The historic property Tarabya was formerly used as a summer residence in Istanbul by German ambassadors. Apart from the residence itself, an office building, an administration building as well as housings for the attendants were in use. After the shift of the Turkish capitol from Istanbul to Ankara, the property was only of secondary importance to the Foreign Service. It has only been in the last few years that one has begun to gradually restore the edifices to be used in the future. Besides the representative main building with the domicile of the German ambassador, the historical buildings are now also used as a kindergarten for the German community, office rooms of the Chamber of Foreign Trade, an art academy with artist’s housings and workshops, a concert hall and chapel as well as administration buildings. The areal measures 18 ha.

Along with the restoration of the buildings, there was also a need to renew the infrastructure (drinking water and irrigation water, effluent disposal, power supply including transformer and emergency standby power system, gas supply and telephone network). The reutilization of the property started in 2008 and has been completed now, in spring 2015. Commissioned by the Consulate General of Istanbul and the Federal Foreign Office of Berlin, igr took charge of the complete planning and construction supervision concerning pipe and cable infrastructure.



The picture shows the start of the construction of a so-called well foundation in order to create a start excavation for the installation of a storm water sewer DN 1600 in miner’s fashion. The pipe driving ends directly in the Bosporus.

Frank Huber