Ara Güler Museum + Leica Showroom + Monochrome Brasserie

Istanbul has a new urban architecture attraction located on a stretch of the city’s famous coastline over a kilometre long. Developed a few years ago, Galataport is not just a cruise terminal it also houses shops, restaurants and cultural institutions on an area of 400,000 sqm. The designers at Wangan Studios who worked on the project Ara Güler Museum + Leica Showroom + Monochrome Brasserie faced the unusual challenge of orchestrating the harmonious conjunction of three different companies, each with their own specific brand values, functions and corporate identities, on an area of 435 sqm. They decided to use the commonalities of the brands to create a basis for an experience story that could accommodate each of their unique qualities, while blending them into a harmonious whole. The uniting element in the clearly structured and functional space was inspired by the mechanism that opens a camera lens. This sculptural mass at the centre of the space accommodates the kitchen area of Monochrome Brasserie, seamlessly transitioning to the Ara Güler Museum exhibition area and the Leica sales cabinets. This approach made it possible to create a coherent story and to integrate a space-dividing element that effectively unites the various functional areas into a unified visitor experience. The jurors were very impressed by this solution: “The project uses a central element to combine three very different spaces in a surprising way. It’s a great three-dimensional representation of a Leica camera lens in terms of aesthetics and quality. The individual ceiling and floor designs of the different sub-areas contribute to overall visual clarity.” For each of the sub-areas, the designers meticulously selected different materials and developed individual lighting scenarios to subtly yet clearly emphasise the independence of each of the brands. They focused on the concept of unity and coexistence, rather than making compromises. The jurors also applauded the designers’ intention to use photography as the point of departure.