ISTANBUL SILUET

The evolution of cities reflects a continuous cycle of change and transformation, epitomized by their distinctive silhouettes. These silhouettes symbolize the thresholds of development and adaptation that cities undergo over time. As societal needs shift, so do the services and structures of the urban landscape. This transition often manifests the thresholds in both horizontal and vertical expansion, altering the skyline and architectural identity.

When we examine Le Corbusier's sketches of Istanbul from 1911, the silhouette of the historic peninsula of Istanbul, its relationship with the sea, its topography, and its urban architecture compatible with the topography have been ingrained in our minds.

Looking at the historical towers that form important images in the Istanbul skyline, such as the Galata Tower, Beyazıt Tower, Maiden's Tower, etc., these structures constituted significant communication and interaction tools in the city of their time. At one point in history, the Galata Tower served as a fire tower, while today it continues to function as an observation tower.

Not so long ago, about 50-60 years ago, in the mid-1960s, the first broadcasting services related to television began. As far as I know, experiments were conducted in 1967, and in 1968, with the initiatives of TRT, broadcasting towers were built in major cities in Turkey such as Istanbul, Ankara, Izmir, Bursa, Erzurum, and others.

The first TRT tower on Çamlıca Hill was built in 1976, and broadcasting commenced. However, it started to struggle to keep up with the rapid developments in technology. Because technology is progressing within a very fast cycle of change and transformation, and over time, when we look from Europe to Asia, dozens of different antenna towers start to rise in the skies of Çamlıca, and they develop as a kind of informal settlement of technology. With a decision made by the government, it is considered to consolidate these towers into a single tower, and thus, the new telecommunication project, "Çamlıca Tower", comes to the agenda.

 

Designed by MAA-Melike Altınışık Architects, with its unique existence Istanbul’s futuristic 369 meter-tall the new telecommunication tower has a different narrative in the Istanbul skyline seeks a sense of motion and rhythm within its silhouette that changes when viewed from different directions around Istanbul.  Tower has an organic structure that is not familiar within the urban fabric of Istanbul. The main design inputs such as wind direction, local topography, and the sceneries reflected in the form of the tower. Its architectural formations combine elegance and beauty with math and geometry, whose innovative concept allows inhabitable spaces to be attached to the whole of the tower’s core.  It's more than just a line in the siluette, it's an expression of history, culture, communication, and interaction. On one hand, it's a sociological aspect of the silhouette and, in fact, a statement to its users based on the needs of the city in the future.

Not everyone has the chance to observe Istanbul from 400 meters above sea level, but when they visit this tower, they can observe Istanbul city, for which songs, poems, novels, and paintings have been created for its beauty as Europe and Asia converge.

Melike Altınışık, CTBUH Journal - 04.04.2024