P.S.1 was founded in 1971 by Alanna Heiss as the Institute for Art and Urban Resources Inc., an organization devoted to organizing exhibitions in underutilized and abandoned spaces across New York City. In 1976, P.S.1 opened its first major exhibition in its permanent location in Long Island City, Queens, with the seminal Rooms exhibition. An invitation for artists to transform the building’s unique spaces, Rooms established the P.S.1 tradition of transforming the building’s spaces into site-specific art that continues today with long-term installations by James Turrell, Keith Sonnier, Richard Serra, Lawrence Weiner, and others.

For the next twenty years, the building was used as studio, performance, and exhibition spaces, in support of artists from around the world. After a building-wide renovation, P.S.1 reopened in 1997, confirming its position as the leading contemporary art center in New York. True to the building’s history and form, the renovation preserved much of the original architecture as well as most of its unique classroom-sized galleries. In 2000, P.S.1 became an affiliate of the Museum of Modern Art to extend the reach of both institutions, and combine P.S.1’s contemporary mission with MoMA’s strength as one of the greatest collecting museums of modern art.

Borusan Music and Art Center designed by Gokhan Avcioglu and GAD is in the historic neighborhood Beyoglu, Istanbul. The building is a multi-purpose space for exhibitions, events, rehearsals and various other cultural training programs. This new culture center symbolizes the cultural and arts renaissance presently occurring throughout the city while also preserving the architectural legacy of Istanbul.

GAD’s design preserves and restores the historic shell of the existing building; the shell is typical of the facades along the famous Istiklal Caddesi. The building core is completely removed to express an empty void. In a clever move, GAD inserts a contrasting contemporary ‘box’ within the core.  The inserted ‘box’ seems to almost defy gravity as it plays off and is framed by the historic masonry shell. The architectural symbiosis of the two contrasting construction methods and materials activates a playful tension between past and present

www.borusansanat.com

photos by Ahmet Ertug and Ozlem Avcioglu

Changa is an internationally acclaimed restaurant in Istanbul. Opened in 1999, Changa is a renovation and transformation project of an 1903 Art Nouveau building into a contemporary restaurant with four floors of dining and bar designed by Gokhan Avcioglu.

The new restaurant, which has received much critical acclaim for its design and food, retains the original architectural features such as the wrought iron-gate at the entrance, sash windows on the front of the building, the floor tiles and the ornate moldings, which decorate the ceilings. However, the insertion of contemporary interventions, gives the building a new function. The primary alteration is the addition of an annex in the form of a container that has been placed on top of the back of the original building creating three extra floors of dining, with a private, self-contained office and apartment on top. A spiral staircase, seamlessly slotted into the core of the space creates a central access point to all areas of the building. Changa’’s menu is created by famed chef Peter Gordon of The Sugar Club.

Among all Joël Robuchon restaurants we like L’Atelier most, because it offers haute cuisine around a circular bar overlooking to an open kitchen with 36 seats. This allows you to follow the service, to watch the preparation of the dishes, and to compose your own meal according to your appetite, as the menu offers all the great classics to taste in small, tapas-style portions. The interior design has been created in such a fashion, leaving the focus solely on the food . The décor consist of the basic ingredients of Robuchon’s kitchen, with large glass jars accentuating the raw colors of fruits and vegetables.

The tasting menu is the best choice since the intensely flavored recipes work better in smaller portions. (A portion of sea urchin intricately fixed in lobster gelée, foie gras–stuffed quail,  slices of Kobe beef,  truffled mashed potatoes are some of the dishes) They all are heavenly tasty. A large choice of carefully selected very good wines are also available by the glass..

L’Atelier is very innovative and it is best to go there by yourself or as a couple to enjoy only the food…Also due to the way the restaurant is set out, it is not advisable to go with a party larger than four.
The only problem you will face is that tables can only be booked for 6:30 p.m. If you choose to dine later, odds are you’ll wind up waiting for an hour or more in the next bar..But it is worth the wait..

