Perkins + Will to design ‘Airport City’ in Istanbul
Masterplan to be delivered in four months’ time, with construction expected to start in 2016
Architecture and design firm Perkins + Will has been selected to devise the masterplan for a major mixed-use urban development beside the Istanbul New Airport, which is currently under construction.
‘Airport City’ is a planned 1700-acre development that will include a central innovation district, hotels, retail and commercial office space, logistic centers, an expo and convention center. Plans include a metro and high-speed rail connections to Istanbul and beyond.
“The opportunity to lay the groundwork for a development of this magnitude is both a tremendous honour and responsibility. Istanbul’s new airport will serve millions of passengers, but its airport city will be key to capturing that vitality. Beyond simply supporting aviation, our plan will create a framework for a truly unique center of economic, cultural, and social life,” said David Green, EMEA Urban Design Lead at Perkins + Will.
Cem Cakaralir, Deputy General Manager of IGA Havalimani Isletmesi AS, which is overseeing the Airport City development, said: “This is an unprecedented opportunity to launch the Istanbul New Airport as a global crossroads into Europe, the Middle East, and Asia. It is an important investment for the future of Turkey.”
Perkins + Will is set to deliver the masterplan to IGA in four months’ time, with ground breaking expected to take place in 2016.
