Redevelopment of the Izmir Port District

The Municipality of Greater Izmir announced an international ideas competition for the urban design of the Aslancak-Turan district, situated close to the port.

This international competition, which conformed to the UNESCO/UIA Regulations, was approved by the International Union of Architects (UIA). 

 

Competition results

First prize :

Jochen Brandi from GERMANY

Theme and objectives

As the third largest city in Turkey, Izmir had a population of 3 million which was expected to reach 4 million by 2010. In developing the Aslancak-Turan district, the municipality wished to enhance the contemporary image of the city and affirm its status as an international hub through a programme of urban, economic and cultural expansion. 

This competition aimed to obtain preliminary ideas on the development of the site and the character of the urban space and architecture, enhance the contemporary image of the city and create a new city centre around the port area to reflect the emerging international status of Izmir. 

 

Key criteria

The agreed general criteria for evaluation were listed as follows: 

 

  • Public use needed to be stressed and underlined;
  • Identity through public spaces, but not necessarily buildings;
  • Appropriate complexity of land use to reflect the project’s challenging context;
  • Centrality versus being a centre: the central position of the area, whether as a city centre or a regional centre;
  • Urban versus suburban characteristics;
  • Elements of contextuality, continuity of texture;
  • The projects’ formal images and aspects were quite important; 
  • Problem of continuity around the bay, whether there was any provision to pursue this continuity or not;
  • Messages to be sent to the mayor, the planners, the city and the locals; 
  • Potential of the site had to be evaluated;
  • A vision of the future was expected: this vision had to be linked to technological discourse;
  • Contextual attitude has limits. The context of the economy, culture or political culture of the city had to be thought about;
  • Use and role of the city;
  • Shaping the shoreline;
  • Problem of scale;
  • Symbolical issues, like the situation of Bayrakli;
  • Nature of green space, whether a forest, a park, a recreational area or any other applicable idea. References to climate issues needed to be considered. 
  • Problem of the coastline contours;
  • High profile panoramic arrangements;
  • Traffic, pedestrian movement and parking problems;
  • Problem of adaptive reuse ( old industrial buildings etc…);
  • Preservation problem;
  • Climatic considerations.

Jury Members

  • Dogan Kuban, Architect, Professor of Architectural and Urban History, TURKEY,
  • Ahmet Gulgonen, Architect and Professor, TURKEY,
  • Hande Suher, Architect and Professor of Urban Planning, TURKEY,
  • Jordi Farrando, Architect, SPAIN,
  • Kok Leong Chia, Planner and Architect, UIA Representative, SINGAPORE,
  • Raci Bademli, Urban Planner and Professor of Urban Planning, TURKEY,
  • Romi Khosla, Architect, INDIA,
  • Ismet Okyay, Architect and Professor of Urban Planning, TURKEY. 

 

Results

Competition closed. Results announced in 2001

COMPETITION RESULTS

Reference documents

Jury Report
Past
Open
past
Professional