Konak Pier, a historic structure facing the İzmir Bay, bears a design attributed to the renowned French engineer and architect Gustave Eiffel. Originally built as a French customs building in the second half of the 19th century, it has undergone several functional transformations over the decades while preserving its architectural character. This unique structure, combining stonework and steel construction, stands as a testament to İzmir’s cultural and urban evolution.
The roots of the building date back to the mid-1860s, when İzmir emerged as a global trade hub. Limited shoreline and increasing trade volume demanded a new port and storage facilities for customs operations. Constructed under the supervision of the French customs authority, the complex was designed in 1890 with Eiffel’s architectural input. With its stone walls, timber roof trusses, and functional layout, Konak Pier became a symbolic part of the modernization of Ottoman port infrastructure.
The architectural language of the building blends industrial and civic elements. Its prismatic plan layout, load-bearing masonry, and arched openings reflect the characteristics of its time, while interior details—marble floors, wooden elements, and added steel structures—signal its adaptation across eras. The façade facing Birinci Kordon features rich decorative details that anchor the building in public memory.
Functionally, the structure has evolved over time. It served as a fish market in the 1960s, then as municipal offices and a parking lot in the 1990s. Following an extensive restoration in the early 2000s, it reopened in 2002 as the Konak Pier shopping center. The sections where historical stone structures merge with contemporary steel additions now represent a physical dialogue between past and present.
The story of Konak Pier is more than the history of a single structure—it mirrors the commercial, urban, and cultural transformations of İzmir itself. With a design linked to Eiffel and a location on the waterfront, this former customs house has earned its place as a meaningful example of architectural memory in Mediterranean port cities.
