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
Great Solutions | Apr 13, 2020
Family workstations highlight the new Fairfield Area Library
The workstations are the perfect remedy for squirming, restless children and toddlers.
Great Solutions | Feb 5, 2020
Power moves: The Shed
Precise positioning of mechanicals above its lighting keeps New York’s kinetic event space, The Shed, running.
Great Solutions | Dec 18, 2019
Robot uprising
Thyssenkrupp’s robotics interface platform helps robots use elevators like humans.
Great Solutions | Nov 12, 2019
Skanska designs personal protective equipment tailor-made for the female workforce
A safety vest is the first piece of equipment to undergo an update.
Great Solutions | Oct 3, 2019
REEF Technology wants to turn parking facilities into urban mobility hubs
The company currently operates 4,500 parking lots in 25 markets across North America.
Great Solutions | Aug 30, 2019
An ‘Internet of Beings’? Kinetic flooring promises more than just energy generation
Pavegen says its technology delivers a new level of human engagement in sustainability initiatives.
Great Solutions | Aug 7, 2019
Earthquake response system takes the guesswork out of seismic safety
The platform provides real-time monitoring to help avoid unnecessary evacuations and improve emergency response.
Great Solutions | Jul 12, 2019
Smart sensor maintains privacy, enhances safety in sensitive spaces
The HALO IOT sensor is designed for use in places where cameras are not welcome.
Great Solutions | Apr 9, 2019
Raising the roof is cool again
Upbrella allows for floor-by-floor building construction that is, reportedly, safer and more productive than traditional methods.
Great Solutions | Mar 12, 2019
When is wood not really wood?
Inspired by the look and cellular nature of wood, researchers create 3D-printed “digital wood” and “metallic wood” that is as strong as titanium, with the density of water.
