Construction is finishing up on Anatolium Marmara in Istanbul, Turkey. Having led the design team on this project it was a wonderful experience to do a walk through last week and see the progress as it is nearing completion. It is looking great and certainly reflects the original design effort.
Located in the rapidly developing Kartal region of Istanbul, the 230,000 sm urban infill development is also located next to the M5 highway and has great visibility from the surrounding area. Access is extremely convenient, I traveled from the city center to the development via the Metro. The mall is connected directly from the Metro underground through a short tunnel or above straight into the plaza. With over 60,000sm of retail GLA the project includes a 4-level IKEA, a cinema, supermarket, electronic market, spa and fitness center, 150 retail shops, and restaurants. An iconic 43 level office/ home office tower of 46,000 sm anchors the development. The tower offers a 360 degree viewing terrace of the Anatolian side of Istanbul.
“A modern iconic addition to Istanbul’s skyline.”
It was a unique challenging triangular site that required thoughtful design to meet the density requirements of the program. We designed an innovative feature element representing the surrounding hills of the area. A sloping green space that extends from the main plaza all the way to an outdoor terrace on the tower. This green space is accessible from the main plaza and the 2 levels of outdoor restaurants. The tower’s design inspiration was an eagle reflecting flight, ascension, and wings, creating a memorable modern skyline. The project is slated to open on May 4th, I look forward to visiting it again soon.
inPLACE Design is an architecture, planning, and design firm with the experience and capabilities to create extraordinary, engaging, and inspiring placemaking in cities, towns and suburbs both nationally and internationally. We are dedicated to design excellence and innovative design strategies that are environmentally responsible and sustainable.
