The Çubuklu oil silos, constructed in the 1950s and left abandoned for decades, have long stood as striking yet neglected structures along the Bosphorus. They serve as distant reminders of the city’s industrial past. These silos are significant as “memory spaces,” embodying the structural traces of industrial history and reflecting the social, cultural, and economic dynamics of the era they represent. Designed initially as specialized storage facilities, the silos played a crucial role in meeting the city’s energy needs for many years before becoming obsolete.
This project aims to reclaim the oil silos through a thorough restoration and adaptive reuse process, transforming them into vibrant public spaces that honor their historical context while enhancing both Istanbul’s industrial heritage and the Bosphorus landscape.
Guided by an extensive master plan, the silos and adjacent warehouses have been repurposed into dynamic spaces for cultural, social, and recreational activities accessible to the public. Their monumental forms and industrial identity provide flexibility to accommodate various functions, including a digital art museum, a nature and science museum, a library, workshops, performance stages, event spaces, restaurants, cafes, and a children’s and art center. Architectural elements such as voids, shadows, structural depths, steel structures, stairs, and bridges enrich the spatial experience, turning the silos into living exhibits of industrial heritage.
In addition to their interior uses, the silos integrate seamlessly with their steel shells and the surrounding coastal ecosystem. Circulation elements like stairs, bridges, and public terraces redefine urban connections between the Bosphorus and the city.
This transformation exemplifies a harmonious blend of preservation and innovation, demonstrating how architecture can connect history with modern urban life. Once passive and isolated, the Çubuklu silos have been revitalized into dynamic, inclusive, and inviting spaces, symbolizing Istanbul’s evolving identity and presenting a new face to the Bosphorus.
