Studio KO Revives Historic Tram Depot with Industrial Elegance at Tashkent Art Center

An architectural marvel in Uzbekistan’s capital

In the heart of Tashkent, a metal tunnel leads you from an underground passage into a soaring exhibition hall. This dramatic entrance is part of the Centre for Contemporary Arts Tashkent, where Studio KO revives a historical space with modern flair. Designed by the French architecture firm, Studio KO, this ambitious project was commissioned by the eminent Uzbekistan Art and Culture Development Foundation.

The transformation of a century-old structure

The center occupies two historic yellow-brick buildings, crafted in 1912 by Wilhelm Heinzelmann. Originally, these structures served as a tram depot and an administration building, where the scent of oil still lingers on the original brick walls.

Inside the former diesel station’s expansive hall, the firm revitalizes its monumental essence, drawing parallels to a cathedral or London’s famous Turbine Hall at Tate Modern. Director Olivier Marty embraces this baptismal quality, maintaining the space’s grandeur and articulate proportions.

To explore more about architectural transformations in historic spaces, check out the revitalization of a Melbourne shopfront, which blends green design with historical charm.

Breathe New Life with New Spaces

Now a public cultural hub, CCA Tashkent hosts exhibitions, education programs, and research initiatives. Visitors start their journey in the refurbished administration building, which now houses a reception, gift shop, and staff offices. A library nestled under a skylight offers an intimate space for listening to records—new spaces waiting to be captured on camera.

Designing with intentional contrast

The architectural narrative evolves as a striking geometric volume swells from the building’s corner, clad in locally-sourced gravel and finished with a glossy coat, creating a stark contrast with the historic brickwork.

Beneath this transformation lies a dramatic helical staircase, spiraling into a subterranean gallery described by Marty as an “anteroom.” Through a tunnel lined with metal panels, visitors reach the main exhibition hall—a stark transition from darkness into openness.

The monumental main hall

The centerpiece, an airy main hall, retains its industrial charm. The revival of this utilitarian space involves leaving exposed technical installations to pay homage to its roots, echoing the ambition to recreate the monumental atmosphere akin to the Turbine Hall, albeit on a smaller scale, as emphasized by chief curator Sara Raza.

Material elegance in contrast

Material contrasts play a vital role, where sleek metal panels define the auditorium and tunnel, juxtaposed with the building’s original bricks. Wooden elements infuse warmth, complemented by dark terrazzo—a nod to Soviet modernism, Marty notes.

An evolving cultural space

Large windows, tinted with a subtle purple filter, provide a unique visual appeal from outside. The journey culminates in a spacious courtyard, a contemporary iteration of a traditional Uzbek “mahala.” This outdoor area, bounded by dark gravel-coated walls, includes a restaurant, workshop space, and a prayer room—yet to be photographed.

For another impressive architectural integration, see how La Vallée Verte in Bordeaux was transformed into a green oasis with iconic design.

Here, the architecture carves its distinctive identity, creating a space that neither competes with nor diminishes the historic structures but offers an engaging dialogue with them.

Exhibiting artistic innovation

The Tashkent center opened with “Hikmah,” an exhibition curated by Sara Raza, featuring ten artists. The furniture across the venue, designed by Studio KO, complements the bespoke aesthetic with modular metal and wood designs.

Dan Glasser captures the center’s atmospheric allure in his photography, unveiling a space that respects its past while bravely stepping into the present as the historical beauty undergoes a modern transformation.

Source: dezeen.com

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