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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 7th 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.
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
![Istanbul Architecture City Guide: 5 Historical and 20 Contemporary Projects to Explore in Türkiye’s Largest City - Image 6 of 26](https://images.adsttc.com/media/images/6334/a012/7120/027f/25dc/1d43/newsletter/istambul-city-architecture-guide-5-historical-and-20-contemporary-projects-to-explore-in-turkiyes-largest-city_2.jpg?1664393268)
Sultan Ahmed Mosque (Blue Mosque) / Sedefkar Mehmed Agha
![Istanbul Architecture City Guide: 5 Historical and 20 Contemporary Projects to Explore in Türkiye’s Largest City - Image 2 of 26](https://images.adsttc.com/media/images/6334/a03c/4dba/6e18/52bc/14ef/newsletter/istambul-city-architecture-guide-5-historical-and-20-contemporary-projects-to-explore-in-turkiyes-largest-city_2.jpg?1664393328)
Topkapı Palace
![Istanbul Architecture City Guide: 5 Historical and 20 Contemporary Projects to Explore in Türkiye’s Largest City - Image 7 of 26](https://images.adsttc.com/media/images/6334/a06a/7120/027f/25dc/1d47/newsletter/istambul-city-architecture-guide-5-historical-and-20-contemporary-projects-to-explore-in-turkiyes-largest-city_2.jpg?1664393367)
Basilica Cistern
![Istanbul Architecture City Guide: 5 Historical and 20 Contemporary Projects to Explore in Türkiye’s Largest City - Image 8 of 26](https://images.adsttc.com/media/images/6334/a053/7120/027f/25dc/1d46/newsletter/istambul-city-architecture-guide-5-historical-and-20-contemporary-projects-to-explore-in-turkiyes-largest-city_2.jpg?1664393326)
Istanbul Archaeology Museum
![Istanbul Architecture City Guide: 5 Historical and 20 Contemporary Projects to Explore in Türkiye’s Largest City - Image 9 of 26](https://images.adsttc.com/media/images/6334/a0cf/4dba/6e7b/0cd3/cb45/newsletter/istambul-city-architecture-guide-5-historical-and-20-contemporary-projects-to-explore-in-turkiyes-largest-city_6.jpg?1664393445)
Contemporary Istanbul
TV and Radio Tower / Melike Altınışık Architects (MAA)
![Istanbul Architecture City Guide: 5 Historical and 20 Contemporary Projects to Explore in Türkiye’s Largest City - Image 3 of 26](https://images.adsttc.com/media/images/6334/a1fc/4dba/6e7b/0cd3/cb5c/newsletter/istambul-city-architecture-guide-5-historical-and-20-contemporary-projects-to-explore-in-turkiyes-largest-city_8.jpg?1664393731)
The Ataturk Cultural Center / Tabanlioglu Architects
![Istanbul Architecture City Guide: 5 Historical and 20 Contemporary Projects to Explore in Türkiye’s Largest City - Image 13 of 26](https://images.adsttc.com/media/images/6334/a23d/7120/027f/25dc/1d83/newsletter/istambul-city-architecture-guide-5-historical-and-20-contemporary-projects-to-explore-in-turkiyes-largest-city_9.jpg?1664394046)
Apple Bagdat Caddesi / Foster + Partners
![Istanbul Architecture City Guide: 5 Historical and 20 Contemporary Projects to Explore in Türkiye’s Largest City - Image 10 of 26](https://images.adsttc.com/media/images/6334/a25a/4dba/6e7b/0cd3/cb61/newsletter/istambul-city-architecture-guide-5-historical-and-20-contemporary-projects-to-explore-in-turkiyes-largest-city_10.jpg?1664393825)
Kilic Ali Pasa Hamam Restoration / Cafer Bozkurt Architecture
