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

Written by Maria-Cristina Florian
Published on September 29, 2022

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.