A new vision for the Turkish region devastated by the 2023 earthquake

A new urban vision has been unveiled to revive the city of Antakya and the wider Hatay province in southeastern Turkey, following the devastating earthquake that struck Turkey and Syria on February 6, 2023.

The Antakya Master Plan vision was developed by Foster + Partners, Buro Happold, Mec-Hub, leading Turkish practices DB Architects and the KM Urban Regeneration Centre. It is part of a broader design-led revitalisation led by the Turkey Design Council (TDC), a non-governmental organisation that brought together international and local architecture, planning, urban design and engineering experts in the wake of the earthquake.

Foster + Partners’ master plan covers 30 square kilometres of Antakya, the capital of Hatay and one of the most important cities of antiquity (Antakya), and sets out eight design principles to define the emerging plans for the wider Hatay province. It builds on the previous and ongoing work of TDC’s Hatay Collaboration group of architects to develop rapid and precise plans for the reconstruction of the area.

With an estimated 80% of the city destroyed, there is an urgent need to reimagine and rebuild it for future generations. The master plan aims to preserve the city’s cherished spirit and pre-earthquake characteristics of scale, relationships and configurations, while enhancing local character and climate. It also promotes accessibility and inclusion, through the creation of new public green spaces, efficient transportation systems and community centers, while increasing the city’s resilience.

Understanding and integrating Hatay’s rich history into the vision was a large part of this process. Other recent and historical disasters were used as case studies, with similar rebuilding attempts used to derive best practices that would support a sustainable future for Antakya.

The master plan aims to respect the urban character of the area and rebuild in a way that makes residents feel at home in the renewed city. The design principles stipulate that the character of the historic streets of Antakya should be preserved, while intertwining with the existing road network and preserving the building scales and facade rhythm.

The efforts to revitalize the Turkish Design Council are supported by the Turkish Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change, and the Ministry of Culture and Tourism.

Foster + Partners Master Plan: Eight Design Principles

Building on safe ground

The master plan proposes the creation of protected areas around the waterbed, taking into account projected water level rises to identify new buildable land. There are also new green areas and soft edges, creating more space for water to run off. By turning challenges into opportunities, these measures will enhance safety while providing more urban green space.

improve blood circulation

The new road networks largely follow existing patterns, with the main roads extending from Cumhuriyet Square retained. Additional connections have been strategically added to enhance walkability. As part of these improvements, street sections have also been carefully modified. A major focus is on Cumhuriyet Square, turning it into a pedestrian and public transport-only area.

Improve open spaces

By rationalizing river and stream banks and enhancing the density of the road network, the master plan paves the way for the creation of more distributed and diverse open spaces. This heterogeneous network includes different types of urban green spaces – both programmed and community-oriented – alongside new city parks, nature walks, community squares, playgrounds, and small parks. These improvements aim to enhance the urban experience and double the amount of green space per capita.

It is worth noting that the edge of the Orontes River will become a new river park north of Ataturk Park with views of the old city and mountains, providing easily accessible water havens for residents.

Create new areas

The master plan identifies thirteen new districts, each defined by a main road or stream as its perimeter and a main street with commercial and retail uses as its main spine. Open spaces and green spaces are well distributed throughout the district, with a network of local parks and squares. Community and social facilities are placed at the heart of each district as a point of reference for residents. Each district is divided into neighbourhoods and clusters.

Tabqa neighborhoods

The neighbourhoods function as large residential blocks, and feature their own integrated circulation systems: parking lots, shared one-way roads for private cars, dedicated lanes for soft and pedestrian mobility, and public transport stations.

– The buildings will be designed to respond to local climatic conditions including prevailing wind direction and sun, and most importantly, each building will be treated individually in terms of its architecture to preserve the diversity of Antakya’s streets.

Enhancing communication within neighborhoods

Local high streets will be rich with social infrastructure, including schools, community gardens, cooking schools, libraries, cultural centres, local coffee roasters and educational facilities – spaces that foster community resilience and well-being.

Community roads provide an additional layer of flexibility, connecting neighbourhood centres where social amenities and squares are located. Finally, small parks, squares and parks are introduced and linked by pathways, ensuring residents have easy access to green and open spaces.

Enhancing connectivity across the city

An efficient bus transport system has been established, featuring multi-modal hubs located at major intersections on the city's bypass road.

rebuild

Looking ahead, the aim is to redistribute density and build more compactly. By densifying the city centre and major commercial axes (including high streets), the master plan limits urban expansion beyond the Outer Ring Road. This approach would allow the same level of development within a smaller, more compact area.

Carefully selected building models will restore and enhance the appearance of Antakya’s streets, bringing back key urban elements in order to provide a sense of connection to the former streets and help communities rebuild their social dynamics.

Furkan Demirci, Chairman of the Turkish Design Council, said:

“Having worked with local experts, global talent, 53 teams and over 1,000 people to date, it is fair to say that it has taken an unprecedented collaborative effort to reach this point – one that we hope will set a new standard for post-disaster recovery that puts communities at its heart. We hope that the vision created by Foster + Partners, Buro Happold and MIC-HUB, together with the local people of Hatay, as well as Turkish experts such as DB Architects and KEYM Urban Renewal Centre, will lay the foundation for a prosperous future for this special place.

“We feel a tremendous responsibility to deliver designs that recognize the rich cultural and historical legacy of this place, while serving existing communities and future generations. There is still much work to be done, but today we are honored to share the vision of this master plan with the world.”

Bruno Moser, Senior Partner and Head of Urban Design at Foster + Partners, said:

“We were inspired by the resilience of the people of Antakya, and share their passion for their unique historic city. Our strategy does not offer a ‘one size fits all’ vision. It balances the historic spirit of the place with improvements and enhancements that will support a sustainable future for Antakya. We developed a vision that is supported by the fact that rebuilding after a natural disaster is not just about buildings but about rebuilding communities, feelings of safety and belonging, and rebuilding trust.”

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