![Istanbul Architecture City Guide: 5 Historical and 20 Contemporary Projects to Explore in Türkiye’s Largest City - Image 12 of 26](https://images.adsttc.com/media/images/6334/a29c/7120/027f/25dc/1d8c/newsletter/istambul-city-architecture-guide-5-historical-and-20-contemporary-projects-to-explore-in-turkiyes-largest-city_11.jpg?1664393890)
Arter Museum / Grimshaw
![Istanbul Architecture City Guide: 5 Historical and 20 Contemporary Projects to Explore in Türkiye’s Largest City - Image 11 of 26](https://images.adsttc.com/media/images/6334/a2bf/7120/027f/25dc/1d96/newsletter/istambul-city-architecture-guide-5-historical-and-20-contemporary-projects-to-explore-in-turkiyes-largest-city_12.jpg?1664393925)
Divan Kuruçeşme Venue / GAD Architecture
![Istanbul Architecture City Guide: 5 Historical and 20 Contemporary Projects to Explore in Türkiye’s Largest City - Image 17 of 26](https://images.adsttc.com/media/images/6334/a33d/4dba/6e7b/0cd3/cb86/newsletter/istambul-city-architecture-guide-5-historical-and-20-contemporary-projects-to-explore-in-turkiyes-largest-city_13.jpg?1664394050)
Marmara Forum Cloud Playground / Carve
![Istanbul Architecture City Guide: 5 Historical and 20 Contemporary Projects to Explore in Türkiye’s Largest City - Image 15 of 26](https://images.adsttc.com/media/images/6334/a37d/4dba/6e7b/0cd3/cb91/newsletter/istambul-city-architecture-guide-5-historical-and-20-contemporary-projects-to-explore-in-turkiyes-largest-city_14.jpg?1664394116)
Istanbul Maritime Museum / TEGET
![Istanbul Architecture City Guide: 5 Historical and 20 Contemporary Projects to Explore in Türkiye’s Largest City - Image 16 of 26](https://images.adsttc.com/media/images/6334/a3b5/7120/027f/25dc/1dc4/newsletter/istambul-city-architecture-guide-5-historical-and-20-contemporary-projects-to-explore-in-turkiyes-largest-city_15.jpg?1664394172)
Galataport / Dror + Gensler
![Istanbul Architecture City Guide: 5 Historical and 20 Contemporary Projects to Explore in Türkiye’s Largest City - Image 14 of 26](https://images.adsttc.com/media/images/6334/a3fd/4dba/6e7b/0cd3/cb9e/newsletter/istambul-city-architecture-guide-5-historical-and-20-contemporary-projects-to-explore-in-turkiyes-largest-city_16.jpg?1664394259)
Theodosius Cistern Entrance Building / Cafer Bozkurt Architecture
![Istanbul Architecture City Guide: 5 Historical and 20 Contemporary Projects to Explore in Türkiye’s Largest City - Image 5 of 26](https://images.adsttc.com/media/images/6334/a166/7120/027f/25dc/1d62/newsletter/istambul-city-architecture-guide-5-historical-and-20-contemporary-projects-to-explore-in-turkiyes-largest-city_7.jpg?1664393580)
Istanbul Painting and Sculpture Museum / EAA - Emre Arolat Architecture
![Istanbul Architecture City Guide: 5 Historical and 20 Contemporary Projects to Explore in Türkiye’s Largest City - Image 22 of 26](https://images.adsttc.com/media/images/6334/a496/7120/027f/25dc/1dd6/newsletter/istambul-city-architecture-guide-5-historical-and-20-contemporary-projects-to-explore-in-turkiyes-largest-city_17.jpg?1664394396)
Koc University Medical Sciences Campus / Kreatif Architects + Cannon Design
![Istanbul Architecture City Guide: 5 Historical and 20 Contemporary Projects to Explore in Türkiye’s Largest City - Image 21 of 26](https://images.adsttc.com/media/images/6334/a4b8/7120/027f/25dc/1ddb/medium_jpg/istambul-city-architecture-guide-5-historical-and-20-contemporary-projects-to-explore-in-turkiyes-largest-city_18.jpg?1664394428)
