Istanbul City Guide: 5 Historical and 20 Contemporary Projects to Explore in Türkiye’s Largest City

Byzantium, Constantinople and now Istanbul, the many names this city has had over the centuries are proof of the central role it has played throughout history. Founded by Greek settlers in the 7^th century, the city served as an imperial capital for a cumulated period of over 1600 years. During the Roman/Byzantine, it played a crucial role in the advancement of Christianity before its transformation into an Islamic center and becoming the sear of the Ottoman Caliphate. Today, Istanbul is a vibrant city with a rich cultural scene and multiple historical layers to be discovered.

Straddling the Bosphorus strait, the city lies in both Europe and Asia, integrating architectural masterpieces that reflect the meeting of European and Asian cultures over the centuries. As the largest city in Turkey with a population of over 15 million residents, Istanbul also serves as the country’s economic, cultural, and historic center. Istanbul is the 15th largest city and the eighth most visited city in the world. The city is also home to several UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

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Recently, Istanbul witnessed several architectural and design events such as the 17th Istanbul Biennale, which highlights contemporary art initiatives from around the country, aiming to emphasize the connection between the present-day life in the city and its richly layered past. Another recent event is the Contemporary Istanbul art fair, taking place in Tersane, a 600-years historic landmark renovated by the Tabanlioglu Architects. We’ve put together a list of 5 landmarks that showcase Istanbul’s rich history and 20 contemporary projects built by acclaimed local and international architectural offices such as Foster + Partners, GAD Architecture, Grimshaw, TEGET, and Emre Arolat Architecture.

Historical Istanbul

Hagia Sophia

Sultan Ahmed Mosque (Blue Mosque) / Sedefkar Mehmed Agha

Topkapı Palace

Basilica Cistern

Istanbul Archaeology Museum

Contemporary Istanbul

TV and Radio Tower / Melike Altınışık Architects (MAA)

The Ataturk Cultural Center / Tabanlioglu Architects

Apple Bagdat Caddesi / Foster + Partners

Kilic Ali Pasa Hamam Restoration / Cafer Bozkurt Architecture

Arter Museum / Grimshaw

Divan Kuruçeşme Venue / GAD Architecture

Marmara Forum Cloud Playground / Carve

Istanbul Maritime Museum / TEGET

Galataport / Dror + Gensler

Theodosius Cistern Entrance Building / Cafer Bozkurt Architecture

Istanbul Painting and Sculpture Museum / EAA – Emre Arolat Architecture

Koc University Medical Sciences Campus / Kreatif Architects + Cannon Design

Beylikduzu Ataturk Arts and Cultural Center / SO? Architecture and Ideas

Beyazıt State Library / Tabanlioglu Architects

Özyeğin University Faculty of Architecture and Design / ARK-itecture

Mecidiyekoy Liqueur and Cognac Factory / Emre Arolat Architecture

Esas Aeropark / Tabanlioglu Architects

Santral Istanbul Museum of Contemporary Arts / NSMH + EAA – Emre Arolat Architecture

Zorlu Center / Tabanlioglu Architects + EAA – Emre Arolat Architecture

Tersane Istambul / Tabanlioglu Architects

You can visit our list of City Guides here.