Category: Tours

HALF DAY TOUR (Duration 4 hours)

In Pursuit of Modernity and Beyond: Levent Walking tour
A half day walking tour in Levent district, where an architectural story is starting in the 1950s as an ‘American Dream’ and transforming in the 70s into an industrial cluster with factories and gecekondu’s, to become a high rise commercial and business center in 90s. Today this district consists of these layers through which one can experience the history of modern Turkey by walking.

Tour Stops:

-Levent District: Designed by Prof. Kemal Ahmet Aru and Prof. Rebii Gorbon in 1947 and known as one of the most important urban mass housing settlements.
-Kanyon Shopping Mall designed by Tabanlıoğlu Architects
-Levent Ofis designed by Molestina Architects – Swanke Hayden Connell as the first LEED Certificated Building in Turkey
-Levent Loft designed by Tabanlıoğlu Architects in 2007.
-Loft Bahçe designed by Tabanlıoğlu Architects in 2010.
-Kristal Tower-QNB Finansbank designed by Pei Cobb Creed Partners – Has Mimarlık, completed in 2014
-Sapphire Istanbul designed by Tabanlıoğlu Architects in 2011, is the highest building in Turkey where its top terrace offers the 360° panorama of Istanbul.
-Ticaret Odası İlkokulu, designed by Uygur Architects in 2010, is a public school project as a part of earthquake prevention plan of 40 schools in Istanbul

Tour ends at M1 4.Levent Metro Station Entrance, centrally located to all means of public transportation. No interior visits except Kanyon and Sapphire Istanbul

HALF DAY TOUR  (Duration: 4-5 hours)

Old Town New Gazes Walking tour
An architectural walk through the modern history of old Istanbul. Urban and architectural developments from the 19th, 20th and 21st century.

Tour Stops:

-The Municipality Building in Saraçhane (by Nevzat Erol 1956) (outside) and the urban changes around it.
-İMÇ (Istanbul Manifaturacılar Çarşısı) Textile Wholesale Area by Tekeli-Sisa-Hepgüler 1960’s.
-SSK Building by Sedad Hakkı Eldem (1960s) (outside)
-Walk over the Golden Horn passing the new Metro Bridge to the Middle Age Genoese Quarter Galata. A glance at the Arap Camii, the former church of S.Domenico from the Middle Ages. Walk through the hardware district.
-Karaköy Square the entrance to the old banking district of 19th century, changed in the 20th century.
-SALT Galata,* the former Ottoman Bank from the end of the 19th century, restored in 2011 and reorganized into a New Art And Architecture Forum. *Some parts of SALT Galata are not accessible on Mondays.
-Ipera 25 Project-by Ahmet Alataş (2011) an example for the new infill in the historical context of the Genoese quarter. (outside)

End of the tour at Galata Tower or Tünel Square.

FULL DAY TOUR

A Section through the 20th and 21st century of Istanbul Walking tour
This full day architectural walking tour provides the experience of buildings of a wide variety of functions with applications ranging between a large time period starting from the Early Republican era until contemporary recent projects. Our tour allows the viewer to get to know different approaches in architecture in relation with the developing urban fabric, changing political situations and changing tastes under global and local aspects in four of the very densely occupied neighborhoods of Istanbul; Taksim, Nişantaşı, Maçka and Beşiktaş.

Tour Stops:

-Taksim Square
-Gezi Park
– Municipal Library by Sedad Hakkı Eldem (1973-75).
-Intercontinental Hotel 1971, designed by Kemal Ahmet Aru and Hande Süher (Roof for an informative view)
-The State Radio House, 1945, designed by İsmail Utkular, Doğan Erginbaş, Ömer Günay (outside)
-Hilton Hotel, 1952 -1985(additions), first “International Style” building in Istanbul, Skidmore, Owings and Merrill (SOM) + Sedad Hakkı Eldem
-Lütfi Kırdar Former Sports and Exhibition Hall (outside)
Lunch Break at Nişantaşı (free -but can be organized if requested)
-Milli Reasürans Building, 1990s, Şandor and Sevinç Hadi
-Walking through Maçka area
-İnönü House 1940’S by Rükneddin Güney and İnönü sculpture by Rudolf Belling
-Akaretler, first row houses in Istanbul – adaptive re-use projects, serving as hotels, residences and offices today, 1875, project started by Sarkis Balyan
-Beşiktaş Fish Market, designed by Gökhan Avcıoğlu (GAD)
-The Naval Museum, a recent competition project realised in 2013, by Teğet Mimarlık (except Mondays)

Tour finishes in Beşiktaş.