Rising as the tallest tower on the Anatolian side of Istanbul, the new 42-story Renaissance Tower will serve as the headquarters for a dynamic construction and development company. Sited at the intersection of two major highways, the freestanding tower functions as an obelisk, announcing entrance to the city from the east. Its crystalline, chiseled massing, which takes cues from Ottoman geometric motifs and draws inspiration from surrounding local landforms, rotates approximately 33 degrees for optimum solar control. The double-skin curtain wall includes stippled golden scrims to further reduce heat loads. Three groupings of double-height sky gardens provide a thermal buffer between the exterior and interior, access to fresh air and a respite for office workers.