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In January, we introduced you to a tulip-shaped air traffic control tower that would rise at Istanbul New Airport, a major infrastructure investment poised to become the world's largest airport built from scratch. Designed by Pininfarina and AECOM, the project has gone on to win the 2016 International Architecture Award, ramping up the pressure on the project team to deliver a world-class development. With that accolade serving as additional motivation, Ahmet Arslan, Minister of Transport, Maritime and Communication, inaugurated the ground breaking ceremony for the sculptural tower on October 26.
The 90-metre-tall tower is expected to be completed within six months and climb above a 6,085-square-metre area. Its aerodynamic design takes inspiration from the tulip flower, an important symbol in Turkish history and representation of Istanbul's cultural heritage.
"Air traffic control towers have taken on a new significance in the next-generation airports, becoming an architectural design icon aside from functionality," said Yusuf Akçayoğlu, CEO of IGA Airports Construction at the ceremony. "We believe that this Air Traffic Control Tower, whose ground breaking we celebrate, will offer Istanbul a new city symbol and fascinate the aviation community with its unique design."
Zaha Hadid and Moshe Safdie were among the noteworthy entrants in the design contest launched by IGA in December 2015. The carefully crafted winning design was praised for its elliptical shape, double-height atrium, mosaic-patterned skylight, and its ability to become an iconic visual reference point for airport passengers.
"The laying of the cornerstone is an important step towards the birth of this extraordinary building destined to become a real milestone for Istanbul," said Paolo Pininfarina, Chairman of Pininfarina Group. "I’m particularly proud of this project as it’s the evidence that, with the right team, an outstanding and sculptural design — winner of the International Architecture Award — will become real."
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