Grimshaw’s major new art museum in Istanbul opens its doors to world

The new Arter contemporary art museum in Istanbul, designed by Grimshaw, has opened its doors to the public. A subsidiary of Turkey’s philanthropic Vehbi Koç Foundation, Arter is a vibrant cultural hub that brings together artists and audiences to celebrate contemporary art in all its forms and disciplines. Conceived as a dynamic multi-layered, interdisciplinary public building for showcasing Arter’s collection of artistic works, it offers a rich cultural programme, enhancing, stimulating and challenging audiences’ experience and impressions.

Arter provides an important contribution to Turkey’s cultural life, enriched by the opportunities the building and its diverse programme creates. Following selection to deliver their competition-winning project for Arter, Grimshaw led a multi-disciplinary team in addressing the scale, complexity and aspiration of the design and build process, including Istanbul’s Turgut Alton Architects and other local consultants, specialists and contractors. In articulating Vehbi Koç’s vision for social responsibility, Grimshaw’s design for Arter hinges around spaces designed to promote access for everyone, both within and outside of the museum. Derived from concepts of transparency and fluidity, inspiring and adaptive public spaces are at its heart, with carefully positioned large picture windows used as a way of opening the building to the street connecting the gallery to the city. This connectivity provides continuous links between Istanbul, the museum and its art.

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