Golden Horn Plaza in Istanbul Blends Luxury with the City’s Historic Character
Golden Horn Plaza in Istanbul Blends Luxury with the City’s Historic Character
Istanbul – August 12, 2025
UK-based architectural firm Foster + Partners has unveiled its design for Golden Horn Plaza, a new retail and cultural complex set to rise on the north bank of Istanbul’s Golden Horn, as part of the wider Tersane masterplan to revitalise the city’s historic waterfront.
Situated near some of Istanbul’s most prominent landmarks, the project will feature high-end retail spaces distributed across interconnected pavilions. These pavilions can be adapted both internally and externally to suit the needs of global brands. Shaded walkways lined with trees will connect the different areas, while open courtyards and landscaped zones drawing inspiration from Istanbul’s traditional public gardens will host cultural events throughout the year.
According to Nigel Dancey, Head of Studio at Foster + Partners, the plaza is a key component of the city’s waterfront transformation. He noted that the building’s proportions and scale take cues from Istanbul’s maritime industrial heritage, ensuring harmony with the layered historic fabric of the surrounding area, and creating a vibrant year-round destination.
Golden Horn Plaza forms part of a larger 1.6-kilometre waterfront redevelopment that will transform an underused shoreline into a public promenade, featuring residential units, hotels, cultural venues, and landscaped public spaces positioning the area as a hub for commerce, leisure, and community life.
✦ ArchUp Editorial Insight
The Golden Horn Plaza in Istanbul presents a contemporary vision merging luxury with the city’s historic fabric. This is achieved through interconnected pavilions and tree-shaded spaces inspired by public gardens. The imagery reveals a balanced interplay between open courtyards, built volumes, and urban greenery. Yet, questions remain about the depth of contextual integration between its commercial nature and the area’s cultural identity. This is of particular concern within the larger Tersane masterplan. Nevertheless, the project strengthens the waterfront’s role as a multifunctional urban hub. It potentially fosters a sustainable cultural and retail experience over the long term.
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