Exhibitions
Looking at Marmara from the Shore of All Possibles
As an inland sea, the Marmara Sea carries symbolic meanings through both its limited nature and its role as a gateway to larger seas via the straits. It embodies thresholds, transitions, transformations, and all possibilities. To be on the shore is to exist somewhere between remaining on land and reaching the vastness of the sea— to be both at the center and on the edge. This exhibition is designed to create a space for production across a broad intellectual and visual spectrum, ranging from the fauna and flora along the Marmara coasts to ancient cultural representations, and from the relationship coastal cities have with water to processes of urban transformation.
Curator: Hakan Dağ
Partner: Istanbul Illustration Days
Exhibition Openning: 2 October 2025 | 11:00
Location: Creative Hub, C18
The Story of My Coastal City
This exhibition, featuring the outcomes of workshops held with children as part of MARUF on the Go, explores the Marmara Sea, coastal life, and coexistence through the eyes of children. Inspired by comic books, the children’s sketch works are presented under the themes of “Encountering the Sea,” “Astonishment at Pollution,” and “Hope for Our Shores,” inviting viewers to imagine new possibilities for coastlines and communal living.
Partner: Arkki
Exhibition Openning: 1 October 2025 | 15:00
Location: Vision Hub, V4
50 Years of 'Union'
The exhibition showcases the 50-year journey of Marmara Municipalities Union, a local government association established in 1975 in Türkiye, by using documents, photographs and publications to carry traces of the past into the future cities.
Start: 1 October 2025 12:00
End: 3 October 2025 19:00
Location: Social Hub, S1-MMU Stand
Drawings in the Footsteps of Heritage
This exhibition shares the reflections of İstanbul's restored cultural heritage sites as captured on paper by drawing enthusiasts.
Partner: Urban Sketchers
Exhibition Openning: 1 October 2025 | 15:00
Location: Dialogue Hub, D7
Reclaiming Streets
Reclaiming Streets is a practice-based learning program initiated in 2022 by Marmara Municipalities Union’s Local Government Academy in collaboration with Superpool and the Global Designing Cities Initiative. It aims to transform car-dominated streets into safe, healthy, and inclusive public spaces—especially for children and caregivers. This exhibition presents the journey of the program, now in its fourth edition, and showcases the street transformations implemented by 20+ municipalities through tactical urbanism practices.
Curator: Dila Toprak
Partners: Global Designing Cities Initiative, Superpool
Exhibition Openning: 2 October 2025 | 11:00
Location: Vision Hub, V6
Natural Buildings for Healthy Living Spaces
This exhibition highlights natural, healthy, and energy-efficient structures, revealing how contemporary design and production approaches are brought to life in Türkiye. Beyond just showcasing projects, the exhibition offers visitors a journey of discovery by bringing together natural building materials and innovative approaches through demonstrations.
Partner: Natural Building Materials and Methods Association (NBMM)
Start: 1 October 2025 12:00
Location: Creative Hub, C19
Woodlife Sweden
From candle holders, stools and 3D-printed furniture to schools, high rises and whole cities… Wood is one of the few renewable building materials, and Sweden is a frontrunner when it comes to innovation and technical progress. The exhibition in this toolkit showcases contemporary wooden projects in different scales from all over Sweden. The projects have been selected to visualise how architecture, design and urbanism can help reduce the climate impact of buildings and products, and impact development in line with the Sustainable Development Goals.
Partner: Consulate General of Sweden in Istanbul
Start:01 October 2025 12:00
Mekan: Creative Hub, C17
Local Governments and Urbanism in the 100-Year Journey of the Republic of Türkiye
This exhibition focuses on the five-volume work titled “Local Governments and Urbanism in the 100-Year Journey of the Republic of Türkiye,” prepared in honor of the 100th anniversary of the Republic of Türkiye. It serves as a reference point for understanding the past, present, and future of Türkiye's cities by shedding light on the history of local governments and urbanism. The exhibition features excerpts from articles contributed by more than 80 experts, covering a wide range of topics including the legal development of municipalities, urban planning experiences, social transformation, infrastructure, and community development.
Partner: Marmara Municipalities Union Publications
Start: 1 October 2025 12:00
Location: Creative Hub, C13
Possible with Wood!
Engineered timber, natural in origin, yet enhanced through industrial processes to achieve high load-bearing capacity and precision, is increasingly present in today’s construction landscape. This exhibition offers an introduction to this new generation of building components, shaped by modern manufacturing techniques such as CLT and glulam. It brings together material samples, connection details, and a full-scale spatial setup, inviting visitors to explore engineered timber systems as a strong construction alternative for a more sustainable and resilient future.
Partners: Turkish Timber Association, The Circle, Asmaz, Attwood, HSCT, Rothoblaas, ATTEC
Start: 1 October 2025 12:00
Location: Creative Hub, C16
In the Footsteps of Two Little Urbanites: New Stories
Inspired by the 1979 book "Two Little Urbanites", the children's books created during the Marmarathon reimagine the city through the eyes of children. The stories and illustrations featured in this exhibition offer creative interpretations that connect today’s cities with the legacy of the past.
Curator: Melis Nur Koyuncu
Start: 1 October 2025 12:00
Location: Creative Hub, C14
