Young Architects Program International

seapeaker is a hearing aid for Istanbul. It highlights the city’s muted qualities in an unexpected way. Designed using rigorous acoustical principles and the generative capacities of the site, seapeaker amplifies sounds of the sea underneath and punctures a new connection in between. Placed diagonally in Istanbul Modern’s courtyard, seapeaker organizes the previously empty space into a shaded hang-out area and a multifunctional venue in which various spectacles and performances can unfold.

seapeaker uses various strategies for environmental sustainability, including analog sound amplification, seawater cooling, natural ventilation, energy-efficient lighting and reused plywood materials. Socioeconomically, seapeaker involves regional maritime craftsmen for construction, while suggesting a fresh urban approach for other coastal infill sites in Istanbul and beyond.

Text submitted by Evren Başbuğ, İnanç Eray, Meriç Kara, Engin Ayaz (YAP Istanbul Modern Design Group)