Every month architects and industry insiders share their recommendations for the best exhibitions and events to visit in Istanbul. Views expressed on this page are those of the author, and may not reflect those of the editors of the Architecture Diaries.
THIS MONTH:
Süleyman Yıldız
Architect, Co-Founder BeOffice Architecture
Süleyman Yıldız graduated from Erciyes University, Department of Architecture in 2008. Between 2008 and 2017, he worked as a project architect, project manager and group lead at EAA-Emre Arolat Architects. Since 2017, he has continued his professional experience at BeOffice Architecture, which he founded with Rıfat Yılmaz and Burcu Sevinç Yılmaz. He also worked as a jury member and lectured at universities.
During this period, he was part of various teams in many national and international competition projects, some of which;
- Taksim International Urban Design Competition (1st Prize)
- Balıkesir Bandırma Onyedi Eylül University Central Campus Urban Design Competition (1st Prize)
- Bursa Mudanya Residential Complex Invıted Competition (1st Prize)
- Büyükada Fayton Square Urban Design Competition(2nd Prize)
- İzmir Transfer Hub Competition (3rd Prize)
- Aim For the Sky: The Buffalo Skyway Corridor (Finalist)
IG: @_beoffice
X: @beoffice_
April is sure to be a lively month, as the dynamism of spring brings social and cultural activities out into the streets and public spaces, changing our daily routines. With the local elections held at the end of March, we have already started the month of April with a significant transformation in the city! In this context, the effort to create public spaces that meet the cultural and artistic needs of the city by repurposing long-standing industrial and cultural assets offers the opportunity to experience the re-functioning projects that have been on the city’s agenda for a while.
BeOffice Architecture, of which I am the founding partner, and many national and international design firms took part in this transformation. These offices worked to create public spaces, make culture and art a public issue, and create a collective identity by using their production in projects carried out with the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality.
Çubuklu Silolar, a repurposing project designed by BeOffice Architecture in collaboration with Suveydan Architecture and Architectural Strategies Atelier, opened its first exhibition, Re Cognition: What Is Real? curated by ArsElectronica. The exhibition can be visited until June 10, 2024. Visual materials that encourage us to rethink fundamental questions about reality offer a new perspective through media art, technology, and artificial intelligence. You have the opportunity to experience the latest works of internationally renowned artists and organizations such as Shinseungback Kimyonghun, Quadrature, Alexandra Daisy Ginsberg, Theresa Reiwer, Nohlab, ha:ar, and Atıf Akın within the scope of the exhibition. The exhibition is being held in former fuel depots, which create a sense of depth in the interior due to their height and cylindrical forms, enhancing the impact of the media materials on display. Additionally, don’t miss the chance to climb on top of the silos and enjoy the panoramic view of the Bosporus from every angle during these beautiful spring months.
The From the Field exhibition at the fam° gallery in the Istanbul Design Museum brings together stories compiled by non-governmental organizations from the field with art through multimedia materials, installations, and sculptures. The exhibition encourages a slower, more compassionate examination of social diversity and the stories of others. The Istanbul Design Museum has introduced a new concept with the recent restoration of the Süleymaniye Sıra Dükkanlar on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Craftsmen, designers, artists, and institutions come together on a rotating basis at the Istanbul Design Museum. BeOffice Architecture, located in Shop No.23, showcases its experiences as one of the early contributors to the museum. This collaboration contributes to diversity, enabling interdisciplinary interaction with other designers, craftsmen, and art institutions. In addition to the workshops and exhibitions held in the museum, visitors can explore the architectural and historical heritage of the region by participating in memory tours organized within the historical peninsula and Süleymaniye region.
The Dynamic Eye: Beyond Op and Kinetic Art is currently being held at Art Istanbul Feshane, a cultural and art venue created by repurposing industrial heritage. The exhibition features a selection from the TATE collection, focusing on optical and kinetic art. Art Istanbul Feshane provides a unique opportunity to explore 20th-century art through this exhibition hosted by Tate, one of the world’s most important art institutions.
Golden Horn Shipyard in Istanbul has been repurposed as a new culture and arts venue. It is now known as Istanbul Sanat and has opened its doors as a public contemporary art museum with the Ah Güzel Istanbul exhibition. The exhibition features a collective selection, including leading art collections worldwide. Bellini’s portrait of Sultan Mehmet the Conqueror, purchased by the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality, is also on display at this museum.
It’s impossible to deny that the industrial and cultural heritage buildings reintroduced to Istanbul as public spaces play a significant role in the city’s cultural and artistic activities. We hope that qualified designers under the leadership of the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality will repurpose similar idle areas and transform them into public spaces for cultural and artistic events. We also hope that qualified exhibitions and events will continue to ensure the ongoing utilization of these spaces.
