Located in the heart of the Historical Peninsula, the 261-year-old Istanbul University Beyazit Fire Tower's lights will be providing denizens of Istanbul with a forecast for the next day's weather from now on, just as it used to.

Present at the special evening where the new image of the Istanbul University Beyazıt Fire Tower was introduced as it made its colorful entry back into the Istanbul scene were YÖK Director and IU Rector Prof. Dr. Yunus Söylet and Siemens A.Ş. General Manager Hüseyin Gelis, as well as many representatives of the business, art, political and academic communities. The story of the 261-year history of the Istanbul University Beyazıt Fire Tower was presented at the gathering with various visual effects.

YÖK Director and Istanbul University Rector Prof. Dr. Yunus Söylet said that the project, completed together with the joint efforts of Siemens and OSRAM, had rejuvenated another one of the symbolic landmarks of Istanbul and Istanbul University. YÖK Director and Istanbul University Rector Prof. Dr. Yunus Söylet continued by saying: "The Istanbul University Beyazit Fire Tower, which is one of the unchanging symbols of the beautiful city of Istanbul, bonding East and West in the cradle of civilization, is a rare and unique work of art in terms of architecture, history and artistic features. This project, which is one of the most striking demonstrations of how Istanbul University stands up to protect its heritage, is one of the most important legs in the overall project of opening our Beyazit Campus to tourism. Leaving the unique works that have come down to us from our ancestors to posterity in the best condition is one of our principal duties. In doing this, of course, it is important to ensure that these works do not lose their functions and that they continue to be spaces that are kept alive, attracting visitors. On behalf of Istanbul University, I would like to say that we will make every effort to protect and perpetuate our cultural assets. I take the opportunity at this time to thank all of those who have worked on this extraordinary project that has added color to the Istanbul scene."

Siemens A.Ş. General Manager Hüseyin Gelis remarked that the corporation regarded it a social responsibility to retrieve and rejuvenate this historical symbol of Istanbul, the Istanbul University Beyazit Fire Tower. He added: "The historical identity of the Istanbul University Beyazit Fire Tower as well as its position in the Istanbul skyline made it imperative that its magnificence during the day be carried into the night as well. It was for this reason that the structure had to be illuminated carefully, meticulously and esthetically. As a company that prioritizes energy and the sustainability of history, our joint efforts with Istanbul University and OSRAM have given us the happy opportunity to revitalize an old tradition and provide the historical and cultural life of Istanbul with yet another magnificent work of art. Besides adding color to the Istanbul skyline, the project has at the same time created a bridge between past and present. As Siemens, we regard this project as an inherent part of our strategy of creating "Sustainable Cities." We are aware that such efforts are part of our responsibility toward future generations and believe that this is the only valid key to "responsible growth."

Technology that is not harmful to historical works of art

Illuminated with LED technology that is not harmful to historical works of art, the Beyazit Tower from now on will provide Istanbul with a forecast for the next day's weather. The new system of illumination will light up blue for clear and sunny weather, green for rain, yellow for fog, and red for snow.

OSRAM officials explained that the architectural illumination design for the Beyazit Tower was created with maximum care and meticulous sensitivity in an effort to carry the structure into the lives of future generations. They expressed their great pride in being able to contribute to revitalizing the Istanbul University Beyazit Fire Tower, a structure that has managed to remain standing despite the many adversities it has encountered in the past.

It was pointed out that the illumination of historical works of art is a challenging process due to the irreversibility of the deformities that might appear in the structure with time. It was stated that extreme care and precision were employed in the realization of the project.

The LED technology used in the illumination project is environment-friendly and also promotes an esthetic appearance for the structure. Used for maximum energy efficiency, LED technology is closely related to the sustainability concepts adopted by both Siemens and OSRAM.

With this new project that will be adding a colorful touch to Istanbul…

Adding color to the Istanbul scene...