Tulip shaped air traffic control tower to become landmark of Istanbul New Airport

(Image iGA)

Operating consortium IGA has selected AECOM and Pininfarina’s design for an air traffic control tower in the shape of a giant tulip for Istanbul New Airport.

A spectacular tower in the shape of a giant tulip will become an iconic symbol of the new airport in Istanbul. As part of an international competition to build the future control tower, the operating consortium IGA selected the design submitted by AECOM and Pininfarina.

“The Air Traffic Control Tower will contribute much to the Istanbul New Airport with its iconic character”

According to operating consortium IGA, the design of the tower combines aspects of the modern with traditional elements. The twisting form is based on a tulip, which has been the symbol of Istanbul for centuries. The curved, 96-metre high building, which will be visible to all passengers flying into or out of the new major airport, is also reminiscent of the forms used in aviation design. “The Air Traffic Control Tower will contribute much to the Istanbul New Airport with its iconic character. The most significant companies within the industry participated in the competition with best designs. After a difficult selection process, we preferred the concept tower design that resembles tulips, created by AECOM and Pininfarina,” says Yusuf Akçayoğlu, Chief Executive Officer of IGA. Construction of the tower is scheduled to begin in May and it is slated to be completed in October 2017.

Just 35 kilometers from the center of Istanbul on the European side of the city near the Black Sea, Istanbul New Airport is one of the largest infrastructure projects in the history of Turkey. When it opens in spring 2018, it will have an initial handling capacity of 90 million passengers per year. There are plans to expand the airport to six runways and three terminals. After it is completed, Istanbul New Airport will have an annual capacity of more than 200 million passengers and it will be one of the world’s largest airports.