Istanbul, Turkey

Commissioned by Divan Hotel Group, Gokhan Avcioglu of GAD Architecture and DS Architecture have restored the Divan Kurucesme and created an exclusive event space, located on one of the most popular shorelines of Istanbul with the most impressive Bosphorus view.

The overall silhouette, its harmony with its surroundings, and the nature of the project designed in Kurucesme, one of the most important and historical neighborhoods of Istanbul have been taken as its essential features.

The project has been awarded a 2023 International Architecture Award from The Chicago Athenaeum and The European Centre for Architecture Art Design and Urban Studies.

Divan Kurucesme has been formed as a new cluster of vaults while the existing underground areas, cisterns, retaining walls, and terrace gardens formed from the shore elevation towards the upper elevations were kept as they are.

The 1000-person multi-purpose hall for events has been inserted into the existing fabric.

Two parking floors under sea level and service areas are also within the scope of the project.

There are also, drop-off and pick-up areas brought inside not to interfere with the busy flow of traffic during events, lobby, lounge, cocktail, reception, exhibition, and special meeting areas.

During the excavations, some remains of a hammam and an outbuilding have been found and they were preserved both in their existing elevations and other terraces to be exhibited openly their main traces have been indicated with different colors on the poured terrazzo floors.

In Divan Kurucesme attention was paid to the expression of the elements such as the original walls and vaults and how they are perceived by the environment.

Moreover, these elements are to be actively protected by being a part of the new function.

When the large event space was designed, it was based on the proportions of the existing historical walls.

The existing walls were emphasized both in interior and exterior design making them a part of the design.

The roofs of the technical areas are designed as green terraces in order to extend the continuity of the green fabric.

With the light shafts between the roof cover the daylight is moved into the event space.

The wood on the interior roof cover balances the acoustics.

Attention was paid to the materials to be sustainable and local especially the old masonry walls repaired from the original remains found from the excavation on site.

Project: DIVAN Kurucesme
Architects: GAD Architecture
Lead Architect: Gokhan Avcioglu
Restoration Specialists: Gülsün Tanyeli, Şevket Dönmez, Hayri Fehmi Yılmaz, Feridun Çılı, and Sait Başaran
Interior Architects: Sinan Kafadar – METEX
Landscape Architects: DS Architecture
General Contractor: Ark İnsaat
Client: Divan Group
Photographers: Cemal Emden and Gizem Geylan