Istanbul, one of the world's most beautiful cities known for its historical and cultural mosaic, has recently welcomed a new addition to its rich heritage of fascinating buildings. Istanbul Modern began to welcome visitors in its new building. The new building is designed by Renzo Piano, one of the most prominent figures in museum architecture today. Integrating with the natural texture of Istanbul, the museum captures the attention of international art circles with its architecture. The new building of Istanbul Modern, Turkey's first museum of modern and contemporary art, embraces visitors with its exhibition halls, educational workshops, auditorium, library, design store, event spaces, café, and restaurant.

Istanbul Modern's new museum building was designed by Renzo Piano Building Workshop (RPBW), founded by Renzo Piano, the architect behind some of the world's most iconic cultural and artistic institutions and museums. Constructed with the joint contribution of the Eczacıbaşı Group, the founding sponsor of the museum, and Doğuş Group-Bilgili Holding, the main sponsor, the new building is RPBW's first project in Türkiye. The new building, which was planned with a visitor-focused approach to provide Istanbul with a high-quality venue and to facilitate all kinds of cultural, artistic, and educational activities, has been attracting an influx of visitors since its inauguration.

Hosting exhibitions and programs on 10,500 square meters of useable space, the new museum building comprises exhibition halls, multi-purpose spaces, offices, and areas for education, various cultural events, and other activities. The design of the new building was inspired by the glittering waters and light reflections of the Bosphorus. The building's façade is covered with three-dimensionally shaped aluminum panels, creating a play of light and shadow thanks to the sunlight and reflections from the water that keep changing through all hours of the day.

A transparent ground floor and a fascinating outdoor terrace

Offering visitors a multifaceted experience, the new museum building prioritizes accessibility in every aspect of its design. The ground floor, which is free of charge in order to create more space for visitors, includes a library, information points, educational workshops, a café, and a store. The transparent ground floor provides visitors with a strong connection between Tophane Park and the coastline. A transparent glass security fence under the main body of the building protects the external sculpture terrace and educational spaces for children’s workshops. The transparency on the ground floor continues in the foyer areas on the upper floors, providing visitors with the opportunity to have continuous visual interaction with the building's surroundings. Photography and pop-up galleries are located on the first floor, as are education and event rooms. On the same floor, as in Istanbul Modern's Antrepo building, there is a restaurant with a terrace overlooking the Bosphorus and the Historic Peninsula. The museum's collection and temporary exhibition halls are located on the second floor.

Situated in a special location where the Bosphorus and the Golden Horn meet, Istanbul Modern offers a unique visual experience by integrating the sea with the city's reflection on the water thanks to the reflection pool covering the entire roof of the building and the platform installed above it.

Social and educational areas immersed in art

The design of the building includes dedicated spaces for education. Having provided free art education to more than 850,000 children and young people since its foundation, the museum utilizes today's technologies to offer creative learning experiences that expand access to art and support artistic development. The learning spaces dedicated to art education continue to unite children, young people, and adults with modern and contemporary art at Istanbul Modern.

The new building also stands out with its social spaces that transform the museum into a life space. The 156-seat auditorium, designed by Renzo Piano Building Workshop, offers a high-quality viewing experience with its state-of-the-art 4K-supported digital display system and silver screen. Istanbul Modern Cinema in its new location promises a comfortable viewing experience for its audiences.

Istanbul Modern's library is in harmony with the building's original structure. With a unique view of the Bosphorus, the library houses a special exhibition space at its entrance. Integrated into the transparency of the ground floor, the library is designed to host a diverse range of events.

"We have designed a space that is almost suspended in the air, with nothing obstructing the view."

Architect Renzo Piano, creator of many iconic buildings around the world, says that he envisioned the sea and the museum as a whole during the creation process of Istanbul Modern. Describing Istanbul Modern's new space as "safe, solid and bright", Piano says that he was inspired by the museum's unique location and the Bosphorus.

Renzo Piano, the architect of Istanbul Modern's new building, met with journalists from Turkey and around the world at a press conference organized on the museum's opening.  Piano described how the project was launched and the design process in the following words: "In our first meetings regarding Istanbul Modern, Oya Eczacıbaşı and her team talked about their dream of creating a museum building that would attract the attention of international art circles and reflect the preciousness of this exceptional city. It was 2014 and we met in our office in Genoa. When they shared their dreams for the future of Istanbul Modern, I became just as excited as they were. From the very first day, I thought of the sea and the museum as a whole. I envisioned the new building as a ship gliding along the Bosphorus. From the outside, I wanted to see a ship; from the inside, I wanted to see the Bosphorus and the islands. The work that emerged today is a reflection of these ideas."

"A building that can stand for at least 1000 years..."

Emphasizing the importance of collaboration in the formation a building, Piano said that Istanbul Modern is not the work of one person, but of a team. He added, "Of course, I cannot name everyone, but I can say that more than 1,000 people have contributed their labor to this process alongside us. For a city like Istanbul where building safety is of paramount importance, I can clearly state that this building can stand for at least 1,000 years. It is a safe, solid, and bright building. It is like a ship flying by the water. I think the new building will become a joint hub for art lovers from all over the world, especially Istanbulites. The buildings I design are like my children. I hope they will be loved and embraced by everyone, just as much as I love them."