Green building certification for Istanbul Modern
Opened to visitors in 2023, Istanbul Modern's new Renzo Piano–designed building has been awarded the LEED Gold Certification by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) following an assessment process that began in 2017.
Designed by Renzo Piano Building Workshop and built with the joint contribution of Istanbul Modern's founding sponsor Eczacıbaşı Group and main sponsors Doğuş Group and Bilgili Holding, the new museum building earned the certification by meeting green building criteria such as the choice of sustainable materials, environmentally sensitive construction techniques, accessibility, minimized energy consumption and waste control.
With a 10,500-square-meter usable area, the museum building was designed and built to LEED Gold Certification standards by improving energy savings, material selection and indoor air quality performance to reduce environmental impacts.
The solar panels covering the roof of the museum's observation terrace meet 8% of the building's energy needs through renewable sources. A heating and cooling strategy accounting for the building's variable thermal mass ensures energy efficiency. An intelligent automation system further enhances heating and cooling performance.
Istanbul Modern's new museum building
With its 10,500-square-meter usable area hosting exhibitions and programs, the museum building features exhibition halls, multipurpose spaces, offices, and areas for education, cultural events and other activities. Inspired by the shimmering reflections of the Bosphorus, the building's façade — clad in three-dimensionally shaped aluminum panels — creates a play of light and shadow with the sunlight and water reflections changing throughout the day. To create more space for visitors, the ground floor is free of charge and includes a library, information points, education workshops, a café and a shop. The transparency of the ground floor continues into the upper-level foyers, keeping visitors in constant visual interaction with the building's surroundings. The first floor houses a photography gallery, temporary exhibition hall, education and event rooms, and a restaurant with a terrace overlooking the Bosphorus and the historic peninsula, as in Istanbul Modern's former Antrepo building. The museum's collection and temporary exhibition halls are on the second floor. Located at the unique meeting point of the Bosphorus and the Golden Horn, Istanbul Modern offers a one-of-a-kind viewing experience by uniting the sea with the city's reflection thanks to a reflecting pool covering the entire roof and a platform placed above it.
