Atatürk Cultural Center

The Atatürk Cultural Center (Turkish: Atatürk Kültür Merkezi), commonly called the AKM, is a concert hall, theatre and cultural centre running along the eastern side of Taksim Square in Beyoğlu, Istanbul. In 2021, it reopened to the public as a state-of-the-art cultural complex after a 13-year reconstruction period.[1]

Front façade of Atatürk Cultural Center after completion
New Atatürk Cultural Center near completion at night. The central dome is visible during the night.

History

Two Turkish architects, Feridun Kip and Rüknettin Güney, proposed the building of the center on May 29, 1946, and work started on it before funding was halted in 1953. In 1956, construction resumed under architect Hayati Tabanlıoğlu. The building, originally called the Istanbul Culture Palace, was completed in 13 years and opened on April 12, 1969,[2] twenty-three years after the initial proposal.

On November 27, 1970, fire broke out during a performance of Arthur Miller's play The Crucible (Cadı Kazanı, "The Witch's Cauldron", in Turkish). Although there was no loss of life, some items brought from Topkapı Palace for the play of Sultan Murad IV (a caftan belonging to the Sultan, a painting of him, and a historic Koran) were destroyed in the fire, the source of which was never identified.

By June 2008, the Cultural Center was closed for renovations.[3] The Board for the Protection of Cultural Property decided on 31 December 2009 that it should be renovated on the original site[4] and on 9 April 2012, a tender was held for the renovation contract. The re-opening was planned for 29 October 2013, Republic Day with an estimated budget of ₺70 million (approx. US$39 million). However, in May 2013 the project was halted.[3] Reports suggested that the AKM was to be demolished as part of redevelopment plans for Taksim Square and Gezi Park and was to be replaced with a new opera house and a mosque.[5]

During the Gezi Park protests, which began on 28 May 2013, many protesters climbed onto the roof of the AKM during the night. The roof was evacuated[6] and the police occupied the empty building and turned it into a logistics center.[3] By February 2015, it was clear that the building, which had been empty for seven years, had been plundered; its technical installations, lighting and audio equipment as well as many other objects were sold at second hand markets or junk shops, even though the building was supposedly under police protection.[4]

The Old Complex
Original Interior of the building before the fire
Original Interior of the building before the fire

The original AKM was covered 31,702 m2 (341,240 sq ft) and had a floor plan area of 14,606 m2 (157,220 sq ft) with a usable area of 52,000 m2 (560,000 sq ft).[7] The complex was made up of the Grand Stage, a hall with a 1,317 seat capacity hosting the Turkish State Theatres and performances of the Turkish State Opera and Ballet; and the Concert Hall, with a 502 seating capacity for concerts, meetings and conferences. There was also an exhibition hall of 1,200 m2 (13,000 sq ft) in the lobby. There was also a Chamber Theatre with 296 seats, the Aziz Nesin Stage with 190 seats and a cinema hall with 206 seats.

Until 2008, the center was home to the

  • Istanbul State Symphony Orchestra and Choir (İstanbul Devlet Senfoni Orkestrası ve Korosu),
  • Istanbul State Modern Folk Music Ensemble (İstanbul Devlet Modern Halk Müziği Topluluğu) and
  • Istanbul State Classical Turkish Music Choir (İstanbul Devlet Klasik Türk Müziği Korosu).

Over the summer, the AKM hosted the Istanbul Arts and Culture Festival.

The New Building

After it had been empty for ten years, demolition work ready for the construction of a new building to replace the original AKM began on 13 February 2018.[8] The work was completed on 30 May 2018.[9] On 10 February 2019, construction of the new complex began with a groundbreaking ceremony attended by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. The new Cultural Center is made up of five sections having a total area of 95,000 m2 (1,020,000 sq ft).[10] It features a theatre, cinema and concert halls, an exhibition center, a convention hall, a library, a museum, an art gallery, cafés and restaurants. The architect was Murat Tabanlıoğlu, the son of Hayati Tabanlıoğlu, who had designed the original AKM.[8] Construction cost ₺850 million (approx. US$162 million).[10]

See also

References
  1. "Atatürk cultural centre reopens in boost to Istanbul's arts scene". the Guardian. 2021-10-29. Retrieved 2022-04-22.
  2. Yalav-Heckeroth, Feride (22 January 2018). "Turkey's Most Striking Works of Modern Architecture". CultureTrip.com.
  3. "AKM bugün açılacaktı ama, 'polis karakolu' oldu". Hürriyet (in Turkish). 29 October 2013. Retrieved 12 February 2019.
  4. Çıplak, Ceren (21 February 2015). "Koca AKM talan edildi". Cumhuriyet (in Turkish). Retrieved 12 February 2019.
  5. Plans for Gezi Park. BBC News. Retrieved 4 June 2013
  6. "AKM'nin çatısı boşaltıldı!". Sözcü (in Turkish). 8 June 2013. Retrieved 12 February 2019.
  7. "İstanbul Atatürk Kültür Merkezi" (in Turkish). Kültür ve Turizm Bakanlığı. Retrieved 12 February 2019.
  8. "Demolishing work at Istanbul's historic Atatürk Cultural Center kicks off". Hürriyet Daily News. 14 February 2018. Retrieved 12 February 2019.
  9. "Atatürk Kültür Merkezi'nin yıkımı tamamlandı". CNN Türk (in Turkish). 30 May 2018. Retrieved 12 February 2019.
  10. "Istanbul's new cultural complex to be opened in two years". Hürriyet Daily News. 10 February 2019. Retrieved 12 February 2019.
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