Aviation Martyrs' Monument

• Location: Istanbul/Turkey
• Client: Istanbul Enerji & Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality
• Sector: Civic & Government, Masterplanning
• Size: -
• Year: 2023
• Scope: Lighting Design & Consultancy.

The Aviation Martyrs’ Monument in Saraçhane stands as a powerful symbol within Istanbul’s historic fabric, uniting civic memory and public presence. The intervention delivered by EC Lighting Design Studio forms Step 3 of the Saraçhane Lighting Masterplan led by Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality and Istanbul Enerji. Conceived as a long-term, city-scale framework, the masterplan goes beyond visual enhancement to address wayfinding, safety, night-time identity, and urban continuity. Within this step, we developed a coherent lighting language that treats the monument and its pedestrian setting as one spatial narrative, making the site’s historical gravitas quietly legible after dark.

 

Our approach emphasizes restraint and clarity. Warm, low-glare layers articulate the monument’s proportions and reliefs without over-dramatization, while ambient levels in the surroundings remain deliberately subdued. In this balance, the mem

orial attains a composed yet confident presence—visible enough to guide and gather, modest enough to preserve reverence. Pedestrian routes, approach axes, and landscape touchpoints are completed with discreet cues that support orientation and safety. Non-invasive mounting methods and stable, low-maintenance light sources respect conservation principles and ensure operational sustainability.

 

What emerges is a night-time identity that anchors the monument within the broader vision of the Saraçhane Masterplan, holding together “reverence” and “public function” in equal measure. Here, light becomes more than illumination: it is a language of remembrance, a calm companion to the rhythm of the park, and a respectful guide for visitors—ultimately contributing a durable layer to the city’s collective memory.