Kanyon

İstanbul, Turkey

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CW 86: insulated and aesthetic curtain walls

Kanyon

İstanbul, Turkey

Firm

STATUS

Built

YEAR

2006

Overview
Kanyon, one of Europe’s largest mixed-use districts,
introduces a new concept for urban living in Levent, Istanbul’s central
business district. The Jerde Partnership designed the state-of-the-art project
to combine over 835-thousand square meters of modern offices, luxury residences
with local and upscale retailers in an organic, open-air design that includes
an amphitheater, plazas and rooftop park spaces where workers, residents and
visitors can gather. The unique design, which is distinct from Istanbul’s many
mixed-use projects and enclosed shopping malls, has helped attract stylish
residents and many well-known retail brands that are new to Turkey.

Background

An international retail destination, Istanbul is home to two
historic bazaars, including Grand Bazaar, which is billed as the world’s oldest
and largest covered market, and nearly 30 modern shopping malls that have been
built since 1988. More than 15 additional shopping and mixed-use districts are
planned for near-term development. In the growing and highly competitive retail
market, Kanyon was conceived as a modern mixed-use destination with a retail
component that would stand apart from Istanbul’s vast retail offering. The
project is an equal joint venture between prominent Turkish companies, Eczacıbaşı
Group and İs Real Estate & Investment, a division of İsbank.

Design

Jerde designed Kanyon to be an open, vibrant and green
project. The design is envisioned as a family of bold architectural shapes,
each housing a different use, that come together to form a dynamic and iconic
composition. Between the architectural shapes, the perspectives and views
through the project constantly change, resulting in a vibrant and energetic
space that engages users.

Kanyon’s uses are connected by a central, open-air walkway
that carves soft curves in the buildings’ forms, creating a dramatic “canyon”
effect. The 600-foot-long canyon connects the office, residential, retail and
entertainment uses with an exploratory path that features a variety of
courtyards, terraces and other spaces where workers, residents and visitors to
the project can interact. At the heart of the project, the canyon opens to a
performance plaza, an amphitheater carved into the base of the project’s
entertainment sphere that will be the stage for activities of all sizes, from
strolling entertainers to symphonies. Landscaping and water features enhance
the project’s open and natural design.

The canyon is lined on both sides by the project’s
four-level retail and entertainment complex. One side features three levels of
retail and one level of restaurants, nightclubs and other entertainment venues.
The four levels are terraced, allowing visitors on each level to overlook the
activity occurring in the canyon below. The other side features the four-level
entertainment sphere that contains a nine-screen cinema. The roof of the
entertainment sphere features a restaurant with outdoor seating that enables
diners to view the activity occurring within the project below.

In addition to connecting and activating the canyon, the
retail base contains multiple entrances at different levels that knit the
project into the city fabric and provide access from the metro, street and
parking structure. Unlike Istanbul’s modern enclosed shopping centers, Kanyon
has an open-air retail center with heat panels that allow shoppers and visitors
to enjoy the fresh air in a climate-controlled setting that is protected from
wind, rain and snow. Its unique design has attracted upscale retailers,
including many that are new to Turkey, to its 160 shops.

Jerde designed Kanyon’s 26-level tower with a curved façade
that reinforces the graceful shape of the canyon and creates an iconic
silhouette that will become part of the city’s memorable skyline. The tower is
slightly set back from the major boulevard Büyükdere Caddesi, creating an entry
plaza that overlooks the long expanse of the canyon and includes a canopy that
provides weather protection.

The office tower is glazed with transparent glass that
increases visibility and offers the additional benefit of maximum natural light
in the work areas. A shading system on the south side of the tower reduces the
heat impact from the hot afternoon sun. The air-conditioning system pumps fresh
air throughout the building all day. Office floor plates average 3,962 square
meters and include modular spaces that offer flexibility for the ever-changing
needs of leading companies.

The residential tower sits atop the four-level retail
podium, rising from two to 17 levels in height. Jerde designed the tower with a
simple iconic shape that reinforces the flow of the canyon and provides
dramatic views into and beyond the project.

The residential tower houses 179 units in 21 styles ranging
from 262 to 1,249 square meters in size. The step-back pattern of the tower
allows for many units to have private balconies, private terraces and gardens.
In keeping with the project’s sense of openness, windows in the high-rise
residences open, unlike many. The pool area for residents is located to the
south behind the terraced housing for maximum sunlight and privacy.

Building materials complement and reinforce the project’s
strong architectural forms. The office tower is sheathed in a glass curtain
wall with a stone base. Common areas, designed to evoke a canyon, are made from
a combination of stone, tile and concrete. The residential tower combines
glass, plaster and stone with metal accents. Kanyon has been built to withstand
earthquakes exceeding the worst-case scenario for the district.