SO? Architecture and Ideas’ Sky Spotting Stop has been announced as winner of the 2013 Young Architects Program (YAP) Istanbul Modern in Turkey. Similar to its counterparts - CODA’s skateboard scrap Party Wall in New York and bam!’s buoyant installation He at MAXXI - the shady escape will be constructed in late June in the Istanbul Modern’s courtyard, offering refuge from the busy streets of Istanbul while overlooking the mouth of the Bosphorus.
More on ‘Sky Spotting Stop’ after the break...
Sky Spotting Stop is a temporary site-specific installation that shades the courtyard of Istanbul Modern while floating gently on the hidden waters of the Bosphorus, projecting its host space upon the city and claiming a part in the historic skyline. Istanbul Modern’s courtyard is partly isolated from urban flow despite its very central location; thanks to this ephemeral, albeit lively addition, which will serve as an intriguing spot for the museum’s exterior. While the illuminated mirror plates create a constantly changing background for events at night, they provide undulating shadows during the day. On the ground, an altering landscape made of mobile reused elements transforms the courtyard into a new stop in the city for sitting, resting, gathering, playing, or “skyspotting.”
The president of the jury, Suha Özkan stated: “The project is a celebration of movement and light. Fragmentation of the canopy into individual circular panels transforms the movement of the reflected light into poetic waves of light and shade. Patches of reflected light dancing in the dark and shadows that float during the day add amazing vitality to the environment. The multiple functions of the fragmented canopy render the project rich, engaging and playful. The continuous movement of the buoyed posts supporting the circular canopies reproduces the sound and image of the ships moored to the quay and establishes an exciting association between the two different types of posts. The harmony of the posts on land and sea generates a fascinating dialogue.
"The project is feasible and carries no financial risks of exceeding the allocated budget. The engagement of local industrial groups and the utilization of local and used materials were noted as positive aspects.The originality of the selected project will contribute to the aesthetic world of architecture and design.”
The program is carried out by Istanbul Modern in partnership with the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) / MoMA PS1 and co-sponsored by Polimeks and VitrA.
The jury was formed by architectural experts, representatives from Istanbul Modern and the other Young Architects Programs.
2013 Jury of Istanbul Modern:
- Emre Arolat (architect)
- Çelenk Bafra (Curator, Istanbul Modern)
- Barry Bergdoll (The Philip Johnson Chief Curator of Architecture and Design, MoMA), Pippo Ciorra (Senior Curator, MAXXI Architettura)
- Levent Çalıkoğlu (Chief Curator, Istanbul Modern)
- Pelin Derviş (YAP Istanbul Modern Coordinator)
- Oya Eczacıbaşı (Chair of the Board, Istanbul Modern)
- Cevdet Erek (artist / architect), Pedro Gadanho (Curator of Contemporary Architecture, MoMA)
- Prof. Suha Özkan (President of the Jury / architect)
- Melkan Tabanlıoğlu (architect)
- Han Tümertekin (architect)
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