Greater City Municipality of Antalya, An Idea Competition on Urban Design and Architecture of Konyaaltı Coastal Zone

The most significant feature setting Konyaaltı apart from its other coastal peers is its geographical configuration, i.e., its location between the Mediterranean Sea and Bey Mountains of Antalya as a wide line. The shadow of the Bey Mountains is the point of departure for this project – the coast almost speaks with the mountains. Konyaaltı Coastal Area is a meeting, leisure and sharing area for the residents of Antalya, as well as domestic and foreign tourists. Our project proposes urban spaces reflecting the city image; with squares, city terraces, beach activities, social service areas connected to each other with an efficient transportation system.

One of the major elements of the project is the attitude to preserve Boğaçay River Basin and turn it into the ecological agriculture center, that splits the city in two along the east-west axis. The existing structures on the basin will be removed, so that the river can return to its original bed, and become an ‘ecological filter’ for the city with its flora, reeds and wetland ecosystem. To protect the agricultural land from the unplanned development of the city, the agricultural areas are expanded, the city is shrunk, the floor area ratios are lowered, and a green belt is suggested between the existing urban pattern and the agricultural lands. This belt, serving as the new green network of Konyaaltı, connects all recreational areas and the shore together. With Konyaaltı, Antalya needs traffic solutions using clean energy (tram, bicycle and pedestrian paths) in its planning for the future.

This project won the second prize in the National Idea Competition on Urban Design and Architecture of Konyaaltı Coastal Zone in 2015.