The TAT Towers
The TAT Towers are probably the most intriguing case of all abandoned buildings in Istanbul. This office complex composed by two high rise towers is located in one of the most valuable locations in Istanbul, the area of Zencirlikuyu, right across the first Bosporus bridge, on the European side of the city. The project is almost complete, missing only the fit out works for immediate occupancy of the space.
Adding to the mystery surrounding this project which started to be built over 30 years ago, there are even rumors about a certain fortune teller which is supposed to have told the project owner, Mr. Salih Tatlıcı that he would never see the towers finished. Which actually happened as Mr. Tatlıcı passed away in 1999 and the building complex was only considered finished a few years later.
The project is composed by two high rise towers, comprising 41 levels, 28 of them for office use and 2 with penthouses, 5 underground parking and a few technical levels.
The problems of the TAT Towers begin immediately after Mr. Tatlıcı’s death, when an enormous dispute for the heritage of his fortune started between his heirs. Apparently, in his will, he specified that some of his descendants would not have the right to any of the patrimony accumulated by him. The legal dispute within the family blocked the possibility of putting the office space in the market and subsequently it remained empty for the following years and until today.
The legal fight went through several lawsuits with the purpose of putting this extremely valuable office space to rent. Various aspects of different nature emerged during the following years that blocked the possibility of putting the buildings to use.
A team of technical experts was brought into the process in order to evaluate the viability of usage of the office space. One of the problems pointed by renowned local engineers and architects was the fact that the construction of the building started in the 90’s, before the 1999 earthquake that affected the Istanbul region violently and which effect resulted in major changes in the regulation for the design of structural elements. It was then stated that the existing structure was not capable of properly endure major seismic movements (although it stood firm in 1999) and, to put it back to use, major reinforcement works would have to be done in the columns, beams and sheer walls.
Another aspect blocking the expedition of the occupancy license brought along the process was the existence of large discrepancies between the permitted area of construction and the one that was really built. It was referred at the time that to bridge those differences would require major adaptations of the existing buildings in order to comply with the standing regulations.
It is shocking to observe these two massive glazed towers standing on the top of the emblematic Barbaros Avenue, which dives down to the Bosporus towards the Southeast and connects to Büyükdere Avenue, in the North, setting the start of the Levent CBD area, Istanbul’s main financial center.
From a distance, no one would tell these two towers are totally empty of life and human activity. During day time, the reflective slick curtain wall façades reinforce the mystery of what happens behind the glass. By night, the façades gain life through decorative lighting features and the blinking airplane lights located at the top of the towers. All this, makes one believe that this is just another large corporate complex in the jagged skyline of Istanbul.
The reality is quite different, as these two mammoths stand empty for the last three decades. Unused and empty, the huge area subtracted from the city has no positive role in the urban system. All the problems raised during the legal processes seem to overlook the massive environmental and social problems that their abandoned condition constitutes.
Changed by Coronavirus?
In March 2020, two of Mr. Tatlıcı’s heirs proposed in a petition that the towers would be used as a test center or a temporary hospital for the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic. Although the characteristics of the building might not be the best because of the small footprint levels of the high rise typology, the urgency of having new spaces to accommodate health infrastructure in such a central area of the city might actually be of interest to the community. Anyway, nothing has changed in the TAT Towers and they remain as one of the many Abandoned Buildings of Istanbul.
The set of articles under the name “Abandoned Buildings of Istanbul – Data Gathering” being prepared and shared by ARKollective, aim to raise awareness over a very common phenomenon happening in Istanbul and in many major cities around the world. To read more about large abandoned buildings in Istanbul and ideas that might change their condition, please check our previous posts:
Abandoned Buildings of Istanbul – Data Gathering – The Merter AVM
Abandoned buildings of Istanbul – Data Gathering – The Bostanci AVM
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