern facade opens up to a terrace with a view of the sea.
The staircase ascending from the foyer on the second floor, which houses the collection and temporary exhibition galleries, leads to a viewing terrace that offers visitors a magnificent panorama. The reflective pool covering the terrace adjoins the Bosphorus and the city’s reflections, creating a unique viewing experience.
With its focus on the audience as an internationally acclaimed museum, Istanbul Modern's new building is ready to welcome art enthusiasts with its exhibition halls, educational workshops, cinema, library, design store, event spaces, café, and restaurant.