Kuum is not only a hotel, but like  a small settlement that has opened in 2008 in Bodrum, an international destination renowned for its wonderful climate, turquoise waters and cosmopolitan atmosphere. It is like  a small village with its hotel-houses, two restaurants, shops, 300 meter long beach and spa..Kuum Hotel and Spa  consist of a 66 room Hotel, a Spa which will be run by Anantara.

Bodrum is a Mediterranean port-trade settlement in the Southwest of Turkey. The area boasts a rich history of over three thousand years, including Hellenistic times. The venerated scientist Heredot was born there and sculptures by artists including Leochares, Bryaxis, and Timotheos were exhibited there and can now be found in museum collections around the world.

Kuum is an innovative concept for boutique lifestyle and hotels and designed by Gokhan Avcioglu and GAD.  The architecture for KUUM was inspired by the regional beauty, resources and historical legacy of southwestern Turkey and the Aegean Sea.  GAD’s aim was to design the units in harmony with their natural setting so they blend in and do not harm the environment or call for any trees to be destroyed. Each unit of the hotel is modeled and designed with the flexibility to have the beautiful view of the bay..The rooms are designed as S, M, L and XL and even the Small room is 30 square meter and each room has either a terrace or private garden.

The hotel’s Balikci restaurant is at the seaside on the end of 300 meter long beach and  serves the freshest fish and all kinds of fish snacks.  While you eat your fish caught that morning you can swing your feet in the water..

Photos by Leo Fabrizio, Ozlem Avcioglu, Ali Bekman

We love Bombay Electric because it shows us how the  Indian’s fashion and design will effect the world in the near future.  Located opposite the five star Taj Mahal Palace and Towers and Gateway of India on “the Bond Street of Mumbai”, and yet a stone throw away from a busy vegetable market and street food stalls, Bombay Electric is housed in a beautiful historic heritage building.  A restoration and redesign project exposed ‘antique futuristic’ interiors featuring original tree-sized teak beams, a present from the King of Burma, coupled with sculptural white racks and industrial aluminum trunks.

The store represents the most promising talent of India’s creative explosion. Since being “the first concept store in India”, and named as “the city’s most cutting edge designer boutique”, Bombay Electric has grown into a landmark for progressive design in India.Bombay Electric features the best of established Indian designers such as Manish Arora and Rajesh Pratap Singh, and is known as the first to spot and nurture rising Indian talent. The Indian based fashion collection shares the space with a curated selection of international design brands, such as Comme des Garcons and United Nude, rare gems, antique tribal jewelry, hand woven scarves, cashmere, limited edition & vintage pieces.

Bombay Electric regularly holds photography exhibitions, concerts, and launch parties in its palm tree lined outdoor courtyard. The progressive clientele of architects, musicians and artists allow Bombay Electric to be a living, breathing, changing organism.

Make a reservation at Peninsula Tokyo

The Peninsula Tokyo is a hotel located at Yurakucho, Marunouchi, is unique, adjoining the Imperial Gardens, which makes for impressive views during the daytime and the rare (for Tokyo) sight of complete darkness at night. You’re close by to the Ginza shopping district, but slightly removed from it all, and public transportation is no problem — though as long as you’re living it up, there’s a fleet of BMWs and Rolls-Royces at guests’ disposal.

The look is a bit on the conservative side, but that doesn’t mean dull. It’s quite a bit livelier and more inspired than the typical luxury fare, contemporary and a bit timeless, avoiding trendiness today so that it won’t look dated tomorrow.

Along with stunning views, the rooms come with all the high-tech conveniences and low-tech creature comforts you’d expect from a top-flight hotel. Simply put, it’s the five-star hotel the way it should to be. Particularly  is the 24th-floor restaurant, as glamorous a dining setting as any in Tokyo, with views that have to be seen to be believed. 

Make a reservation at Peninsula Tokyo