Big plans are underway for Turkey’s historic and dynamic city of İstanbul, where a major renovation is expanding the Atatürk Cultural Center (AKM). The revitalized complex will feature a new 2,500-seat spherical opera house designed as a multi-venue performing arts center. A restaurant at the top of the opera house will offer sweeping views of the Bosporus, while the center will also include exhibition halls, art galleries, modern meeting rooms, cafés, cinemas and multiple theater stages. The project originally aimed for completion in 2019, and represents a significant cultural investment for the city.
This renovation is the third major incarnation of the AKM and aims to reflect İstanbul’s unique blend of Eastern and Western influences. The center occupies five blocks in the cultural district adjacent to Taksim Square and will provide more than 1,105,800 square feet of enclosed space. Upgrades include enhanced technical systems and structural improvements to support a wide range of performances and public events.
Murat Tabanlıoğlu is the lead architect for the project. His international portfolio includes work on the Dubai Design District, the New National Stadium in Japan, the Rixos Libertas Hotel in Dubrovnik, the Qatar RFS Tower in Doha, and the Marrakech Congress Center. In Turkey, his notable projects include Istanbul Modern, Bodrum Milas International Airport and the Four Seasons at Alaçatı.