Istanbul Sapphire

Istanbul Sapphire, or Sapphire, is a skyscraper located in the central business district of Levent in Istanbul, Turkey.

Istanbul Sapphire
A view of the tower from Büyükdere Avenue
General information
StatusComplete
TypeResidential
LocationBüyükdere Avenue, Levent, Istanbul, Turkey
Coordinates41°5′6.28″N 29°0′21.96″E
Opening4 March 2011[1]
CostUS$150,000,000
Height
Antenna spire261 m (856 ft)
Roof238 m (781 ft)
Technical details
Floor count54 (above ground)
10 (below ground)
64 (total)
Floor area165,139 m2 (1,777,540 sq ft)[2]
Design and construction
ArchitectTabanlıoğlu Architects
DeveloperKiler GYO
References
[3]

It was Istanbul's and Turkey's tallest skyscraper between 2010 and 2016, and the 4th tallest building in Europe when its construction was completed in 2010.[3] Sapphire rises 54 floors above ground level, and has an above-ground roof height of 238 meters: the building has an overall structural height of 261 meters including its spire, which is part of the design and not a radio antenna.[3] Designed by Tabanlıoğlu Architects, it is a shopping and luxury residence mixed-use development managed by Kiler GYO.[3] It is also the country's first ecological skyscraper.

As of 2019, Istanbul Sapphire is the 4th tallest skyscraper in Istanbul and Turkey, behind Metropol Istanbul Tower 1[4][5][6][7] (70 floors / 301 metres including its twin spires) in the Ataşehir district on the Asian side of the city; and the Skyland Istanbul Towers 1 and 2[8][9] (2 x 70 floors / 293 metres), located adjacent to Türk Telekom Stadium in the Seyrantepe quarter of the Sarıyer district, on the European side.

History and architecture

A view of Levent business district from the observation deck of Istanbul Sapphire at night
Elevator screen of Istanbul Sapphire

Istanbul Sapphire was designed by Tabanlıoğlu Architects as a high-tech structure which consists of 64 floors (54 above-ground and 10 basement floors), communal living floors, extensive parking spaces, a large shopping mall, and 47 floors for residential use.[3]

There are special floors with private gardens between every 3 floors, and every 9 floors are separated from each other by a communal living area or mechanical floors.[3] Design of the gardens are proposed with a number of alternatives and the consistency of garden maintenance is under the residence management company’s responsibility.

Turkey's deepest excavated construction pit

The foundation pit excavated for the project – 42.5 meters deep – is the deepest foundation pit excavated for any structure in Turkey.

Construction work

Construction of the project began in 2006 and was completed in 2010.[3] The building's official opening ceremony took place on 4 March 2011.[1]

The project is built on a land plot of 11,339 m2 and has an overall total construction area of 157,800 m2, which includes a 35,000 m2 shopping mall.

Companies

The companies involved in the development and construction of the project have included thus far:

  • Kiler GYO (investor and developer)
  • Güney Turizm (Mustafa Tatlıcı, owner of the plot)
  • Biskon Yapı (construction subsidiary of Kiler Holding and the project's main construction company)
  • Demsar İnşaat (project's sub-contractor for the structural construction of the skyscraper)
  • Tabanlıoğlu Architects (the project's architectural design firm)
  • Ruscheweyh Consult GmbH (consulting firm with expertise in wind loads on buildings and structures)

See also

References

Preceded by
İşbank Tower 1
Tallest Building in Istanbul
20102017
261 m
Succeeded by
Skyland Residence Tower
Preceded by
İşbank Tower 1
Tallest Building in Turkey
20102017
261 m
Succeeded by
Skyland Residence Tower
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