AKM 2.0: Rooted in past, serving 2010 and beyond
Güncelleme Tarihi:
by Gül Tüysüz
Oluşturulma Tarihi: Ocak 24, 2009 00:00
Atatürk Culture Center, or AKM, is a hallmark of Republic-era architecture and it is getting ready to move into the 21st century. Though renovations have not started on the structure, the current designs will tranform AKM into a public space that is worthy of Istanbul as the city prepares to become the 2010 European Capital of Culture.
The Atatürk Culture Center, or AKM, has been slated for renovation ahead of Istanbul's reign as European Capital of Culture in 2010, but bureaucratic hurdles are holding back the start of construction. The multiple layers of approvals and designs required for this large project are delaying the renovation.
The renovation designs needed to be approved by the municipalities involved and the Council on Historic Buildings. The full static design has been submitted to the council and is expected to pass in the next two weeks, with construction beginning within the next month, according to both Murat Tabanlıoğlu, the architect in charge of the renovation designs, and Nuri Çolakoğlu, the president of the Executive Board of Istanbul 2010 European Capital of Culture, or ECOC.
The delays have caused some to question whether or not the center can be fully renovated and ready to go for 2010. With the current schedule of construction, the center will be ready for 2010 but perhaps not fully, according to Tabanlıoğlu. "We will leave some of the smaller updates for later," he said.
Preserve and renovate
Another aggravating part of the restoration project has been the fact that the State Opera and Ballet was orphaned for a better part of 2008, instead performing in a host of theaters and centers around Istanbul that were never intended to house the large troupes or support the frequency of their shows. "But the new and improved AKM might better serve the needs of the State Opera and Ballet. We have input from many of the leaders of the dance companies and orchestras that perform here," said Tabanlıoğlu.
The decision to renovate, rather than tear down the center and erect a completely different structure, came after months of debate over what kind of center is needed for 2010. Some supported building a new center, others argued that AKM was a cultural heritage building symbolizing Republic-era Turkish architecture and needed to be restored. The preservationists won the debate.
The Culture and Tourism Ministry handed over the restoration efforts to the ECOC on Oct. 8 with a protocol stating that the Culture Capital Committee would preserve the building while updating it. ECOC and the ministry formed an AKM committee whose job was to ensure that the restoration process was transparent. This committee along with the architect in charge would determine what would change and what would be preserved.
Most Istanbul residents have a special connection to the AKM building. "I do not like the AKM that much, but it has always been here. Totally changing it would mean totally changing what we think of when we think of Taksim Square. There is the Marmara Hotel, the buses to the left, AKM between those and the statues in the middle. That is Taksim Square," said Burak Savaş, a 27-year-old Istanbul resident who regularly uses the AKM as his meeting spot.
The connection with the structure runs even deeper for the architect of the restoration project. The idea for the AKM came about in the 1930s, with groundbreaking in 1946. After a delayed and rocky start with the initial architect of the project, Tabanlıoğlu’s father, Hayati Tabanlıoğlu, completed the project and the center opened to the public in 1969 with a showing of Giuseppe Verdi’s operatic masterpiece, Aida. For its time, AKM was a modern building. It represented the modern architectural style of the 1960s. After an unfortunate fire in the 1970s, the culture center under went a reconstruction.
Now Tabanlıoğlu’s design is responsible for carrying the AKM into the 21st century with an emphasis on not just renovating but also greening the structure. "It is easier to renovate a historic landmark like the Hagia Sophia or something because you have examples of it. But with a building like this, that is modern, you do not really have too many examples. The rules are not as limited," said Tabanlıoğlu.
For example, Tabanlıoğlu’s design proposes a host of new sustainable technologies that will both enhance the public's cultural experience and use the building's public position to highlight environmentally friendly designs.
Stylish and green
The new AKM will have low-energy lighting and water-conserving fixtures throughout with rainwater being used to water the new green roof, and supplying water to toilets and janitor closets. Tabanlıoğlu's bold step to integrate louvers into the aluminum facade will maintain the original appearance while reducing excess sunlight from overheating the public entrance space. Sustainable materials such as recycled carpets, photovoltaic panels, and even a mini-wind turbine will save energy, according to a statement of intention given to the Daily News. Equally important could be a digital message board that displays the building's resource consumption to the public, raising awareness for energy consumption. Inside the building, biomass heaters and ground-source heat pumps will provide efficient and low-carbon heat. Highly insulated walls will reduce both sound pollution from performances and temperature fluctuations in the building, according to the statement. These green initiatives, if implemented, will serve to create a high profile building that is environmentally-friendly. The renovation will also make sure to preserve the hallmark features of the building like the aluminum mesh exterior and the old staircase in the interior.
