Architecture News Plus (ANP) – Architecture and Design Magazine

Borusan Music and Art House

This is a project by GAD and it is located at Beyoglu, lstanbul, Turkey. Project's program: Rehearsal and Performance Center for Borusan Philharmonic Orchestra and Art Exhibition Space. There are sixteen images for Borusan Music and Art House.

: © GAD

Project details

Project name: Borusan Music and Art House
Location: Beyoglu, lstanbul, Turkey
Program: Rehearsal and Performance Center for Borusan Philharmonic Orchestra and Art Exhibition Space
Area: Site Area: 230 m2 • Built-up Area: 1,900 m2
Year: Completion: 2009
Client: Borusan Kocabıyık Vakfı Kültür ve Sanat İşletmesi
Project by: GAD
Team: Principal Designer: Gokhan Avcıoglu • Design Team: Ozan Ertug, Baris Ucar, Ayhan Urguplu, Arzu Meyvaci, Yeliz Ozsoy, Bora Soykut, Gozde Nur Demir, Serkan Cedetas, Ertugrul Morcol
Others: Contractor: Askom İnşaat

Project images

Designer's statement

The new Borusan Music and Art Center in the historic neighborhood of Beyoglu, Istanbul is a multi-purpose space for exhibitions, events, rehearsals and various cultural training programs. This new cultural center symbolizes the cultural and artistic renaissance presently occurring throughout the city, while also preserving the architectural legacy of Istanbul.

GAD’s design preserves and restores the historic shell of the existing building, which is typical of the facades along the famous Istiklal Caddesi. The building core has been completely removed, expressing an empty void. In a clever move, GAD inserted a contrasting contemporary ‘box’ within the core. The ‘box’ is designed using a lightweight steel diagrid frame system along its perimeter. This strategy allows for an open floor plan, and offers programmatic flexibility between all the floors. The inserted ‘box’ seems to defy gravity as it responds to, and is framed by, the historic masonry shell. The architectural symbiosis of the two contrasting construction methods and materials activates a playful tension between the past and present.

The main entrance to the six story building is from Istiklal Street. There is a secondary entrance from the intersecting Piremeci Street. The ground floor is linked to the street visually by large glass windows, reminiscent of the shop’s previous glass display. The transparency on the façade allows the visitor to preview the action inside. The visitors enter the building through an oversized glass door. The building is elevated slightly, and old marble stairs are punctuated by two steel columns that support the facade. The ground and first floors serve as exhibition spaces, and also have maximum flexibility for events.

The concert halls on the second and third floors are two-storey atriums, housing up to 100 people. The second floor is used primarily for rehearsals and concerts. The audience is able to listen and observe live performance from the second and third floors.

There are six individual rehearsal rooms on the fourth floor. The fifth floor is used for multi-purpose events. On the sixth floor, the building opens up to views of the Bosphorus. This space will be used as a café and bar. There is another level above the café & bar used as terrace. As there is no elevator access to the upper level, visitors use a staircase to reach this level.