Zorlu Center, Istanbul Building, Turkey

Zorlu Center, Istanbul Building Project, Photo, Architecture Design Images

Zorlu Center, Istanbul, Turkey

Zorlu Center Istanbul design by EAA-Emre Arolat Architects / Tabanlioglu Architects

9 Aug 2010

Zorlu Center Istanbul

Location: Istanbul, Turkey

EAA-Emre Arolat Architects & Tabanlioglu Architects

The Zorlu Center site is just at the junction of the Bosphorus Bridge European connection and the glamorous Büyükdere axis that connects the city center with the great business district Maslak. It is reached from various important centers of Istanbul and moreover, topographically is one of the few plain sites that face south, with the old city view.

With all these significant qualities, it has been a “subject of desire” and was owned by the Zorlu Property through a tender, being watched by all levels of the public. In this sense, the mixed use project being developed on this area deals with contradictions such as grandeur and modesty, public and private, institutional and domestic, social and distinguished, together with structural and topographical considerations.

Zorlu Center Zorlu Center Istanbul Zorlu Center Istanbul Zorlu Center Istanbul

The ground is reconstructed by a topographical interpretation, with a kind of shell that is transformed into an in-between layer for the different functions combined in the complex. The shell starts from the Boulevard Level, with a Public Square at the meeting point with the city, and rises towards south and east.

It is split into two arms sperated by level differences, in order to overcome the dichotomy between the private and the public. The inner route, the Public Topography reaches to the 28m. higher Urban Balcony with the marvellous Bosphorus view. The outer ring ends up with a height of 32m creating the Private Topography of the residential units.

Just in the center, at the Boulevard Level is the Piazza surrounded by the retail units, that strives for creating an alternative public space. The Activity Stairs direct the public down to the interior retail units, the Bosphorus Level, that also has another direct entrance on south.

The retail level below has the Metro connection and houses cinemas, kids entertainment center, big gourmet market and leisure platforms. The retail center offers both exterior and interior shopping in relation to a Piazza that feeds the whole complex. The Concet Hall of 2500 people capacity has an entrance amphi as a continuation of the Public Square and the Piazza, that offers a semi-closed space for alternative performances.

The terrace flats under the shell, are equipped with large gardens on the first level, and with large terraces on the upper levels enjoying the Bosphorus view. They are reached through the linear open air atrium, quite rich, lighted and cheery space. The rest of the residential units form three identical towers, detached from the shell with “piloti” and their structural formation continues the horizontal projections of the terrace flats, without turning into symbollic elements of the complex. The fourth tower is the luxury Bosphorus Hotel.

In the general formation of the complex, instead of using the recent grandiose and gleeming architectural tendency that has been dominant over such big investments of the modern world, an approach that derives its power from public motivations and keeps itself away from the habit of “society of spectacle” has been embraced.

Zorlu Center Istanbul images / information from EAA-Emre Arolat Architects & Tabanlioglu Architects

Emre Arolat

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Design: Tabanlioglu Architects with EAA
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image from architects
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