Urban Competition
Observation Tower
Istanbul, Türkiye
An urban observation tower that reframes the relationship between vertical architecture and Istanbul's historic skyline. The design draws on the tradition of elevated vantage points, from ancient watchtowers to the iconic Galata Tower.
Concept
Rather than competing with the historic skyline, the tower acts as a frame through which the city reveals itself layer by layer. The structural system strikes a rhythmic balance between transparency and solidity.
Main façade view from the public plaza
Structure
The tower's form emerges from a rigorous study of structural efficiency and spatial experience. A minimal steel structure carries the glass-enclosed viewing platforms, foregrounding transparency and lightness.
Structural system detail
Integration with the urban skyline
Public Space
At the base of the tower sits a public plaza that serves both as a gathering space and a zone of passage. This ground-level move ensures the project contributes to the public realm beyond its role as a viewpoint.
