Istanbul-based Architecture Firm Opens First NYC Office

“New York City is the world center of business, commerce and design,” Murat Tabanlıoğlu said in a statement. “We are excited to expand into this great market.”

So far, the firm’s work in the city is limited. The firm designed two condominium buildings on East 13th Street for the Amirian Group, which are currently under construction. The company also created concept renderings for 118 East 59th Street, a long-stalled condo project on the Upper East Side. The designs were produced for Madison Equities, though the site is still owned by Euro Properties. In a recent interview with The Real Deal, Tabanlioğlu described the design as lego-like and partially inspired by Piet Mondrian’s colorful geometric paintings.

The firm also created similar designs for Madison for a “brother building” on East 47th Street and Lexington Avenue, but the developer ultimately didn’t purchase the site.

Madison Equities’ Robert Gladstone, who recently indicated that he’s still eyeing the 59th Street property, did not return messages seeking comment.

The firm’s other work includes Istanbul Sapphire, the tallest building in Turkey, and Astana Nurly Zhol, a newly-opened train station in Kazakhstan. Tabanlıoğlu’s U.S. expansion comes at a time when international superstar architects — like Zaha Hadid, Bjarke Ingels, Rafael Viñoly and Christian de Portzamparc, to name a few — are increasingly selected for high-profile projects in the city.

Cagri Kanver, who works as an investment advisor for GD3 Real Estate, said that he connected Tabanlioglu and Gladstone. He’s worked for other architecture firms, including Perkins + Will as a go-between for international clients.

“Investors follow him and listen to me,” he said of Tabanlioğlu. “It all filters through me. I will only put it together if the design is good.”
By Kathryn Brenzel |The Real Deal