İzmir Parachute Tower

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İzmir Parachute Tower
İzmir Paraşüt Kulesi
Map
Interactive map of İzmir Parachute Tower
General information
TypeParachute tower
LocationKültürpark, İzmir, Turkey
Coordinates38°25′38.8″N 27°08′39.1″E / 38.427444°N 27.144194°E / 38.427444; 27.144194
Elevation4.5 metres (15 ft)[1]
Construction started1935[2]
Completed1937[2]
Opened20 August 1937 (1937-08-20)[3]
Cost₺38,758.61[2]
OwnerTurkish Aeronautical Association[2]
Height48 metres (157 ft)[1]
Technical details
Structural systemReinforced concrete[1]
Floor count3[1]
Lifts/elevators1[1]
Design and construction
Architects
  • Bedri Tümay
  • Algrandi
[1]
EngineerMuammer Tansu[1]

İzmir Parachute Tower (Turkish: İzmir Paraşüt Kulesi) is a parachute tower located within Kültürpark in İzmir, Turkey. It was built in 1937 by the Turkish Aeronautical Association. It is one of the two parachute towers in the country.

History

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Mayor Behçet Uz, who saw the parachute tower in Gorky Park in Moscow, suggested that a similar tower be built in Kültürpark to the Turkish Aeronautical Association.[2] The Turkish Aeronautical Association sent a delegation to Russia to investigate and decided to build a parachute tower in Ankara in addition to İzmir.[2] The construction of the tower, whose architectural project was prepared by Bedri Tümay and Algrandi, started in 1935 within Kültürpark.[1][2][4] The tower, which costed 38,758.61 Turkish liras, was completed in 1937.[2] It was inaugurated on 20 August along with the 7th İzmir International Fair with the participation of the then-Economy Minister Celâl Bayar.[3] The tower operated for a fee during the fair period.[5] It was temporarily closed due to damage in the 2020 Aegean Sea earthquake.[6]

Architecture

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Seventy-five oak piles were nailed to the floor of the İzmir Parachute Tower, which was built using reinforced concrete as the first concrete parachute tower in the world.[1][3] The tower, which has three terraces, is 4.5 metres (15 ft) above sea level and 48 metres (157 ft) above ground level.[1] There is an elevator in the middle of the tower and a 245-step spiral staircase around this elevator.[1][3]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "Paraşüt Kulesi" (PDF). Arkitekt (in Turkish). Vol. 1938, no. 1938-02 (86). pp. 40–42. Retrieved 26 September 2018.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h "Türkiye'deki İkiz Paraşüt Kuleleri" (in Turkish). Sanal Alfabe. 8 January 2015. Archived from the original on 26 September 2018. Retrieved 26 September 2018.
  3. ^ a b c d "İlk Paraşüt Kulesi Bugün Açılıyor - Son Posta - 1937" (in Turkish). 35Punto. 2 September 2023. Retrieved 25 August 2025.
  4. ^ Kayın, Emel (July 2016). "İzmir Enternasyonal Fuarı ve Kültürpark İçin Bir Koruma Çerçevesi: Modern Miras, Kültürel Peyzaj ve Hafıza Temelli İrdelemeler" (PDF) (in Turkish). Mimarlar Odası İzmir Şubesi. Archived (PDF) from the original on 21 September 2018. Retrieved 21 September 2018.
  5. ^ "İzmir Fuarı'nda paraşüt heyecanı". Ege'de Son Söz (in Turkish). 17 September 2018. Archived from the original on 21 September 2018. Retrieved 26 April 2020.
  6. ^ Arabacıoğlu, Sıla (12 July 2023). "Akıbeti belirsiz: İzmir'in Paraşüt Kulesi yıkılacak mı?". Yeni İzmir (in Turkish). Archived from the original on 23 September 2024. Retrieved 5 September 2024.
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