History and Location

The site is adjacent to the Gate of St. Romanus of the Theodosian City Walls from the fifth century which has been a strong representation of the multi layered history of the city. The walls evolved together with the name of the city Byzantion, Konstantinopolis, Konstantiniyye, İstanbul. We can read how different societies had used the wall collectively by restoring , repairing and extending the masonry work. These important traces guided the elaboration of the architectural project. As the urban settlement expanded, the walls became part of the centre rather than being the borders of the city. The Theodosian Walls has also become one of the city’s must see routes for travellers since the 17th Century. In this context we proposed the museum as a node that integrates this route together with the modern transportation hubs of today which also played an important role in the transfiguration of the building. MONOLITH As an architectural archetype, a museum is a contradictory type of structure. Maybe its charm exists from here. The museum is first of all a public building that must be open to everyone and welcoming. On the other hand, it is a type of structure that should develop concentration for its visitors. In other words, it is a typology that must be introverted to focus on the content or activity exhibited within and at the same time it has a strong presence as a multifaceted prism. The building is an elevated solid mass with a low height that communicates with the historic city walls nearby. Mainly formed by the rotation to relate to the route that follows the land walls and the transportation hub, the structure is split by a pedestrian bridge to connect to the topographical condition of the site.The museum’s first floor, in which the permanent exhibition halls are located, hovers above the ground floor with wide cantilevered canopies, allowing the main mass to break off from the ground. The transparent ground floor is organized by all the public functions including a city library, a temporary exhibition zone, a lecture hall, cafes, restaurants and a kids atelier which open to the park through the Museum Square. Three floor slabs underground house laboratories, service zones, storages, ateliers and parking

Reflecting the Heritage

The monolith that houses the museum floor is developed from the alignment of the entrance axis and the visitor route movement inside the exhibition. The visitors enter through a giant crack, like they are walking through an archaeological ruin. The multifaceted facade, composed of anodized metal and glass, seeks for a dialogue with the multilayered Theodosian Land Walls. Developed through computational design, using a custom algorithmic script, the facade is composed of a unique, mass customised panellisation pattern that creates the sense of a fragmented monolith. The facade employs an open joint panelling system with a bespoke finish designed to amplify the sky and colour the building in different hues

Construction Without Excavation

The museum was planned to be located within the excavation area of a former building. Thus, an additional excavation was avoided in the archaeological sensitive site. The museum was planned to be located within the excavation area of the destroyed building. Thus, additional excavation was avoided in the area defined as an archaeological site. The museum was planned with a unique structural system, using a combination of reinforced concrete core and steel elements. Creating a microclimate with a central courtyard, and preserving the natural ground while using a local material palette places the building in an important place in terms of sustainability principles

Museum of Museums

Three floor slabs underground house laboratories, service zones, storages, ateliers and parking. The workshop and warehouse areas of 3500 m2 are planned to provide an infrastructure not only for the Museum of Istanbul but also for other institution museums. It was aimed to create a network of museums by giving references to other important museums in Istanbul

Terrace Garden

The view of the museum terrace, which is the final destination of the visitor route, integrates with the panorama of the land walls extending to the sea. At the same time, this terrace creates an open space for various activities with its garden, open amphitheatre and viewing platform.