LET’S TALK TURKEY

The winning proposal of the 2014 national architectural competition designed to transform the Konyaalti coastline, the plan from OzerUrger Architects, in collaboration with Tugay Architects, is now well on its way to being realised.

With a desire to reduce the dominance of the highway dividing the coast and the settlement behind it, a series of thematic zones were created in order to diversify the offerings within the existing system and strengthen the relationship between the coast and the residential settlements. A focus on creating greater recreational, cultural and sporting opportunities for the residents was a key factor in the project.

Pedestrian-friendly vehicle traffic and infrastructure for improved public transport and bicycle transportation was established, without sacrificing the existing vertical and horizontal connections in the area.

“Architectural proposals that provide accessible and perceivable space for all types of users have been developed and the coastline has been reprogrammed with multiple and mixed uses including recreation, sports and cultural activities,” claim the architects.

“Urban landscape elements are designed as modules with different functions. Urban furniture, shadow elements, activity points, water and plantation landscaping elements that also provide seating and reclining functions are placed within the hard, semi-hard and soft landscape surfaces.”

Opened in June 2018, phase one of the project was the development of Mediterranean Avenue, which included four separate areas: Museum Square and Variant, Beachpark and Olbia Square.

MEDITERRANEAN AVENUE
Mediterranean Avenue is a key recreational zone area for the city, though heavy traffic was a concern in the area. To help reduce this, a section of the route was narrowed to a two-lane road and the parking lots were reorganised. The redesigned road geometry and surface material slowed traffic and created a more pedestrian-friendly route.

Green corridors in the space were extended, stretching from the residential area to the coast and creating greater spaces for a series of cultural programmes with different focal points that can be adjusted as needed to enhance the rich urban life along the coast.

MUSEUM SQUARE
Museum Square sits at the entrance to the coastline for the citizens of Antalya. The urban renewal project aims to integrate this square with the museum garden, and fold in a redesigned viewing platform located 40m above sea level.

BEACHPARK
An active point along the coastline that provides shopping and entertainment facilities, Beachpark will now feature small commercial kiosks, instead of over-blow commercial booths, in order to preserve the link between the grove and the coast.

Vertical access via two elevators have also been added, increasing access to the cultural park area where two public spaces have been merged, and portable wooden paths have been erected to service the wheelchair community.

This area’s greenspace has also been increased by 30 percent with the addition of newly planted trees.

OLBIA SQUARE
Providing a cool waterplay opportunity, Olbia Square will feature an interactive water show that sits alongside sports, entertainment and cultural activities. Planned as a city square, the multipurpose sports fields provide recreation infrastructure for all ages.

Images © Yercekim Architectural Photography