Museum, Istanbul

Museum

ISTANBUL (TR) - From the famous Taksim Square, one of the main centres of Istanbul, one can go in many directions, including Istiklal Caddesi, which is the busiest pedestrian area of the city and full of 19th- and 20th-century Art Nouveau and Art Deco apartment blocks. Here, too, are many surviving examples of the architecture of the early republican period. Ayse Orbay's Ercümend Kalmik Foundation Museum is an interesting example of a restoration and renovation project. Behind an existing 19th-century wooden house, Orbay designed an extension that houses the gallery and workshop sections of this small museum. The extension is a unique piece and its many small details and careful selection of materials is reminiscent of the work of Carlo Scarpa. It is advisable to call ahead if you want to see the museum, since it is not always open to public.