istanbul modern unveils new renzo piano-designed building with elongated glass facades

new Istanbul modern building by Renzo Piano

The Istanbul Museum of Modern Art recently unveiled its new building, designed by world-renowned architect Renzo Piano. The elongated structure features striking glass and metal facades that reflect the light and water of the Bosphorus. Located within the historic Beyoğlu district, the new building replaces the existing one situated between the old city streets of the Galata quarter and the port cruise terminal, providing a new urban focal point. It also enhances connectivity between different areas, making it a must-visit social and cultural destination for both locals and tourists.

all images courtesy of Renzo Piano Building Workshop (RPBW) Architects

transparent lobby offers mesmerizing sea views

The new Istanbul Museum of Modern Art (find more here) building by Renzo Piano Building Workshop (RPBW) Architects (find more here) is a five-level structure, with three levels above ground and two below, encompassing a total area of 15,000 sqm. In addition to housing current and future art collections, the building provides a secure and welcoming environment for cultural and educational activities, offering multiple opportunities for community gatherings. The lobby is transparent and features a café, bookshop, library, museum information points, and a dedicated workshop area for the ‘Discovery Space’ project, created in collaboration with Centre Pompidou in Paris.

A glazed fence surrounds the ground floor, creating a secure environment for visitors to enjoy an outdoor café and a sculpture garden. Inside, a grand central staircase connects all public levels, from the underground cinema to the upper galleries. Each landing lobby offers a breathtaking view of the sea and park, creating a north-south axis that cuts through the building volume.

the elongated structure offers unobstructed views of the Bosphorus

the layout of the new Istanbul modern building

The first level of the Istanbul Museum of Modern Art houses the photo and pop-up galleries, multipurpose rooms, and staff offices. The restaurant, located on the south façade, provides an awe-inspiring view of the Bosphorus from an external terrace. The second floor offers the same view of the sea and park via the lobby axis. The permanent and temporary art galleries occupy 3,300 sqm of exhibition space and feature open and flexible designs with concrete column structures that define the industrial character of the space. The galleries are set out on an 8.4m x 8.4m grid, carried from the underground car park levels.

A staircase from level two provides access to a 450 sqm roof-top viewing deck. This covered terrace appears to float above a shallow water plane that covers the entire rooftop, creating a seamless visual connection with the Bosphorus. The mechanical equipment, including an antenna that sways with the wind, is grouped within the terrace profile, leaving an uninterrupted panoramic view that merges the sky and water into a unique metaphysical space.

the permanent and temporary art galleries occupy 3,300 sqm of flexible exhibition space

reflecting the light and water of the Bosphorus

The Istanbul Museum of Modern Art building consists of a volume above a recessed clear glass façade at the ground level. A formed metal panel façade reflects the light and water of the Bosphorus, creating a dynamic appearance that changes based on the sun’s movement. The foliage on the park side will produce different patterns on the façade. The building mass creates a double-height space on the east and west sides, providing shelter for activities below. It faces the old city on the west and welcomes visitors from the new Galataport development on the east.

The building’s escape stair routes from the upper levels are exposed but nested in the façade and accessible by external walkways, adding another layer of depth to the building’s appearance. The concrete column system is reinforced with steel cross bracings to withstand seismic activity in the area. At ground level, the typical square concrete columns become circular, and these circular columns, along with the cylindrical mechanical funnels, populate the ground floor. With no opaque walls, this creates an unexpected landscape between the park and the sea.

the new building replaces the existing one situated between the old city streets of the Galata quarter and the port cruise terminal, providing a new urban focal point