flexiblefullpage
billboard
interstitial1
catfish1
Currently Reading

Turkish government orders demolition of residential towers in Istanbul

Turkish government orders demolition of residential towers in Istanbul

The Turkish central government's ruling to demolish a completed residential development in Istanbul causes analysts and developers to worry.


By BD+C Staff | August 27, 2014
OnaltiDokuz, Istanbul, Sultan Ahmed Mosque
The high-rise development can be seen looming behind the 17th Century Sultan Ahmed Mosque, also known as the Blue Mosque.

The Turkish Council of State in Ankara recently ruled that the OnaltiDokuz Residence in Istanbul must be demolished, ArchDaily reports.

The completed high-rise residential towers, a trio of structures between 27 and 37 stories in Istanbul’s Zeytinburnu district, was ruled as negatively affecting “the world heritage site that the Turkish government was obliged to protect,” reported Oliver Wainwright for the Guardian.

Back in 2013, Hürriyet News, one of Turkey’s widely circulated newspapers, reported that Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdo?an had requested the developer, led by businessman Mesut Toprak, to give the buildings a “haircut,” and was at the time unhappy that Toprak had so far not done so.

Archdaily speculates the government’s action is a reaction to UNESCO’s comments back in 2010, after threatening to put Turkey’s largest city on its list of endangered world heritage sites.

The demolition ruling puts the Istanul Metropolitan Municipality at risk of an astronomical compensation claim, because the development was both complete and units have been sold.

To learn more about the ruling’s political implications and potential ripple effect on development and construction in Turkey, head to the article in the Guardian.

Related Stories

| Feb 5, 2014

M&A activity down in 2013 among architecture, engineering firms: Report

In 2013, consultant Morrissey Goodale observed 168 sales of U.S.-based architecture and engineering (“A/E”) firms – down nearly 7% from the record 180 sales of U.S.-based A/E firms in 2012.

| Feb 5, 2014

BIA Opens Entries for 25th Annual Brick in Architecture Awards

Entries open on February 10 for the Brick Industry Association's (BIA) Brick in Architecture Awards. Celebrating its silver anniversary, BIA's annual honors spotlight outstanding, innovative and sustainable architecture that incorporates clay brick products as the predominant exterior building or paving material. 

| Feb 5, 2014

Multifamily Housing, Green Building, Market Trends, Innovation to be Prime Topics at MBI’s World of Modular

More than 600 developers, contractors, architects, builders, dealers and equipment/service suppliers are expected at the event, slated for March 21-24 in San Antonio, Texas, and hosted by the Modular Building Institute.

| Feb 5, 2014

7 towers that define the 'skinny skyscraper' boom [slideshow]

Recent advancements in structural design, combined with the loosening of density and zoning requirements, has opened the door for the so-called "superslim skyscraper."  

| Feb 4, 2014

World's fifth 'living building' certified at Smith College [slideshow]

The Bechtel Environmental Classroom utilizes solar power, composting toilets, and an energy recovery system, among other sustainable strategies, to meet the rigorous performance requirements of the Living Building Challenge.

| Feb 4, 2014

Must see: Student housing complex made with recycled shipping containers

Architect Christian Salvati's new structure is just the first step in bringing shipping container construction to New Haven, Conn.

| Feb 3, 2014

Gehry wins bid to design Berlin's tallest tower [slideshow]

The architect's "rotating cubes" scheme for the 300-unit residential tower beat out design submissions by eight other prominent firms, including Adjaye Associates and David Chipperfield Architects.

| Jan 31, 2014

Trump Hotel Collections announces luxury hotel for Rio de Janeiro

The 13-story, 171-guestroom Trump Rio will be Trump Hotel Collection’s first property in South America and the only luxury hotel in the neighborhood when it opens in 2016.

| Jan 31, 2014

LEGO, Google partner to develop 3D modeling tool for LEGO structures

The free tool, called Build, allows Chrome users to create virtual 3D structures using any shape and color in the LEGO catalog. 

| Jan 31, 2014

Ultra-modern McDonald's restaurant voted one of world's best new buildings

This McDonald's, which is combined with a fuel station and recreation areas, was awarded the Best Commercial Building of the Year by architecture website ArchDaily.

boombox1
boombox2
native1

More In Category




Museums

The Tampa Museum of Art will soon undergo a $110 million expansion

In Tampa, Fla., the Tampa Museum of Art will soon undergo a 77,904-sf Centennial Expansion project. The museum plans to reach its $110 million fundraising goal by late 2024 or early 2025 and then break ground. Designed by Weiss/Manfredi, and with construction manager The Beck Group, the expansion will redefine the museum’s surrounding site.

halfpage1

Most Popular Content

  1. 2021 Giants 400 Report
  2. Top 150 Architecture Firms for 2019
  3. 13 projects that represent the future of affordable housing
  4. Sagrada Familia completion date pushed back due to coronavirus
  5. Top 160 Architecture Firms 2021