Atatürk Culture Center to live round the clock
Güncelleme Tarihi:
by Aslı Sağlam
Oluşturulma Tarihi: Şubat 20, 2009 00:00
ISTANBUL - Istanbul’s Atatürk Culture Center is preparing for the future. The project to update the legendary culture center’s systems of structure and infrastructure will go to tender March 8 and the AKM will be open at the end of this year
Among the hundreds of projects being undertaken by the Istanbul 2010 European Capital of Culture Agency, or ECOC, the renovation of the Atatürk Culture Center in Istanbul is one of the most important.
The long-discussed and often contentious project is moving ahead, step by step, with the aim of revitalizing the legendary cultural center, known as the AKM, and bringing it into the 21st century. "The AKM building is one of the most important structures in the history of the Turkish Republic and sits on some of the most valuable land in Turkey," said Nuri Çolakoğlu, the president of ECOC’s executive board. "We think it has to live 24 hours a day."
Plans for the new project call for the cultural center to have different areas serving different purposes, including a bookstore, a music store, exhibition halls and a caf and restaurant with a view of the Bosphorus. The infrastructure update will incorporate environmentally friendly systems.
Çolakoğlu and Murat Tabanlıoğlu, the founding partner of the Tabanlıoğlu Architecture Company, held an informational meeting on Tuesday to introduce their renovation plans and clarify their expectations for subcontracting firms. The building will go on tender March 8.
A bill to initiate the renovation project was introduced and adopted in 2007, after which a law was passed governing construction on the land belonging to AKM and surrounding parcels. Responsibility for the project was transferred in October 2008 from the Tourism and Culture Ministry and Finance Ministry to the Istanbul 2010 European Capital of Culture Agency, which signed an agreement with the Tabanlıoğlu Company to modernize the AKM. The Tourism and Culture Ministry continues to cooperate with ECOC on the project.
International models
At the meeting, Çolakoğlu discussed various cultural centers around the world that might serve as good models for the renovation of the AKM, including the Royal Theater Hall in London. He also said the team talked to orchestra conductors, acoustics professionals and artists to solicit their ideas and opinions for the project. The main part of the AKM building will be completed in October, at which point the building will be handed over to the Istanbul Opera and Ballet. A "soft opening" will take place Dec. 19, with the entire building operational May 2010, Tabanlıoğlu said. Tabanlıoğlu did not ask for any payment for the preparation of the project because of a personal connection to the project: His father, who was also an architect, worked on the building.
The idea of having a culture center in Taksim originated with the French architect Henri Prost. The municipality began construction in 1939, but it was not completed until 1968. With architect Hayati Tabanlıoğlu taking over the project, Istanbul had its first opera and ballet center. Just one year later, a fire broke out and burned the building to the ground because it was not equipped with a fire-extinguishing system. Tabanlıoğlu was given the job of reconstructing the building, which has hosted many operas, ballets, theatrical performances and exhibitions.
Conditions of the tender
The ECOC has many conditions for construction companies that want to participate in the tender. The firms should have at least 15 years of experience in the construction field and have previously worked on cultural-center projects with a minimum size of 30,000 square meters. The firms must supply the necessary equipment and furniture on time and have the appropriate technical equipment for the renovation project.
Murat Tabanlıoğlu said the building’s old furniture has not thrown to waste; it is being transported to other Istanbul cultural centers that are in need of furnishings.
Çolakoğlu emphasized that the front of the building will never be used for advertising. Instead it will display scenes from the activities that take place inside the AKM to draw public attention to the building.
New technological improvements include replacing glass will insulating varieties, making aluminum coverings heat isolated, incorporating integrating systems and renewing each part of the building, from its seats to its heating system. A ground heating system will be used after a natural-gas system is brought to the culture center.
Head architect Tabanlıoğlu said the cultural center will be improved to host more events so it "will live 365 days a year, day and night."
The long-discussed and often contentious project is moving ahead, step by step, with the aim of revitalizing the legendary cultural center, known as the AKM, and bringing it into the 21st century. "The AKM building is one of the most important structures in the history of the Turkish Republic and sits on some of the most valuable land in Turkey," said Nuri Çolakoğlu, the president of ECOC’s executive board. "We think it has to live 24 hours a day."
Plans for the new project call for the cultural center to have different areas serving different purposes, including a bookstore, a music store, exhibition halls and a caf and restaurant with a view of the Bosphorus. The infrastructure update will incorporate environmentally friendly systems.
Çolakoğlu and Murat Tabanlıoğlu, the founding partner of the Tabanlıoğlu Architecture Company, held an informational meeting on Tuesday to introduce their renovation plans and clarify their expectations for subcontracting firms. The building will go on tender March 8.
A bill to initiate the renovation project was introduced and adopted in 2007, after which a law was passed governing construction on the land belonging to AKM and surrounding parcels. Responsibility for the project was transferred in October 2008 from the Tourism and Culture Ministry and Finance Ministry to the Istanbul 2010 European Capital of Culture Agency, which signed an agreement with the Tabanlıoğlu Company to modernize the AKM. The Tourism and Culture Ministry continues to cooperate with ECOC on the project.
International models
At the meeting, Çolakoğlu discussed various cultural centers around the world that might serve as good models for the renovation of the AKM, including the Royal Theater Hall in London. He also said the team talked to orchestra conductors, acoustics professionals and artists to solicit their ideas and opinions for the project. The main part of the AKM building will be completed in October, at which point the building will be handed over to the Istanbul Opera and Ballet. A "soft opening" will take place Dec. 19, with the entire building operational May 2010, Tabanlıoğlu said. Tabanlıoğlu did not ask for any payment for the preparation of the project because of a personal connection to the project: His father, who was also an architect, worked on the building.
The idea of having a culture center in Taksim originated with the French architect Henri Prost. The municipality began construction in 1939, but it was not completed until 1968. With architect Hayati Tabanlıoğlu taking over the project, Istanbul had its first opera and ballet center. Just one year later, a fire broke out and burned the building to the ground because it was not equipped with a fire-extinguishing system. Tabanlıoğlu was given the job of reconstructing the building, which has hosted many operas, ballets, theatrical performances and exhibitions.
Conditions of the tender
The ECOC has many conditions for construction companies that want to participate in the tender. The firms should have at least 15 years of experience in the construction field and have previously worked on cultural-center projects with a minimum size of 30,000 square meters. The firms must supply the necessary equipment and furniture on time and have the appropriate technical equipment for the renovation project.
Murat Tabanlıoğlu said the building’s old furniture has not thrown to waste; it is being transported to other Istanbul cultural centers that are in need of furnishings.
Çolakoğlu emphasized that the front of the building will never be used for advertising. Instead it will display scenes from the activities that take place inside the AKM to draw public attention to the building.
New technological improvements include replacing glass will insulating varieties, making aluminum coverings heat isolated, incorporating integrating systems and renewing each part of the building, from its seats to its heating system. A ground heating system will be used after a natural-gas system is brought to the culture center.
Head architect Tabanlıoğlu said the cultural center will be improved to host more events so it "will live 365 days a year, day and night."