All of these efforts will be incorporated into a design that will turn the AKM into more than just a place to watch a ballet or opera. Tabanlıoğlu’s vision is to turn the building into a public space that is utilized in between shows as well.
It was about time Istanbul carried its culture center into the 21st century, but turning it into a space that is both environmentally friendly and welcoming will be a great service to the city.
The renovation designs needed to be approved by the municipalities involved and the Council on Historic Buildings. The full static design has been submitted to the council and is expected to pass in the next two weeks, with construction beginning within the next month, according to both Murat Tabanlıoğlu, the architect in charge of the renovation designs, and Nuri Çolakoğlu, the president of the Executive Board of Istanbul 2010 European Capital of Culture, or ECOC.
The delays have caused some to question whether or not the center can be fully renovated and ready to go for 2010. With the current schedule of construction, the center will be ready for 2010 but perhaps not fully, according to Tabanlıoğlu. "We will leave some of the smaller updates for later," he said.
Preserve and renovate
Another aggravating part of the restoration project has been the fact that the State Opera and Ballet was orphaned for a better part of 2008, instead performing in a host of theaters and centers around Istanbul that were never intended to house the large troupes or support the frequency of their shows. "But the new and improved AKM might better serve the needs of the State Opera and Ballet. We have input from many of the leaders of the dance companies and orchestras that perform here," said Tabanlıoğlu.
The decision to renovate, rather than tear down the center and erect a completely different structure, came after months of debate over what kind of center is needed for 2010. Some supported building a new center, others argued that AKM was a cultural heritage building symbolizing Republic-era Turkish architecture and needed to be restored. The preservationists won the debate.
The Culture and Tourism Ministry handed over the restoration efforts to the ECOC on Oct. 8 with a protocol stating that the Culture Capital Committee would preserve the building while updating it. ECOC and the ministry formed an AKM committee whose job was to ensure that the restoration process was transparent. This committee along with the architect in charge would determine what would change and what would be preserved.
Most Istanbul residents have a special connection to the AKM building. "I do not like the AKM that much, but it has always been here. Totally changing it would mean totally changing what we think of when we think of Taksim Square. There is the Marmara Hotel, the buses to the left, AKM between those and the statues in the middle. That is Taksim Square," said Burak Savaş, a 27-year-old Istanbul resident who regularly uses the AKM as his meeting spot.
The connection with the structure runs even deeper for the architect of the restoration project. The idea for the AKM came about in the 1930s, with groundbreaking in 1946. After a delayed and rocky start with the initial architect of the project, Tabanlıoğlu’s father, Hayati Tabanlıoğlu, completed the project and the center opened to the public in 1969 with a showing of Giuseppe Verdi’s operatic masterpiece, Aida. For its time, AKM was a modern building. It represented the modern architectural style of the 1960s. After an unfortunate fire in the 1970s, the culture center under went a reconstruction.
Now Tabanlıoğlu’s design is responsible for carrying the AKM into the 21st century with an emphasis on not just renovating but also greening the structure. "It is easier to renovate a historic landmark like the Hagia Sophia or something because you have examples of it. But with a building like this, that is modern, you do not really have too many examples. The rules are not as limited," said Tabanlıoğlu.
For example, Tabanlıoğlu’s design proposes a host of new sustainable technologies that will both enhance the public's cultural experience and use the building's public position to highlight environmentally friendly designs.
Stylish and green
The new AKM will have low-energy lighting and water-conserving fixtures throughout with rainwater being used to water the new green roof, and supplying water to toilets and janitor closets. Tabanlıoğlu's bold step to integrate louvers into the aluminum facade will maintain the original appearance while reducing excess sunlight from overheating the public entrance space. Sustainable materials such as recycled carpets, photovoltaic panels, and even a mini-wind turbine will save energy, according to a statement of intention given to the Daily News. Equally important could be a digital message board that displays the building's resource consumption to the public, raising awareness for energy consumption. Inside the building, biomass heaters and ground-source heat pumps will provide efficient and low-carbon heat. Highly insulated walls will reduce both sound pollution from performances and temperature fluctuations in the building, according to the statement. These green initiatives, if implemented, will serve to create a high profile building that is environmentally-friendly. The renovation will also make sure to preserve the hallmark features of the building like the aluminum mesh exterior and the old staircase in the interior.
All of these efforts will be incorporated into a design that will turn the AKM into more than just a place to watch a ballet or opera. Tabanlıoğlu’s vision is to turn the building into a public space that is utilized in between shows as well.
It was about time Istanbul carried its culture center into the 21st century, but turning it into a space that is both environmentally friendly and welcoming will be a great service to the city.