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 | Jan 19, 2016
Concrete innovation: voided biaxial slab slashes weight, saves concrete
System reduces slab dead load by 30% on medical clinic project
Great Solutions | Jan 19, 2016
Healing garden doubles as therapy trails
A Boston-area hospital takes the healing garden to the next level.
Great Solutions | Jan 14, 2016
WWII watchtower turned into ‘land yacht’
Architect Siemasko + Verbridge and contractor Windover Construction transformed a coastal wartime observation post into an amenity-filled guesthouse.
Great Solutions | Jan 12, 2016
Sprinkler system does double duty
Two innovations tap into the multi-use potential for fire/life safety infrastructure.
Great Solutions | Jan 7, 2016
Bacteria-killing paint and magnetic wallcovering highlight innovations in surface materials
Sherwin-Williams recently introduced Paint Shield, the first EPA-registered microbicidal paint that kills virtually all infection-causing bacteria after two hours of exposure on painted surfaces.
Great Solutions | Jan 6, 2016
Shepley Bulfinch develops elegant design solution to address behavioral issues in emergency departments
ED scheme allows staff to isolate unruly patients and visitors in a secure area.
Great Solutions | Jan 6, 2016
All-encompassing farming kit can provide communities with a sustainable food supply
Several manufacturers partnered with the group Farm from a Box to develop an off-the-grid farming solution for communities, all without the need for outside help.
Great Solutions | Jan 4, 2016
Toronto’s newest hospital employs 10 robots for moving food, supplies, and equipment
The 1.8 million-sf Humber River Hospital is loaded with high-tech gadgets. Its coolest innovation is the use of automated guided vehicles.
Great Solutions | Jan 4, 2016
Snoozebox’s portable hotel rooms make outside events more livable
Since 2011, the London-based company has thrived by creating portable hotels that are set up for the duration of open-air events (or longer), and offer many of the comforts of conventional hotels.
