Murat Tabanlıoğlu

Hayati Tabanlıoğlu, a pivotal figure in the formation of modern Turkish architecture, was educated at Istanbul Technical University in the 1950s under the influence of distinguished professors from German-speaking countries, including Paul Bonatz, Clemens Holzmeister, and Gustav Graubner. Following his graduation, and shaped by this intellectual environment, he completed his thesis on opera and theatre buildings at the University of Hanover.

 

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Hayati Tabanlioglu in his studio, late 1950s.

ATATÜRK CULTURAL CENTER

A modern building with a glass facade illuminated at night. In the foreground, there are trees and a grassy area, while parked cars are visible to the side.
A black and white photograph of the Istanbul Opera House, showcasing its modern architectural design. A technical drawing of the auditorium layout is also visible, along with text detailing the project and architects.

Upon returning to Istanbul at a young age, he was commissioned to design one of Turkey’s most significant cultural landmarks, the Atatürk Cultural Center in Taksim. After years of development, the building opened in 1968 but was tragically damaged by fire a year later. Tabanlıoğlu undertook the project for a second time, rebuilding it and leaving an enduring contribution to the cultural identity of the city.

A modern building featuring a glass facade with a prominent entrance labeled "Atatürk Kültür Merkezi." Vertical metal structures stand in front of the building, set against an overcast sky in black and white.

Detail of the front facade of the Ataturk Cultural Center.
Photo: Siyah Beyaz

A black and white photograph of a modern spiral staircase enclosed by vertical rods, set in a spacious interior with large windows and polished flooring.

The grand spiral staircase in the lobby.
Photo: Siyah Beyaz

YESILKOY AIRPORT

Following this major work, he designed Atatürk Airport, Turkey’s first international aviation terminal.

During this period, Murat Tabanlıoğlu, after completing his studies at the Vienna TechnicalUniversity, returned to Istanbul and established their first joint studio together with his father. After several conceptual works, their first major built project was the Milliyet Newspaper Facilities / Doğan Media Center.Father and son were able to work side by side for three years, laying the foundation for a legacy that continues to inform and inspire the studio’s architectural vision today.

Aerial view of a large group of hexagonal rooftops with patterned surfaces. The rooftops are arranged in a back-and-forth pattern, and the image is presented in black and white.

ATAKOY MARINA

In the 1980s, as private-sector investment reshaped Istanbul, he led the design of Ataköy Marina and its shopping and hotel complex, one of the city’s first large-scale build-operate-transfer developments, marking a new era in urban transformation.

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