Construction plans for Istanbul skyscrapers canceled

The 4th Istanbul Administrative Court has ruled against the construction of skyscrapers which would ruin the historic silhouette of the city.

The Court indicated that according to Construction Act no. 3194, settlements and their structures must be constructed in a fashion compatible with planning, science, health and environmental conditions.

It further emphasized that the purpose of all such plans was to meet the social and cultural requirements of the area’s people, to create a safe and healthy environment, and to enhance the quality of life.

In its decision, the court decided that the skyscrapers were not compatible with the World Heritage Site Protection Principles to which Turkey had committed and to national preservation criteria. The court ruled that the triple towers had an adverse effect on the silhouette of the historical peninsula, and would set a negative precedent for such future structures.

The court noted that the plans of the skyscrapers in question were too high according to the construction criteria of the environment, the plans were not as comprehensive and lacked the integrity needed, and they were incompatible with the fundamentals of development.

Adapted from Worldbulletin