Beylikduzu Ataturk Arts and Cultural Center / SO? Architecture and Ideas
![Istanbul Architecture City Guide: 5 Historical and 20 Contemporary Projects to Explore in Türkiye’s Largest City - Image 19 of 26](https://images.adsttc.com/media/images/6334/a53b/4dba/6e7b/0cd3/cbae/newsletter/istambul-city-architecture-guide-5-historical-and-20-contemporary-projects-to-explore-in-turkiyes-largest-city_20.jpg?1664394562)
Beyazıt State Library / Tabanlioglu Architects
![Istanbul Architecture City Guide: 5 Historical and 20 Contemporary Projects to Explore in Türkiye’s Largest City - Image 20 of 26](https://images.adsttc.com/media/images/6334/a4f6/4dba/6e7b/0cd3/cbac/newsletter/istambul-city-architecture-guide-5-historical-and-20-contemporary-projects-to-explore-in-turkiyes-largest-city_19.jpg?1664394493)
Özyeğin University Faculty of Architecture and Design / ARK-itecture
![Istanbul Architecture City Guide: 5 Historical and 20 Contemporary Projects to Explore in Türkiye’s Largest City - Image 18 of 26](https://images.adsttc.com/media/images/6334/a578/7120/027f/25dc/1dea/newsletter/istambul-city-architecture-guide-5-historical-and-20-contemporary-projects-to-explore-in-turkiyes-largest-city_21.jpg?1664394623)
Mecidiyekoy Liqueur and Cognac Factory / Emre Arolat Architecture
![Istanbul Architecture City Guide: 5 Historical and 20 Contemporary Projects to Explore in Türkiye’s Largest City - Image 26 of 26](https://images.adsttc.com/media/images/6334/a5f4/4dba/6e7b/0cd3/cbba/newsletter/istambul-city-architecture-guide-5-historical-and-20-contemporary-projects-to-explore-in-turkiyes-largest-city_22.jpg?1664394747)
Esas Aeropark / Tabanlioglu Architects
![Istanbul Architecture City Guide: 5 Historical and 20 Contemporary Projects to Explore in Türkiye’s Largest City - Image 4 of 26](https://images.adsttc.com/media/images/6334/a620/4dba/6e18/52bc/14f3/newsletter/istambul-city-architecture-guide-5-historical-and-20-contemporary-projects-to-explore-in-turkiyes-largest-city_23.jpg?1664394790)
Santral Istanbul Museum of Contemporary Arts / NSMH + EAA - Emre Arolat Architecture
![Istanbul Architecture City Guide: 5 Historical and 20 Contemporary Projects to Explore in Türkiye’s Largest City - Image 25 of 26](https://images.adsttc.com/media/images/6334/a65c/7120/027f/25dc/1e02/newsletter/istambul-city-architecture-guide-5-historical-and-20-contemporary-projects-to-explore-in-turkiyes-largest-city_24.jpg?1664394851)
Zorlu Center / Tabanlioglu Architects + EAA - Emre Arolat Architecture
![Istanbul Architecture City Guide: 5 Historical and 20 Contemporary Projects to Explore in Türkiye’s Largest City - Image 24 of 26](https://images.adsttc.com/media/images/6334/a685/7120/027f/25dc/1e07/medium_jpg/istambul-city-architecture-guide-5-historical-and-20-contemporary-projects-to-explore-in-turkiyes-largest-city_25.jpg?1664394889)
Tersane Istambul / Tabanlioglu Architects
![Istanbul Architecture City Guide: 5 Historical and 20 Contemporary Projects to Explore in Türkiye’s Largest City - Image 23 of 26](https://images.adsttc.com/media/images/6334/a6ba/4dba/6e7b/0cd3/cbcc/newsletter/istambul-city-architecture-guide-5-historical-and-20-contemporary-projects-to-explore-in-turkiyes-largest-city_26.jpg?1664394967)
You can visit our list of City Guides here.