Antalya Konyaaltı Coastline Urban Rehabilitation in Turkey by Özer\Ürger

Article source: Özer\Ürger

The first phase of the Antalya Konyaalti coastline rehabilitation project, which covers an area of approximately 100 hectares has been opened to the public on 15th of June, 2018. This area was the subject of a national architectural competition opened in 2014 and Ozer\\Urger Architects’ proposal was the winning design to be implemented in collaboration with Tugay Architects.

The Mediterranean Avenue was the first executed phase of the Antalya Konyaalti coastline rehabilitation project that also includes the Museum Square and Variant, Beachpark and Olbia Square as four different characteristic areas.

Image Courtesy © Özer\Ürger

• Architects: Özer\Ürger
• Project: Antalya Konyaaltı Coastline Urban Rehabilitation
• Location: Konyaaltı, Turkey
• Photography: Yercekim

Image Courtesy © Özer\Ürger

The main drive of the project was to reduce the domination of the highway dividing the coast and settlement behind it. For this purpose, a series of thematic focal zones were created between the port and the museum to diversify the city’s existing hub system on the western coast. Another goal of the project was to strengthen the relationship of the residential neighbourhood with the coastline. The recreational, cultural and sporting activities offered to the residents of the settlements were added to the project along the coast for this purpose.

The pedestrian-friendly vehicle traffic, as well as the infrastructure for a better public transport and bicycle transportation, were established in the project while maintaining the existing vertical and horizontal connections in the area. Architectural proposals that provide accessible and perceivable space for all types of users have been developed and the coastline has been reprogrammed with multiple and mixed uses including recreation, sports and cultural activities. Urban landscape elements are designed as modules with different functions. Urban furniture, shadow elements, activity points, water and plantation landscaping elements that also provide seating and reclining functions are placed within the hard, semi-hard and soft landscape surfaces.

Image Courtesy © Özer\Ürger

Image Courtesy © Yercekim

Museum Square 

The Museum Square is the entrance gate to the coastline for the citizens of Antalya. Although it is a frequent destination for tourists, the Antalya Museum is an introverted building for the local people. The urban renewal project of Ozer\\Urger Architects aims to integrate this square with the museum garden. In addition, the viewing platform located 40m above sea level has been redesigned and integrated into the museum square.

At this point in the project, the concept of ‘shared space’ comes to the forefront. The wide intersection point where the tramline terminates has been completely reorganised and transformed into a ‘shared’ space where pedestrians and vehicles as two different modes of movement can co-exist.

Image Courtesy © Yercekim

Image Courtesy © Yercekim

Beachpark 

Beachpark, as one of the important and active points of the coastline, includes shopping, F&B and entertainment facilities. Here, the coastal road that was almost used as a parking lot was removed in the design proposal to increase the green area.

Instead of the old over-expanded commercial booths, smaller kiosks are proposed in this part of the project to enhance the link between the grove and the coast. Two elevators have been added to provide vertical access to the cultural park area, two public spaces have been merged and portable wooden paths have been installed to provide easy access for disabled people and for parents with buggies. A new, canopy added to the commercial units, enables a comfortable route extending from the Falez Square to the Olbia Square. After the removal of the existing wall on the coastline, the beach and the meadow have become a single public space that flows into each other.

Thanks to the pedestrian and bicycle path replacing the vehicle road, the meadow area has been transformed into a meeting place for everyone with sports and entertainment activities. The green area in this area is increased by 30% with the newly planted trees and plantation.

Image Courtesy © Yercekim

Olbia Square 

Olbia Square on the Dumlupinar Avenue was planned as a city square that also acts as a gateway with sports, entertainment and cultural activities. The interactive water show in the square offers a cool sunbathing opportunity alongside fun. Multipurpose sports fields provide sports and entertainment infrastructure for all ages. The amphitheatre acts also as a sculpture that gives identity to the area when viewed from the sea. The skating runway in front of the commercial and administrative buildings, the kite hill and other leisure areas create alternative recreational diversity.

Mediterranean Avenue 

The Mediterranean Avenue, the first implemented phase of the project, is an important recreational area for the city despite the heavy traffic. With this rehabilitation project, the route from Olbia to the Taurus Creek was reduced to a narrower two-lane road and the parking lots were reorganized.
Thanks to the redesigned road geometry and surface material, the traffic was slowed down and the Mediterranean Avenue became a more pedestrian friendly route. On the other hand, the green corridors between the residential areas in the north were extended to the shore and these corridors were terminated with green areas on the coast.

Image Courtesy © Özer\Ürger

A vibrant, accessible and rich urban life along the coast was designed with a program chain and with a menu of activities with different focal points. The activities in this menu were placed on the wide strip parallel to the Mediterranean Avenue. This design idea also provided the flexibility to add and remove menu items according to the requirements and demands that can be changed in the future.

Kiosks have been proposed along the coast at intervals of 150 meters, but the scope of services for these kiosks has been kept limited, as the pedestrian-friendly coast is likely to transform the northern residential area in the near future. The handicapped ramps designed along the avenue enable the access of the disabled, elderly and parents with buggies to the beach.

Image Courtesy © Özer\Ürger

Image Courtesy © Özer\Ürger

Image Courtesy © Özer\Ürger

Image Courtesy © Özer\Ürger

Image Courtesy © Özer\Ürger

Image Courtesy © Özer\Ürger

Tags: Turkey

Categories: Public Landscapes, Recreational facility, Rehabilitation, Renovation

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