The Golden Horn Library

The Golden Horn Library is across the Historical Peninsula overlooking the seven hills of Istanbul where each hill is crowned by a monument. These seven hills represent the old Constantinople surrounded by the historic city walls. Today the view of dancing domes over the seven hills including the iconic Galata Tower view which is across from the Peninsula represent the silhouette of the city.
The Project aims to be an instrument to connect the symbols of the city on both sides of The Golden Horn. It radiates the energy to the city rather than funneling all the energy to itself.
The Library was conceived almost like a floating “Turkish carpet” shaped by the context. The axiality of the seven hills pointing towards the Galata Tower formed the roofscape. The three prominent hills that have clear visual contact created the roofscape that house all the library and learning center functions. The rest of the hills which are farther away and have less visual contact helped the building make a smooth transition with the landscape functioning almost like a plinth acting as an intermediary public area between the inside and outside.
Sectionally and proportionally the nearby Azapkapi Sokullu Mosque by the great architect Sinan was used as a precedent where its prayer hall is lifted up almost floating over the city level keeping inside away from the noise of the busy city. This strategy was also used to keep the noise away from the library learning center space which is also lifted. The noisier ground level houses all services including an auditorium, a spiraling children’s library and a restaurant.
The Golden Horn Library is a beacon to the knowledge of the city of Istanbul. The building becomes a tool of education of the city itself by actively experiencing its hidden treasures.

Site Area: 8,300 m2
Built up Area: 4,515 m2
Volume: 28,110 m3

Principle Architect: Alper Aytac
Project Team: Hanse Yalcinkaya, Liying Wang
Landscape: Gulsen Aytac
3d Visuals: Teras
Model Photos: Orhan Kolukisa

The Golden Horn Library by Alper Aytac in Turkey won the WA Award Cycle 37. Please find below the WA Award poster for this project.