Istanbul Bilgi University seeked for the renovation of Silahtaraga Power Plant, a typical modern industrial setting formed between 1910’s and 1950’s, to be transformed into a museum, recreational and educational center. This institution covers a site of 107.000 m², between the rivers Alibeykoy and Kagithane, at the end of Golden Horn that had been the center and main scene of Istanbul for many centuries, discredited and become worn from the end of 19th century to 1990’s and that has started to glare once again with many projects after being rediscovered in last decades.

Among the various buildings that were dealt with in this context, the two large boiler houses, that were demolished years ago and of which only foundation traces existed, were handled with an interpretation that implied to their new function, in a way of abstraction in the design. The two buildings, that were detached but stood very close to each other to complete the surrounding building mass, were planned in a way proper to the volumetric existence of their older functions, but with a kind of “timeless” approach on surface qualities in contrast to habitual attempt of being contemporary holding just the current architectural specifications and being disintegrated from the historical context it stands.

Just like the old buildings, new structures are composed of a dense and heavy inner core and a light, semi-transparent exterior sheathing that covers the core without touching to the possible extend. A metal mesh that homogenizes the sense of the whole building is simply placed on the concrete base. It was considered that the buildings should evoke a kind of insignificance by intervening into the aura of the environment at daytime, but should turn out to be a simple lighthouse that makes the metal mesh invisible at night time.