PORT DISTRICT OF IZMIR, TURKEY - INTERNATIONAL URBAN DESIGN IDEAS COMPETITION
Our award-winning entry in the UIA endorsed international urban design competition for the 550ha large Port District of Izmir, with an international jury that included the late Charles Correa. The competition aimed at defining a new vision for Izmir with its emerging needs and city branding at an international stage.
The built environment and city image of Izmir, the former Smyrna, had been severely damaged over the last century. The redevelopment of the harbour area offered the opportunity to “obtain preliminary ideas for the development of urban space and architectural character of the Izmir Port District, to enhance the contemporary image of the city and create a new city centre on the port area in the emerging international status of Izmir”. The proposal was to produce a fabric that was in harmony with human scale, the city’s rich Levantine history and create a connection with the “existing urban way of life of Izmir’s citizens”. Environmental emphasis on modern planning was crucial: the Bay of Izmir was heavily polluted, with the River Meles used as a discharge channel, causing unpleasant smell in addition to general air pollution in the city centre. The built environment needed to address a major overhaul of the sewage system and allow for sea breezes to reach all parts of the city.
The driving force of the competition was the rapid change in function of this prime waterfront area, which had been occupied by freight-port industries and had since become largely abandoned.
Our proposal emphasises the strategic location of the site within a river delta, serving as a vital link between the city, waterways, and surrounding landscape. We have delineated the urban form into three distinct zones, each anchored by a “green lung” and designed with inherent flexibility.
We have replaced the isolating highway along the foreshore with an uninterrupted green corridor. This transformative measure not only establishes a much-needed green space within a city lacking sufficient natural areas but also fosters connectivity and cohesion throughout the urban fabric.
By integrating linear parks and adopting a perpendicular arrangement of urban structures, our design facilitates the unimpeded flow of sea breezes deep into the city centre and adjacent areas whilst promoting visual connectivity with the bay.
Central to our vision is the interweaving of wetland filter systems within the green lung, inspired by the original delta ecosystem. These natural filtration mechanisms, utilising indigenous flora and fauna, serve as a sustainable solution for water purification and support ecological restoration and stewardship.
The rich layer of historic buildings and structures remaining on site, like Turan Petrol Harbour, were used to create anchor points within the new, dense and cosmopolitan urban block fabric.
Team: Angela Rheinlaender and David Haseler
Organiser : Izmir Metropolitan Municipality
Endorsed by: UIA - International Union of Architects
