By Janet Ekstract ISTANBUL- In January 2024, Istanbul Modern, an architectural marvel from famous Italian architect Renzo Piano, made it onto the WOW list – Works of Wonder, after the magazine Architectural Digest featured it in its “2024 Marvels of Architecture.” The Works of Wonder include the best new projects, selected by the international editors of Architectural Digest (AD). Istanbul Modern was also chosen as one of the “Top 20 Cultural Hot Spots” by top global editors of National Geographic this year. The museum’s architecture is unique because it was designed by Renzo Piano Building Workshop and uses aluminum as a major part of its design which wraps around the building, resembling a ship which is apropos since the striking work is situated overlooking the Bosphorous. The museum is located in the well-known Karakoy district, adjacent to Galataport, consisting of 110,000 square-feet of exhibition space for Turkish and contemporary international art.
Its interior displays giant, spacious rooms showcasing a diverse, eclectic mix of artwork, ranging from chunky sculptures, modern paintings by well-known Turkish artists to world-famous art collections and artists. Also featured are cutting-edge video art, as well. A special feature at the museum includes a rooftop café and the infinity ‘pond’ with sparkling scenes of Istanbul’s Asian side across the Bosphorous. Istanbul Modern now shares the WOW List with top cultural spots including the Folger Shakespeare Library in Washington, the Molinere Underwater Sculpture Park in the Caribbean, the Genghis Khan Museum in Mongolia, Battersea Park in London and the Royal Collections Gallery in Madrid.
