Atatürk Cultural Center, also simply called AKM, is a cultural center in Istanbul. As the focal point of Taksim Square, it is not only a multi-purpose cultural center and opera house, but an icon of Istanbul. The AKM is considered an important example of Turkish architecture from the 1960s.
History
Two Turkish architects, Feridun Kip and Rüknettin Güney, proposed the building of the center on May 29, 1946, and work began on the building's foundation until funding was halted in 1953. In 1956, construction resumed with Hayati Tabanlıoğlu as the architect. The building, originally called the Istanbul Culture Palace, was finished after 13 years and was dedicated on April 12, 1969, twenty-three years after the 1946 proposal. However, a fire broke out 19 months later on November 27, 1970, during a performance of Arthur Miller's play The Crucible. There was no loss of life in the fire but with the building IV. A part of the goods brought from the Topkapı Palace also burned for the play of Murad. The source of the fire could not be detected. By June 2008, the cultural center was taken out of use for renovations. The center has been closed since then, when a major refurbishment to bring the building up to date before Istanbul took over the title of European Capital of Culture in 2010. The AKM is a model of environmentally friendly preservation. The main visible addition are the louvers onto the aluminum façade as part of the energy-saving design strategy. The modernization works were designed by renowned Turkish architecture firm Tabanlıoğlu Mimarlık. The Board for the Protection of Cultural Property decided on 31 December 2009 that the building has to be renovated as it stands. On 9 April 2012, a tender was held for the renovation project. The re-opening of the AKM was planned for 29 October 2013, the Republic Day. The renovation cost budget amounted to 70 million. The project was stopped, however, in May 2013. That year, it was reported that the AKM is to be demolished as part of the proposed redevelopment plans for the Taksim Gezi Park and Taksim Square area and replace it with another opera house and a mosque. During the Gezi Park protests, which began on 28 May 2013, a great number of protesters went up in the night to the roof of the AKM with torches. Due to risk of collapse, the roof was evacuated. The police occupied the empty building and set it up as a logistic center. By February 2015, it came out that the 7-year-long empty building was 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 under police protection.
Complex
The AKM is built on a ground of and has a building plan area of with a useful area of. The complex comprises the "Grand Stage", a hall with a 1,317 total seat capacity hosting theater acts of Turkish State Theatres and performances of the Turkish State Opera and Ballet, and the "Concert Hall", a second hall with a capacity of 502 seats for concerts, meetings and conferences as well as an exhibition hall of at the entrance. There are also the "Chamber Theatre" with 296 seats, "Aziz Nesin Stage" with 190 seats and a cinema hall with 206 seats. Until 2008, the center has been the home to the
During the summer and Information months, AKM has hosted the Istanbul Arts and Culture Festival.
New building
For the construction of a new building to replace the original AKM, demolition works began on 13 February 2018, after it was abandoned ten years before. The demolition completed after nearly three and half months on 30 May the same year. On 10 February 2019, construction of the new complex began with a groundbreaking ceremony attended by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. The new cultural complex will comprise five sections having a total area of. It will feature in addition to theatre, cinema and concert halls, an exhibition center, a convention hall, a library, a museum, an art gallery, cafés and restaurants. The architect of the new building is Murat Tabanlıoğlu, the son of Hayati Tabanlıoğlu, who designed the AKM built in 1969. The construction is planned to last 20 months. Its cost is budgeted to 850 million.
