Istanbul | İstanbul

[gm2263]

I saw the slums too, but I don't think (if they are still there) that they will be there for long. I mean, considering the size of the project (I have seen aerials of the damn thing, and from what I saw there must be at least some 50,000 people living there), it seems that it will for sure jump on to the opposite hills.

Also, guys, you should try and go to take a picture of the Olympic Stadium as it looks from the highway, it literally looks like the partial view of a gigantic UFO has that has landed. Also, some kilometres before or after you can see the Endem broadcasting centre tower in the far distance and if you are on a clear day you may able to take a good shot.

[www.sercan.de]

[Ozcan]

Gm, you know more then the Turks

[Kuvvaci]

Originally Posted by gm2263

I saw the slums too, but I don't think (if they are still there) that they will be there for long. I mean, considering the size of the project (I have seen aerials of the damn thing, and from what I saw there must be at least some 50,000 people living there), it seems that it will for sure jump on to the opposite hills.

Also, guys, you should try and go to take a picture of the Olympic Stadium as it looks from the highway, it literally looks like the partial view of a gigantic UFO has that has landed. Also, some kilometres before or after you can see the Endem broadcasting centre tower in the far distance and if you are on a clear day you may able to take a good shot.

I am happy that I can give you some information. But first of all I have to say something to you. Your Athens pics at emporis have a special importance for me. I was following them for a long while. Maybe I can tell you by PM

slums are still there, but not the other sides of the highway. As I told you there is a short rise complex at the other side of the highway. Thngs went very slowly at the Olympic park because Istanbul couldn't get hosting the game. Actually they are planning a different method. not like Athens, but a little bit like Barcelona. I have seen a documantery film about Bercelona Olympics, and whole Olympic Park and village have been founded at a slum area in Bercelona. This film was showing the change of Bercelona. but there, they constracted new apartments (like commie blocks) for these people and after they moved to their new places, they demolished these slums and built the Park and Village ( As I know it was not like this in Athens)...

But in Istanbul it will be a little bit different. During the games these people (if they will still be living there), will temporary move to some other places and after the games they will move to the Olympic village.

Construction of this park went slowly beause of another reason as well. Our former peresident of National Olympic Commitie was the only one who is interesting in the games. He was an old man but did so much for Istanbul. And he died. After his death, everything went slowly. But now new mayor and government pay a special attention for Istanbul Olympics. Also hosting the Champions Leauge final gave a speed to the construction works (honestly I have never went this area for months, so I can just follow everything over the media).

And now these new projects Sercan showed us will change the lake area wich is across the proposed Olympic Park.

[gm2263]

Actually, from what I saw from the national road, the area where Bahcesehir and your Olympic Stadium is, is located in the outskirts of the city. The Athens Olympic complex on the opposite, was built on a land that (surprisingly for the Greeks) was indeed reserved for the construction of an Olympic Complex since the 1950's, thanks to thwe visions of many politicians that, without knowing (of course!!!) that Athens would take the games in 2004. This planning (again, in an amazing crisis of foresight that is quite unusual for Greek politicians and urgan planners) also included the reservation of land for the highways, mainly the Attica Road or Attiki Odos as we call it which is the main ring road of the city, which, along with Kifissias Avenue (that saw the construction of five new junctions to be in par with the traffic demands of the Olympics) which is a classic boulevard, much like Buyukdere avenue, served the games well.

The point here is that our Olympic Complex is located in the suburbs of the city, in an area that has seen a lot of construction from the 1950's onwards while yours, is on virgin territory and the only thing you should do is to keep it unmolested from the pressures of illegal settlers, something that has plagued the development of Athens in the past.

As for my Emporis contribution, it is not a popular forum, it is now something of a database that is build over the years, with information regarding tall buildings and other structures. A large contribution for me being accepted there was made by Asimov who, is one of the principal editors of Turkey along with MeRek. Asim, (like me from my mother's side) originally comes from Ayvalik and we consider ourselves brothers. BTW Ayvalik is another pearl of the Aegean, along with beautiful Izmir


As for the Istanbul Olympics, I have a hunch that probably the games will be granted to Isblue close to the year Turkey will be full EU member. If Isblue takes the 2016 Olympics, this will be a heck of a celebration, considering the time distance and the size of projects already making part of the wishlist or are under construction (Diamond of Istanbul ) in this city of three empires.

Finally, regarding the taking of pictures, I am happy to see that in Turkey are many people that do exacty what I do: Taking and posting their own pictures instead of re-posting postcard pics that were originally taken by someone else. People like Kerem Tunkay (also a friend and Istanbul editor in Emporis.com), Anil Koksal (in wow.Turkey.com), Burc Acar and many others do a wonderful job for your country and are systematic observers and seekers for the best frame to capture and give it to the public. Keep up the good work guys.

[falconi]

[ASIMOV]

AI Tower looks cool to me:

http://www.emporis.com/en/il/im/?id=370393

Photo by Keremaki Tountsaidis (from my car's window )

[ASIMOV]

AI Pharmaceuticals Tower (left)

[ASIMOV]

The first building at left (3 April 2005)

[ASIMOV]

Surprise Surprise!

[ASIMOV]

You can actually see the sample light blue glass on this photo too

[ASIMOV]

Twin spires would look cool on this one.

[Mantas]

Do you have a rendering of this building?

[ch1le]

looks taller then just a mere 105m

[ASIMOV]

It's probably not 105m anymore:

They added some extra floors and extensions on the top of the building, significantly modifying the original project.

We'll check it out when the construction is finished.

[Genç]

Great, any new completion dates/pics anywhere?

[Farmir]

A new twin-tower project is currently under construction in Zincirlikuyu, Istanbul - "Levent 2002" residences and shopping mall mixed-use complex. While not huge - the height of the towers is only 27 floors (including the 5-floor high common podium) - the project is relatively original (the towers are linked by 4-floors high sky bridge between the floors 15 and 18) and owing to its location on one of the higher, if not highest, elevation areas of Istanbul, Zincirlikuyu, the towers are going to add a nice touch to the overall skyline of Istanbul when viewed from the straits and the Asian side of Istanbul.
The project started construction in 1998 but was stopped during the economic crisis in Turkey in 2001; recently, owing to the economic upswing in the country, the owner, Sehmus Tatlici, restarted the construction.
The final renderings of the towers when completed can be seen at the following link (unfortunately could not not upload to the site as the images are in macromedia flash player format): http://www.ertemertunga.com/english/konutlar_setat.html

The towers have at least 5 common podium and 22 tower floors each.

Construction on hold in November 2002 (the large construction area with red construction crane in front of the green glass-walled Garanti Bank HQ)


construction status in June 2004


construction restarted and continuing at the end of August 2005 (5 common podium floors completed; construction progressing on the 6th floors of each tower )


construction area as seen from the straits and the Asian side in 2002


The final renderings of the towers when completed (with the sky bridge): http://www.ertemertunga.com/english/konutlar_setat.html

[messiah]

sure that the construction is not in Moscow?

[Genç]

2 questions:
- When will it be completed?
- Are there any renderings availible?

[Farmir]

I don't know when it will be completed. Only investor knows. Hopefully soon. Currently it is under construction.
I have posted the URL link for viewing the final renderings (4 images) of the project above. But here it is again: http://www.ertemertunga.com/english/konutlar_setat.html