Istanbul skyscrapers to be knocked down

A series of Istanbul skyscrapers will be knocked down to preserve the historic skyline of the city.

The order from the Turkish government will see three towers in the Zeytinburnu area demolished, which were designed by Alpar Architecture for developer Astay Gayrimenkul as the heart of a 12-hectare development.

The ruling arrives just over a year after protests began in the country in response to controversial plans to rebuild Taksim Square. This year, Unesco has also threatened to take away Istanbul's World Heritage Site status because of its approach to planning new construction proejects.

"Both the developer and the Istanbul and Zeytinburnu municipalities appealed against the decision, but the Council of State has now rejected their applications," reports Dezeen.