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 15, 2012
Code allowance offers retailers and commercial building owners increased energy savings and reduced construction costs
Specifying air curtains as energy-saving, cost-cutting alternatives to vestibules in 3,000-square-foot buildings and larger has been a recent trend among consulting engineers and architects.
| Feb 15, 2012
Englewood Construction announces new projects with Destination Maternity, American Girl
Englewood’s newest project for Wisconsin-based doll retailer American Girl, the company will combine four vacant storefronts into one large 15,000 square-foot retail space for American Girl.
| Feb 14, 2012
Angelo State University opens doors to new recreation center expansion
Designed by SmithGroup, the JJR_Center for Human Performance offers enhanced fitness options, dynamic gathering space.
| Feb 14, 2012
SAIC selected for architectural and engineering design services at Lajes Field, Azores
SAIC’s services will include a broad variety of new construction projects and maintenance and repair projects
| Feb 14, 2012
Skanska promotes Aparicio and hires Leintz in Southern California
Aparicio and Leintz are both based in Skanska’s Los Angeles office.
| Feb 14, 2012
The Jackson Laboratory announces Gilbane Building Co. as program manager for Connecticut facility
Gilbane to manage program for new genomic medicine facility that will create 300 jobs in Connecticut.
| Feb 14, 2012
Thornton Tomasetti names Al Hashimi vice president for its Middle East Operations
Al Hashimi is joining the company to help expand Thornton Tomasetti’s business in the region and support clients locally.
| Feb 13, 2012
WHR Architects renovation of Morristown Memorial Hospital Simon Level 5 awarded LEED Gold
Located in the Simon Building, which serves as the main entrance leading into the Morristown Memorial Hospital campus, the project comprises three patient room wings connected by a centralized nursing station and elevator lobby.
| Feb 13, 2012
Center for Sustainable Building Research launches CommercialWindows.org
Resource aims at reducing commercial operating costs and energy consumption.
| Feb 13, 2012
New medical city unveiled in Abu Dhabi
SOM’s design for the 838-bed, three-million-square foot complex creates a new standard for medical care in the region.
