Istanbul’s skyscrapers have traditionally been located especially in Levent and Maslak area on the European side. Skyscrapers are multi-purpose complexes with residental properties, malls, offices, leisure facilities and even hospitals. Today, they are also being built on the Asian side at an accelerating pace, for example in the Ataşehir district and the Kadıköy neighborhood, Fikirtepe.
Istanbul’s skyscrapers are architecturally interesting – not just boring and simple boxes. They are also often elaborately illuminated, and in the darkness of the night they are like beautiful pieces of art made of light. From the largest modern skyscraper area, the business district of Levent, you’ll also find Istanbul Sapphire. Its rooftop terrace, as I write this post, has the most spectacular view over Istanbul. Perhaps the Küçük Çamlıca TV Radio Tower on the Asian side will have even better view than Sapphire, but it’s still under construction.
Amazing Sapphire
Istanbul Sapphire 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. Sapphire has a roof height of 238 meters: the building has an overall structural height of 261 meters including its spire, which is part of the design.
It is also the country’s first ecological skyscraper.
As of 2019, Istanbul Sapphire was the 4th tallest skyscraper in Istanbul and in whole Turkey.
Taller are only Metropol Istanbul Tower (70 floors / 301 metres) in the Ataşehir district on the Asian side of the city and the Skyland Istanbul Towers 1 and 2 (2 x 70 floors / 293 metres), located in Seyrantepe district on the European side.
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.
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. The consistency of garden maintenance is under the residence management company’s responsibility.
The rooftop terrace has a cafe, meeting facilities, souvenir shop and, of course, the stunning panoramic view. The view is unique all over Istanbul; if the weather is clear you can see most of Istanbul from Black Sea to Marmara Sea, of course also the Bosphorus. In addition to that, you are also able to see all three Istanbul bridges from Europe to Asia at the same time. It´s really unusual and breathtaking experience!
The rooftop terrace you can also find the 4D cinema, where you can watch the movie, “The 4D helicopter ride “. There you’ll depart from Sapphire by a helicopter to see the city from a bird’s eye view.
Visit Istanbul Sapphire and enjoy the magnificent views: