Nine Tips for Biking in Istanbul

Although Istanbul is not really a bike-friendly city, nor it does have a vibrant biking culture, it is still a good idea to buy...

University Guide: Istanbul Technical University

Istanbul Technical University, commonly known as ITU or Teknik Üniversite, is one of the best universities in Turkey, always ranking among the top three....

Yabangee Instagram Photography Competition #5: Design

The time has come for our fifth Instagram photo competition! After the success of our last theme, “reflecting”, we thought we’d show our enthusiasm...

The Peculiar Case of the Cult of the Renault 12

Did you notice that every Renault 12 in the known universe had disappeared? Are you worried that some black hole had appeared and was...

Volunteering in Istanbul: Istanbul&I’s Unaccompanied Minors Project

About six times a week, unaccompanied refugee minors from a boys dormitory and volunteers from Istanbul&I gather to partake in educational and social programs....

The Contemporary Flood

I keep thinking about waste these days. Why don’t we recycle enough? Why? People at my office prefer consuming water from 0.5 liter plastic...

ATÖLYE Spotlight: In Conversation with Claire Guillon, Digital Strategy Consultant

The life of digital nomad is as exciting as it is daunting, a delicate balancing act of enterprise and responsibility in lands unknown. Like...

Lost in Turkey: Nemrut Volcano

For those unfamiliar, this isn’t the Mount Nemrut of stone headed statue fame in the province of Adıyaman. I’m talking about the caldera-topped Nemrut...

King of Istanbul Roads: A Dolmuş Interview

Being a foreigner in any part of the world can be a daunting affair. Anything and everything can be different from what you have...

A Mythical Tale of Love: Mimar Sinan and Mihrimah Sultan

Istanbul and its architecture are already mystical but it gets even more interesting when considering the Turkish myth about the famous architect Mimar Sinan’s two...

ATÖLYE Spotlight: In Conversation with Öykü Özgencil, Founder of INCOMPLIT

There's something to be said for the universal affinity of stories and storytelling in our collective childhoods. While this connection may seemingly fade as...

Real Student Comments

In all facets of daily, human life, the divide between what is expressed to others and what is in truth thought in one’s own,...

In Conversation with Jessica Sim and Gabrielle Reeves, Circuit Istanbul

On Tuesday evenings, people from all backgrounds and all over the city gather at a space called Circuit Istanbul in Kadıköy to enhance their creative...

Learning and Growing on a Turkish Organic Farm with TaTuTa

I found myself popping out of a packed dolmuş onto the side of a winding country road. Shortly after, my overstuffed tan hiking bag...

Who Runs this City? – Daily Istanbul Running Activities

Who rules Istanbul? If you have been here for longer than a day, you already know the answer is obvious: CATS. They are everywhere...

Giving Birth in Turkey: Getting Prepared

In our previous piece we discussed choosing your obstetrician - this was the most difficult part. Now it is time for you to relax...

In Conversation with Murat Çelebi, Board Game Designer

If there’s one physical thing that travelers seek to bring or find along the journey, aside from books, it is board games. Even more...

Lost in Turkey: Isparta

Located at the western end of the Taurus Mountains, Isparta is a little-visited province of pine, oak, and juniper covered slopes and abundant mountain...

Ten Great Podcasts For Your Istanbul Commute

We live in a great time to be stuck in traffic! Especially if you live in Istanbul, you’ve been given the greatest gifts of...

ATÖLYE Spotlight: In Conversation with Aysu Güneş, Legal Advisor

Understanding and navigating the legal framework of Turkey is no easy task. The complex system of law can be both intimidating and Kafkaesque in...

A Five Star Toilet – Bathroom Tales in Turkey

Back in 1990 when I first visited Turkey, toilets, whether squat or what we think of as ‘normal’ but the Turks call Ala Franga,...

Chinese Man Brings their Sound Back to Babylon

Chinese Man dropped by Istanbul on Saturday as part of their international Shikantaza tour, which has included shows in Mexico, Canada, China, and Europe...

Oman: Sun, Sand, Dates, and Opera  

Oman had long been on my mind as my next quest overseas. The promise of dates, palm trees, sand dunes, bright, open, sun-tainted skies,...

Introducing: Open Roof Space by ATÖLYE

Educational institutions are increasingly seeking ways to rethink and transform learning environments in a way that increases the possibility of exploration. With this aim...