Istanbul, Turkey
The Pearl of Istanbul is an ambitious project designed by Forum Studio that will become Istanbul’s next high-end tourist destination and will provide residential, cultural, and retail venues for the city.
The project’s centerpiece will be the new marina, a string of man-made islands for boat parking that will function as an alternative to a seawall, protecting the development from harsh weather.
The islands are conceived as an alternative to a utilitarian seawall harmonizing with and extending the region’s natural landscape.
Changes in scale — from the monumental to the intimate — accommodate a variety of uses that will include nightlife and entertainment as well as family-friendly activities and academic marine research facilities.
Connected by pathways and organized around a central “pearlescent” node, Pearl’s islands form a calm harbor with more than 500 boats and commercial terminals for cruise ships.
In the inner harbor, floating islands reduce the impact on existing marine habitats and allow for future flexibility.
The development will be crowned with a series of sculptural towers alternating with landscaped terraces that cascade towards the water, mimicking the natural plateaus of the region.
The towers are designed to capture spectacular views of the marina — as lively at night as it is during the day — and the sea beyond it.
Hotel rooms and accessibly-priced apartments will ensure that the Pearl remains approachable to a broad public.
The towers’ base will house retail and restaurants.
Wrapping around the other side of the towers’ base, the development will present a welcoming façade to the surrounding community, with street-level retail, services, and traditional cafes that are the region’s hallmark.
The project is scheduled to be completed by July 2023.
Project: The Pearl of Istanbul
Architects: Forum Studio, Inc.
Renderings: Forum Studio, Inc.
