Odakule, Commercial building in Beyoğlu, Turkey.
Odakule is a modern high-rise building in the heart of Beyoğlu that connects two streets through its glass-fronted ground floor. The structure spans between two alleyways and features a distinctive transparent design that facilitates passage through the building.
Before this building stood the Bon Marché, Istanbul's first major department store from the 19th century. The current high-rise was completed in 1976 and marked a turning point in the neighborhood's development.
The building hosts the Goethe-Institut and serves as home to various institutions that shape the neighborhood's cultural life. It functions as a meeting point where communities gather and events regularly take place.
The building is accessible during daytime business hours and allows visitors to walk through the ground-level passage. The transparent structure makes it easy to spot entrances and navigate through the building without getting lost.
Odakule was among the first four high-rise buildings constructed in Istanbul during the 1970s and helped reshape the city's skyline. Architects Kaya Tecimen and Ali Taner created with this project a model for modern urban development.
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