On October 16, 2020, we published an article of this same series, dedicated to what we believe are the most emblematic and best known of all the Abandoned Buildings of Istanbul: the TAT Towers.
What might seem surreal to many is that more than 20 years after those twin towers were left abandoned, another pair, even taller and more expensive, built a few hundred meters away, were having the same destiny.
The Çiftçi Towers are two high-end residential skyscrapers standing in one of the most expensive areas of Istanbul. With a unique placement, all residences overlook the Bosporus, the European and Asian sides of the city, and each unit cost is well above 1 million USD.
46 floors, on top of a shopping center, that was built in 3 years but has been waiting for 5 more. Designed by a foreign architecture firm, it is one of those projects made for the few. Like so many other in Istanbul, a city where social and economic breaches are getting wider and wider.
Again the problem resides in a conflict between partners – Türkerler Inşaat, the construction company and Çiftçi Holding, the land owner – clash in mutual accusations. Now in court, qualified fraud, tax evasion, issuing and using fake invoices, are some of the subjects on trial.
The administration also adds its part to the mess, by approving the project in the 2010’s and later considering that parameters were exceeded, thus stopping the construction on the last minute.
The reality is that if this was to happen in a more planned city, the impact of such phenomenon would raise criticism and a public debate. The sad reality Istanbul faces is that this happens in such a scale that no one cares anymore. Acceptance in silence of these abnormal situations became something everyone got used to.
For more on the Abandoned Buildings of Istanbul series:
Abandoned Buıildings of Istanbul – Data Gathering – The Three Acarkent Towers
Abandoned Buildings of Istanbul – Data Gathering – The Botter Apartments
Abandoned Buildings of Istanbul – Data Gathering – The Sancaktepe Towers
Abandoned Buildings of Istanbul – Data Gathering – The TAT Towers
Abandoned Buildings of Istanbul – Data Gathering – The Merter AVM
Abandoned buildings of Istanbul – Data Gathering – The Bostanci AVM
Abandoned Buildings of Istanbul – Data Gathering – The GPIH
Abandoned Buildings of Istanbul – Data Gathering – The Botter Apartments
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