ISTANBUL
Open House ISTANBUL
6-9 May 2027
Video by Cagatay Yigit
About Open House Istanbul
Istanbul, built on seven hills and spanning two continents—Asia and Europe—has been shaped by centuries of cultural exchange and urban transformation, from Byzantium and the Ottoman Empire to the modern Republic. Its architecture reflects this layered history, where different communities, periods, and ways of life have left their mark on the city. Home to more than 16 million people, Istanbul is one of the world’s most complex and dynamic urban environments. Imperial monuments, nineteenth-century apartment buildings, wooden island mansions, and contemporary projects coexist within the same urban landscape.
Hosted by the Architectural Education Association (ArchED), Open House Istanbul is the first festival in Türkiye to be part of the global Open House Worldwide network. In 2027 under the theme “Modern Istanbul,” Open House Istanbul explores the architectural, spatial, and social transformations the city has undergone from the early 20th century to the present day.
Extending from Beşiktaş and the shores of the Bosphorus, and from Şişli to Sariyer, the programme aims to bring renewed visibility to buildings that reflect Istanbul’s evolving residential culture, working life, and everyday experiences, making this architectural heritage accessible to the public.
Today, the architectural heritage created through this process of modernisation faces significant challenges. Urban redevelopment, increasingly driven by the need to address earthquake risks, seeks to improve building safety while also posing a growing threat to Istanbul’s modern architectural heritage. This situation calls for a renewed recognition and assessment of the architectural, cultural, and social values of buildings that bear witness to the city’s recent past.
By opening up opportunities to discover the architectural and urban values that emerged through Istanbul’s modernisation, Open House Istanbul aims to highlight the place of these buildings in the city’s collective memory and strengthen public awareness of the importance of their preservation.
“Modern Istanbul” is an invitation to discover, document, and carry the city’s modern architectural heritage into the future.