Istanbul's Architectural Boom: 8 New Projects Reshape the City

Istanbul is undergoing a massive architectural transformation with at least eight major projects underway. Grimshaw Architects won the competition for a new Contemporary Art Museum for the Vehbi Koç Foundation, set to open by September 2019. The Istanbul Museum of Painting and Sculpture, designed by EAA – Emre Arolat Architects, will open by end of 2018 with 15,000 works. The Istanbul City Museum by Salon – Alper Derinbogaz, with Luca Molinari as curator, covers 38,000 sqm near Topkapi. Tabanlioglu Architects are renovating the Atatürk Cultural Center (52,000 sqm) at Taksim Square, opening early 2019, and also leading the Haliç Tersanesi Project, an entire area redevelopment of the former Arsenal, expected by 2021. Grimshaw Architects are also building a new airport for 150 million passengers annually, opening October 29. MAA – Melike Altinisik Architects are constructing the 365.5-meter KCTV Telecom Tower, the city's tallest. Guicciardini & Magni Architetti are restoring Tekfur Palace Museum (opening 2019) and working on the Museum of Ottoman Art at Topkapi Palace (by 2020). The article questions whether this pace can withstand the Turkish lira's devaluation.