Istanbul Snapshot is a photography gallery that is located in the heart of Istanbul that is Kurucesme. The gallery is aiming to take notice of people living in these seemingly boundless cities and how they are dwarfed by their scale. The building takes inspiration from many artists and media that handles this subject such as the work of Tadao Ando and the movie Blade Runner.

 

The design of the building revolved around two aspects scale and light. The use of a polished concrete finish gives the building a solid look which exaggerates the scale and perpetuates the monumental feelings of cities. Light has always been and still is a mystery to mankind, it is how a photo is created through the exposure of light; as a result, it was key to carefully think about openings in the building and where they are located. Through the use of meticulously placed openings, a dramatic effect was achieved similar to the ones used in baroque churches to perpetuate a feeling of holiness and grandeur.

 

The gallery was designed to have an open plan and have a very large open space in the middle of the building for exhibitions that may be carried out , this design choice is accompanied by the use of a ramp system that creates platforms on different levels that define spaces both on the upper side and on the bottom , this brings structure to the open plan while still conserving the open area.

 

The design includes an auditorium, a library, a restaurant and gardens open for public use. These spaces were very integral to the design as Istanbul Snapshot aspires to be not only a gallery a but a fully equipped centre for anyone to come and work, socialise and get educated. The auditorium is a big part of the exterior as its glass facade, inspired by the horn of a rhinoceros beetle , attracts the attention of anyone that passes by.