Launched in 2020, Galataport is a project in the heart of Istanbul finally re-opening 1.2 kilometers of coastline in the Karaköy neighborhood, reviving one of the city’s oldest public squares and only major port for the first time in 200 years. Autoban has designed what is to be the world’s first underground cruise passenger terminal for an expected 25 million visitors, including 7 million foreign tourists and 1.5 million cruise passengers.
Launched in 2020, Galataport is a project in the heart of Istanbul finally re-opening 1.2 kilometers of coastline in the Karaköy neighborhood, reviving one of the city’s oldest public squares and only major port for the first time in 200 years. Autoban has designed what is to be the world’s first underground cruise passenger terminal for an expected 25 million visitors, including 7 million foreign tourists and 1.5 million cruise passengers.
Completed to global standards and using cutting-edge and innovative technology, the terminal brings all operations - from luggage handling to passport control - completely underground, allowing the waterfront to remain open to be enjoyed by visitors as a recreational area. Autoban’s design primarily ensures that all passenger movement and terminal functions are planned correctly within the space, while simultaneously offering visitors a memorable transit experience.
The design narrative of the space takes cues from the rich historical and cultural texture of the area, influenced specifically by the Basilica and Philoxenos cisterns, built during the Roman and Byzantine empires as vast water reservoirs for the city. The ancient architecture and character of these mesmerizing cisterns is referenced in the interior shell of the terminal space, through the rounded edges of the columns and structural forms of the upper floors. A sense of direction is provided with contrasting materials on either side of the space, creating a division between the direction towards Topkapı Palace and that towards Dolmabahçe Palace, representing respectively the former and later administrative centers of the Ottoman Empire.
The design intends to render the space as natural and airy as possible despite little access to natural sunlight, to optimize the flow of passengers in and out of the space, and to ensure a smooth and pleasant transit experience. Well thought out lighting schemes were specifically chosen to emit silver light and accentuate a natural feeling, while a light and natural color palette was preferred for the various surface materials. Durable materials with larger surfaces and minimal grout joints were selected in order to withstand heavy circulation and allow easy cleaning.
Project: Galataport Istanbul Underground Cruise Passenger Terminal Location: Istanbul, Turkey Year: 2020
