Zorlu Center emerged from an architectural competition held in 2007, in which an international jury selected four teams as equal winners. Located at the European foot of Istanbul’s first bridge connecting Europe and Asia, the project brings together hotel, residential, retail and dining functions within a layout that integrates closely with the site’s topography and its surrounding urban fabric.

One of the most defining contributions during the competition was Murat Tabanlıoğlu’s proposal for a new performance center—a cultural venue Istanbul had long needed. This idea elevated the project beyond a mixed-use complex, introducing a civic anchor designed to enrich public life and strengthen the cultural presence of the site. The proposal guided the overall vision of the development and became a key element in shaping its identity.

Following the competition, the project was developed together with EAA. Today, Zorlu Center stands as one of Turkey’s most significant meeting points, a major destination where urban life and cultural activity converge.