Abandoned Buildings of Istanbul – Data Gathering – Hotel Building in Şişhane

This small abandoned building would not have catched our attention if it wasn't for its unique location. Şişhane is a small neighborhood located in the heart of Istanbul. If one arrives in Istanbul and is taken directly to Şişhane, one might believe he/she is in any european city. The oppulence and beauty of its earlyContinue reading "Abandoned Buildings of Istanbul – Data Gathering – Hotel Building in Şişhane"

Istanbul Life Interview

Don't let it rot. Save it. By Burak Kuru You have been living in Istanbul for a while, for about 5 years, what was your reason for coming to Istanbul? Can you give us some information about yourself? Actually, it is now more than 6 years since I came to Istanbul in the summer ofContinue reading "Istanbul Life Interview"

The SBC Project – A Never Ending Story

The Soundtrack for Big Cities project took off more than one week ago and it was incredible to observe our readers enthusiasm in suggesting more and more tunes for big or small, real or imagined cities. The virtual limits of the large cities we first foresaw expanded to whole regions but also focused in smallContinue reading "The SBC Project – A Never Ending Story"

Soundtrack for Big Cities

Cities, as one of the most complex and organic synthesis of human manifestation, offer the best and the worst of what mankind has ever conceived and wanted to express in material and immaterial ways. From the shaping of social altruistic ideals to the most narcissistic despotic purposes; from city planning aimed to shape a betterContinue reading "Soundtrack for Big Cities"

HAPPY 2021. STAY STRONG. STAY KOLLECTIVE.

2020 was a test to human kind. The year we didn't expect to live. Slowly, we adapted and found ways to pull through such hard times. One of them was building ARKollective. Through the last 8 months, since ARKollective went online, we tried to decipher and understand the impacts of the pandemic in design, architectureContinue reading "HAPPY 2021. STAY STRONG. STAY KOLLECTIVE."

The Dream of the Green – Part 1

Hospital Facade refurbishment Frankfurt, Image © Claus Spix During the last century huge efforts have been made with political reforms and medical research. As we learned at school, as a consequence of this the world population has begun to grow steadily more than 120 years ago and it is this still without reaching its peak.Continue reading "The Dream of the Green – Part 1"

Abandoned Buildings of Istanbul – Data Gathering – The Botter Apartments

We might say that the Botter apartment building falls into a different category of the Abandoned Buildings of Istanbul. All of the previously analyzed buildings were built in the final years of the XX century and either left abandoned during the construction process or never used after finished. In this case, we are talking aboutContinue reading "Abandoned Buildings of Istanbul – Data Gathering – The Botter Apartments"

Covid Homes

Back to the Same Most of us would not have expected that after the first lockdowns, happening in mid-March this year, we would be almost in the same circumstances nine months later. Unfortunately the vaccine we all hoped for is not yet found and the measures implemented by most countries didn't work has effectively asContinue reading "Covid Homes"

Abandoned Buildings of Istanbul – Data Gathering – The Sancaktepe Towers

The Sancaktepe Tower complex is a mistery on the landscape of abandoned structures in Istanbul. Very few information could be gathered about this large unfinished construction located in the Asian side of the city. The excelent location of the Sancaktepe Towers in the TEM highway. Searching the internet, we identified the complex as the headquarterContinue reading "Abandoned Buildings of Istanbul – Data Gathering – The Sancaktepe Towers"

Of Churches Changing into Mosques

Man’s hand On the House of God A lot has been said and discussed this year of 2020 about the Hagya Sophia temple (Ayasofya) in Istanbul becoming a mosque once again. It was not the first time that there was a swap in the creed that would be worshiped within its walls.  This magnificent andContinue reading "Of Churches Changing into Mosques"