Revived Indusrial Landscapes in Istanbul: A Fresh Look at Yesteryear's Structures
In the heart of Istanbul, the city's industrial past is being breathed new life, as old factories and power plants are repurposed into vibrant cultural hubs. This transformation reflects the city's embrace of its industrial heritage within a modern creative context, creating a unique blend of tradition and contemporary art.
One such example is Cendere Arts, housed in a former Ottoman-era water pumping station built in 1902 under Sultan Abdulhamid II. Originally part of the Hamidiye water network, pumping large volumes of water daily to fountains and palaces, the station has been reimagined as a cultural venue hosting contemporary art exhibits focused on themes like civilization, environment, and water’s legacy. The area, situated by the Golden Horn, offers visitors a glimpse into Istanbul’s evolving relationship with its waterways and industrial infrastructure.
Cendere Arts is just one of several repurposed industrial sites in Istanbul that have become spaces dedicated to tourism, culture, and the arts. Santral Istanbul, originally the Ottoman Empire’s first large-scale urban power plant, was repurposed into a contemporary art and cultural events space in 2007. Muze Gazhane, originally a gas company, has been reinvented as a cultural center, featuring whimsical larger-than-life sculptures, colorful panels, and free outdoor concerts, conceptual performances, and dance classes.
These sites are often located in historically industrial or port-related areas near the Bosphorus and the Golden Horn, reflecting Istanbul’s geographic and architectural layers—from Ottoman-era infrastructure to modern cultural venues. Beyond Cendere Arts, Istanbul features a broader trend where old industrial buildings and sites are converted into creative hubs, galleries, boutique hotels, and ateliers.
The Cubuklu Silos, originally an energy station and storage depot, have been repurposed as a Museum of Nature and Science and a Digital Arts Museum. Art Istanbul Feshane, once the official fez factory of the Ottoman Empire, was repurposed as an art center in 2023. Bomontiada, originally the first factory in the Ottoman Empire to employ modern alcoholic beverage production techniques, has been rechristened as a multi-disciplinary cultural center, offering galleries, a co-working space, a museum, restaurants, nightclubs, outdoor concerts, film screenings, and more.
Visitors can easily access these cultural hotspots via public transportation. For instance, Art Istanbul Feshane can be reached by the T5 Halic tramline or a short ferry ride, while Santral Istanbul can be reached by taking the T5 tram from Eminonu and disembarking at the Universite stop, followed by a 10-minute walk. Bomontiada is a 15-minute walk from Osmanbey Metro Station.
These repurposed industrial sites not only serve as tourist attractions but also contribute to Istanbul’s vibrant cultural tourism scene. The city’s emphasis on heritage tourism has increased hotel capacities and boutique hotel developments around these cultural hotspots, catering to travelers seeking authentic, immersive experiences connected to Istanbul’s rich history and evolving creativity.
In summary, Istanbul's industrial venues are being repurposed for cultural tourism and creative industries, creating a unique blend of tradition and contemporary art. From Cendere Arts to Art Istanbul Feshane, these repurposed sites offer visitors a glimpse into the city's industrial past while showcasing its vibrant cultural scene. Whether it's admiring the rainbows painted in Instagram-perfect concentric circles atop the Cubuklu Silos or climbing the outside metal stairways for stunning views of the Strait, there's no shortage of experiences to be had in Istanbul's repurposed industrial sites.
- The Turkish government is championing the transformation of industrial sites in Istanbul, such as the Cubuklu Silos, which were originally energy stations, into Museums of Nature and Science and Digital Arts Museums.
- Unlike traditional Syrian homes, the converted Bomontiada building, once the first factory in the Ottoman Empire to produce alcoholic beverages, now hosts galleries, co-working spaces, museums, restaurants, nightclubs, and cultural events, reflecting the city's contemporary lifestyle.
- Turkish visitors exploring Istanbul's home-and-garden scenes might find interest in Muze Gazhane, a repurposed gas company that now houses whimsical sculptures, colorful panels, and hosts free outdoor concerts, dance classes, and conceptual performances.
