Gun Country - Art installation by Michael Murphy

Urban Institute for Contemporary Arts, Gran Rapids, MI

Beyazıt State Library Tabanlioglu Architects

From the architects:

Beyazıt State Library is the oldest and the largest library in İstanbul, founded in 1884 as the “Kütüphane-i Umumi-i Osmani”. The Library can be found in Beyazıt Square adjacent to Beyazıt Mosque built by Sultan Beyazıt II and completed in 1506. Beyazıt Square is today the most vibrant space in the old part of the city.

The restoration of the State Library has involved the sensitive reorganization of the interior and careful restoration of the building fabric with its prominent multi-domed roof. A modest extension, respectful of the scale of the existing building has been added to the northeast façade of the existing Library. The area around the State Library is infused with historical connections of a literary nature. The book bazaar, a courtyard on the site of the Byzantine book and paper store, can be found to the south east of the Mosque and can be entered either from Beyazıt Square or from the Grand Bazaar via the Beyazıt Gate. The restoration of the Beyazıt State Library is exemplary. The ‘minimal intervention’ approach ensures the spirit of the place survives while modern facilities are grafted onto the historic fabric.

Valentinerhof noa* (network of architecture)

From the architect:

The hotel is located in the village of Kastelruth next to the well-known Seiser Alm at approx. 1200 meters above sea level. The family establishment was enhanced and enlarged with a new wellness area and a new lobby with attached bar and restaurant. 14 spacious suites were added to make the new hotel increased by 1100 square meters.

The aim of the architectural concept was to underline and reinforce the impressive surrounding alpine scenery by inserting thoroughly conceived built volumes into the natural landscape. In doing so the intermediation with the local tradition and the accordance with the omnipresent nature was always crucial to the conceptual approach. The new hotel extension is divided into two smaller volumes that form an arena oriented to the Southern Valley and opens up to the close rock massif of the nearby Schlern Mountain.