Newly built skyscrapers rising up in European side of Istanbul behind the Sultanahmet Mosque and the Hagia Sofia are already altering the silhoutte of the historical peninsula.

Istanbul’s old city’s silhouette, which has entranced many folks from writers to architects through the centuries, faces serious danger, as the very same silhouette that has somehow managed to remain intact and has survived fires and earthquakes is being damaged by the ongoing construction of skyscrapers on the Zeytinburnu coastal road. When viewed from the Asian side of Istanbul, the construction of the three skyscrapers which started last year can be viewed from behind the Hagia Sophia Museum and the Sultanahmet Mosque (Blue Mosque), both ot them are landmarks for the millenia-old city.

Istanbul Silhouette Ruined by skyscrapers

After a Turkish family living on the Asian side of the city realized that the historical silhouette of Istanbuls most famous landmarks was being affected by the construction project, they filed a complaint with the Ministry of Culture and Tourism and asked for an investigation to be conducted. The construction project was investigated then by the Cultural and Natural Assets Conservation Board, and then the board decided that the construction site of the skyscrapers at the center of the complaint was in fact outside of the city’s specified protected areas. However, Ministry of Culture and Tourism directorate officials in Ankara state that the construction site fell inside the historic areas that are included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Hagia Sophia and Blue Mosque falling victims to visual pollution in Istanbul

A further investigation by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism into the construction area revealed that the site was having a negative impact on the silhouette of the historical peninsula. The ministry informed local municipalities of the situation, İstanbul Metropolitan Municipality along with the local Zeytinburnu Municipality have been called immediately to carry out their own probes. Despite one month has passed since the warning, given to the contractor the construction still continues to rise in Istanbul. The constraction site belongs to ASTAY real estate Istanbul.

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