Architecture from Within

Architecture from the inside out. No, I do not mean the internal workings of architects, nor the petty squabbles of the studio; I refer to the view afforded by one’s own window.

We are, by nature, trained to judge buildings by their exteriors—by their silhouettes, their facades, and the rigour of their masonry. We speak of interiors with a certain weary condescension, as if demoting a Fine Art to a mere Applied one; it is no longer ‘Architecture,’ we sigh, but merely ‘design.’ And the view from the window, as an architectural element, is left to languish somewhere on the periphery of our regard, quite forgotten.

Istanbul’s Relief vs The Flatland

Meanwhile, in a city as ancient, densely compacted, and delightfully tangled as Istanbul—a city whose street grid seems to have been designed by a cartographer under the influence of strong Turkish coffee—it is often quite difficult to view a building in its entirety from the outside. However, this very relief provides that which, in the stubbornly flat expanses of many European capitals, drives the populace to scale towers and domes or embark upon roof-walking: namely, perspective and panorama. And it must be said, the better architects understand this implicitly.

The Museum Accents of Galataport

In the perennially fashionable precinct of Galataport, two museums now hold court. The first, the widely heralded Istanbul Modern, bears a striking resemblance to a maritime terminal and makes excellent use of its promenade position, effectively treating its windows as gilded frames for the Bosphorus. The second, while perhaps less aggressively promoted, is no less intriguing: the Museum of Painting and Sculpture of the Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University. Situated in a former port warehouse tucked away from the main thoroughfare, it has wagered its appeal on the atmospheric vistas of Galata.

Art History within Warehouse Walls

If you are a resident of Istanbul, or merely a frequent visitor, you have, in all likelihood, already made the pilgrimage to the Museum of Modern Art. But what of the second? If you have not yet crossed its threshold, I implore you to do so. The exposition, methodically and impeccably curated, offers a rare opportunity to trace the trajectory of Turkish national art, from the twilight of the Empire to the present day. This is, of course, entirely to be expected; the university that founded the institution remains, effectively, the sole specialist establishment of such magnitude within the country.

Gastronomy and Panoramas

However, even if one’s interest in the fine arts is, at best, a casual flirtation, one should still venture inside—if only for a cup of coffee at the local EspressoLab and the aforementioned panoramic windows. Yet, should you require sustenance of a more substantial nature, I would suggest dining at the Museum of Modern Art instead; it possesses not only the view, but a kitchen of truly superlative quality.