An interior view of a modern architectural space featuring a large red dome structure at the center. Circular wooden balconies are visible on both sides, with polished stone floors and large skylights overhead.

Ataturk Cultural Center

Istanbul, Turkey

A large spherical sculpture covered in red and silver mirrored tiles, reflecting light in various directions, displayed under a modern ceiling.

Client: Republic Of Turkey, Ministry Of Culture And Tourism and Sembol Construction and Yeni Yapi Constraction
Year: 2016
Status: Built; Key Projects
Type: Cultural

The exterior of a modern cultural center at dusk, featuring a large glass façade with intricate patterns. The entrance is illuminated, and the surroundings are minimalistic, highlighting the architectural design.

Close-up view of a modern architectural design featuring vertical stone slabs and a curved wooden structure, showcasing lines and textures.

Close-up of a modern building's reflective glass facade with vertical wooden and metal stripes creating a geometric pattern.

The Atatürk Cultural Center on Taksim Square is one of the most significant cultural buildings in Istanbul, and its story evolves in parallel with the city’s modernisation.

The facade of the Atatürk Cultural Center featuring large glass panels and a geometric pattern. The center's name is displayed prominently in gold letters at the entrance.

Interior view of a modern auditorium featuring wooden paneling, multiple levels of seating, and soft lighting. Rows of beige seats lead towards a central stage area.

In the early 1960s, French urban planner Henri Prost was invited to prepare a new masterplan for Istanbul. His proposal included an opera house for Taksim Square. Prost recommended fellow French architect Auguste Perret to the Municipality of Istanbul, and Perret designed a project inspired by the classical opera and ballet buildings that were common across Europe at the time. Construction began but was halted during the early structural phase due to budget challenges.

View of an empty theater from the backstage, showcasing the seating area illuminated under a sophisticated chandelier. The stage is dark, and there are a few people standing at the edge.

Black and white architectural photograph showing a grid-patterned ceiling above large glass windows and concrete walls in a modern building.

Close-up view of a textured wall featuring reflective, three-dimensional triangular and diamond-shaped panels in black and white.

A person walking past a modern stone building with large glass windows, illuminated by warm lighting along the wall, reflecting in a still water feature on the ground.

At that time, architect Hayati Tabanlıoğlu, who had recently completed his doctoral studies in Germany on opera and theatre buildings, was commissioned by the Ministry of Public Works to design a new cultural center on the same site. After approximately seventeen years of work, the first Atatürk Cultural Center opened to the public. One year later, a major fire severely damaged the building. Tabanlıoğlu redesigned and rebuilt the structure, and the second version of AKM became Istanbul’s leading venue for culture and the performing arts for many decades.

An architectural design featuring a curved structure with a series of rectangular panels arranged in a grid pattern, predominantly in red tones.

Interior view of a modern library with multiple levels. The space features wooden ceilings and bookshelves filled with books, large windows allowing natural light, and a central staircase connecting the floors.

An aerial view of a construction site with a large dome structure at the center. Cranes and scaffolding are visible, along with partially completed buildings and various construction materials around the site.

Architectural diagram illustrating the cross-section of a building featuring a geometric facade with a series of triangular elements and structural details. The drawing is in black and white, highlighting the design elements.

By the late 1990s, technical deterioration and the effects of the 1999 earthquake made it necessary to reconsider the future of the building. In 2000, within the scope of Istanbul’s European Capital of Culture preparations, our Studio Founder, Murat Tabanlıoğlu, developed a comprehensive renovation project. During construction, the existing building was found to be insufficient in terms of structural stability, and the work was stopped.

In 2021, Murat Tabanlıoğlu was commissioned to design the third and current Atatürk Cultural Center. The new building was created with a strong respect for the original architectural identity. The main volume, overall form, façade expression and much of the interior material palette were reinterpreted in a way that preserves architectural memory and continuity.

Rows of empty burgundy seats arranged in a theater-style auditorium, with wooden accents and a backdrop of vertical wooden panels.

A wooden architectural model showcasing the interior layout of a multi-level building, featuring stairs, open spaces, and illuminated sections, against a light background.

An abstract black and white illustration featuring multiple sharp, conical shapes arranged in a semi-circular pattern, creating a dynamic visual effect against a dark background.

A monochrome architectural illustration depicting a large, open space with high ceilings, columns, and a grid-patterned floor. Figures are shown in the space, suggesting scale and human presence.

A modern architectural structure featuring large concrete walls and a prominent cantilevered glass section at the center, leading to an open entrance pathway. The building has a minimalist design with a contemporary feel.

A close-up view of a concrete ceiling with a grid pattern, featuring recessed light fixtures positioned between the squares. The design highlights the texture of the concrete and the geometric symmetry.

The new AKM contains a 2,000-seat opera hall with advanced acoustic design and state-of-the-art stage technologies. The building also includes rehearsal rooms, technical areas and production spaces that support the full spectrum of performing arts.

The adjacent parcel, previously used as storage and parking, was transformed into a new urban connection. A pedestrian passage now links Taksim Square with the Istanbul Technical University Atatürk Library and the Nişantaşı axis. Along this passage, a theatre and concert hall, multi-purpose venues, art galleries, restaurants and cafés, a culture cinema, offices and parking areas come together to form a vibrant cultural hub.

Today, the Atatürk Cultural Center continues to serve as a renewed symbol of Istanbul’s artistic and cultural life, combining its historical legacy with a contemporary architectural vision.

Technical drawing showing a top view and side view of a circular design featuring multiple concentric circles and rectangular shapes, with measurements indicated.