For almost two full centuries, a 1.2-kilometer stretch of waterfront in Istanbul, Turkey, restricted access to the public. The area was being used as a cruise terminal, and allowed only maintenance, deliveries, and the 6,000 or so passengers disembarking from each ship to enter the fenced-off space.
A new master plan from Dror and Gensler, currently under construction, will reunite the general public with this stretch of waterfront by moving the terminal operations underground.
The feature that made this below-grade relocation possible is a first-of-its-kind hydraulic boardwalk and gangway system, invented in collaboration with Miami-based BEA Architects. When not in use, the system is completely hidden underground. When a cruise ship docks, the boardwalk hatch opens and becomes a perimeter wall to secure the area. The gangway then rises from its hiding spot underground to meet the ship doors and transport the passengers to the subterranean terminal levels. Once all passengers have disembarked and the ship leaves, the system retreats underground and the space is freed up for public use. The compact design requires a short strip of land that measures just 3.5 meters wide.
This clever solution gives more than 60,000 sm of accessible waterfront space back to the public. Plans call for a pedestrian-only neighborhood that features a mix of shops, restaurants, cultural attractions, and offices.
Courtesy Dror.
Courtesy Dror.
Courtesy Dror.
Related Stories
AEC Tech | Feb 20, 2024
AI for construction: What kind of tool can artificial intelligence become for AEC teams?
Avoiding the hype and gathering good data are half the battle toward making artificial intelligence tools useful for performing design, operational, and jobsite tasks.
Sustainability | Nov 1, 2023
Researchers create building air leakage detection system using a camera in real time
Researchers at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory have developed a system that uses a camera to detect air leakage from buildings in real time.
75 Top Building Products | Aug 7, 2023
Enter today! BD+C's 75 Top Building Products for 2023
BD+C editors are now accepting submissions for the annual 75 Top Building Products awards. The winners will be featured in the November/December 2023 issue of Building Design+Construction.
Resiliency | Aug 7, 2023
Creative ways cities are seeking to beat urban heat gain
As temperatures in many areas hit record highs this summer, cities around the world are turning to creative solutions to cope with the heat. Here are several creative ways cities are seeking to beat urban heat gain.
AEC Innovators | Jun 15, 2023
Rogers-O'Brien Construction pilots wearables to reduce heat-related injuries on jobsites
Rogers-O'Brien Construction (RO) has launched a pilot program utilizing SafeGuard, a safety-as-a-service platform for real-time health and safety risk assessment. Non-invasive wearables connected to SafeGuard continuously monitor personnel to prevent heat exhaustion on jobsites, reducing the risk of related injuries. RO is the first general contractor to pilot this program.
Office Buildings | May 15, 2023
Sixteen-story office tower will use 40% less energy than an average NYC office building
This month marks the completion of a new 16-story office tower that is being promoted as New York City’s most sustainable office structure. That boast is backed by an innovative HVAC system that features geothermal wells, dedicated outdoor air system (DOAS) units, radiant heating and cooling, and a sophisticated control system to ensure that the elements work optimally together.
Design Innovation Report | Apr 27, 2023
BD+C's 2023 Design Innovation Report
Building Design+Construction’s Design Innovation Report presents projects, spaces, and initiatives—and the AEC professionals behind them—that push the boundaries of building design. This year, we feature four novel projects and one building science innovation.
Design Innovation Report | Apr 19, 2023
Reinforced concrete walls and fins stiffen and shade the National Bank of Kuwait skyscraper
When the National Bank of Kuwait first conceived its new headquarters more than a decade ago, it wanted to make a statement about passive design with a soaring tower that could withstand the extreme heat of Kuwait City, the country’s desert capital.
Design Innovation Report | Apr 19, 2023
HDR uses artificial intelligence tools to help design a vital health clinic in India
Architects from HDR worked pro bono with iKure, a technology-centric healthcare provider, to build a healthcare clinic in rural India.
3D Printing | Apr 11, 2023
University of Michigan’s DART Laboratory unveils Shell Wall—a concrete wall that’s lightweight and freeform 3D printed
The University of Michigan’s DART Laboratory has unveiled a new product called Shell Wall—which the organization describes as the first lightweight, freeform 3D printed and structurally reinforced concrete wall. The innovative product leverages DART Laboratory’s research and development on the use of 3D-printing technology to build structures that require less concrete.
