Vakko Administration Building
Istanbul, Türkiye
An ingenious example of adaptive reuse, this combined headquarters and events/exhibitions venue was built around the concrete shell of a hotel abandoned during construction over two decades earlier. Due to uncertainty over the shell’s dynamic response, the interior and facade had to be structurally independent of it. The interior system comprises steel boxes that can be assembled in myriad configurations. Each pane of the ultra-thin wrap-around glass facade has a structural ‘X’ slumped into it, and is attached to the skeleton with four pins, allowing the facade to survive an earthquake. The fabrication process took advantage of Turkey’s unique stage of development, combining new technology with the continued availability of inexpensive skilled labour.

Source: Aga Khan Trust for Culture
Location
Istanbul, Türkiye
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Events
2010
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