since Alexandre Vallaury’s neoclassic Istanbul Archeology
Museum constructed in 1891. While a number of recently
opened private museums in Turkey such as Salt, Arter
and Istanbul Modern are mostly adaptive reuse projects,
transforming existing buildings into museums and
galleries; The Istanbul Naval Museum project is distinctive
as a completely new museum construction. Furthermore,
the Istanbul Naval Museum is particularly important for
being the first public museum built in Turkey after more
than 100 years. One of the architects of the museum Ertuğ
Uçar explains the importance of the project this way: “The
Naval Museum, being the first contemporary museum
built for a historic collection, will perhaps be the first
public building built on the shores of Bosphorus since the
bridges [spanning the strait].”
The museum is also significant because it is a rare public
museum set among numerous luxurious hotels on the
shores of the Bosphorus in this central area of the city. The
museum located in Beşiktaş, one of the most important
transportation hubs of Istanbul, is a dense vehicular,
boat and pedestrian heavy traffic area known for its
traditional neighborhood patterns and lively marketplace.
The location of the museum is also critical due to the
recent transformation of the area’s character including the
renovation of the neighboring building, a historic tobacco
warehouse turned into a hotel and the re-assignment
of the Dolmabahçe Muhasiban apartments as part of the
Dolmabahçe Museum to the Istanbul offices of the Prime
Minister. The changes in the public sphere in the environs
of Beşiktaş include the high level of security and police
presence in the area due to the opening of the Prime
Minister’s office increased markedly during the protests
OCAK - ŞUBAT 2014 / JANUARY - FEBRUARY 2014 • NATURA 75