New York, NY – December 23, 2013 – International architecture firm Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates (KPF) has shared its design for a new headquarters for Turkey’s largest and oldest financial institution, Ziraat Bank, in a modern, suburban district of Istanbul.
The two-tower, over 400,000m2 Ziraat Bank headquarters will be the centre?piece of the new Istanbul International Financial Centre (IIFF), exemplifying Istanbul’s status as a global financial centre and Ziraat Bank's position as the country’s leading bank. The new complex, designed in association with locally? based architects A Tasarim Mimarlik and planned in tandem with KKS, will reflect the corporate image of financial service buildings currently emerging across the globe, whilst taking inspiration from its rich architectural context.
Drawing on the cultural heritage of Turkey and its great buildings over the course of history, the silhouette of the structure will create a significant architectural presence, distinguishing the new headquarters from its immediate neighbours within the future masterplan. The form of the building and its facade adopts motifs, geometrical patterns and symbols of the Ottoman Empire, including the Ottoman symbol of the Tugra; the seal of the Sultan. The Tugra symbol is prevalent throughout the design.
The podium is designed as a plinth for the towers, organising the interior and exterior spaces to create vibrant and dynamic public realm around the buildings. The towers, of 46 storeys and 40 storeys respectively, will rise from the podium, progressively becoming more transparent as they reach towards the sky. Facades and interior materials are inspired by their locality, combining high quality glass and metal frames to accentuate the building’s geometry.
KPF Managing Principal, Paul Katz commented, “With the support and encouragement of a visionary client, we have designed a modern financial service, high rise which is inspired by the intricacies of Istanbul’s incredible cultural, urban, and historical legacy.”
About Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates (KPF)
Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates (KPF) is one of the world’s pre?eminent architecture firms, providing architecture, interior, programming and masterplanning services for clients in both the public and private sectors. Operating as one firm with six global offices, KPF is led by 24 Principals and 27 Directors. The firm’s 600+ staff members come from 43 different countries, speak more than 30 languages and include over 80 LEED accredited professionals.
KPF’s diverse portfolio, which features over 70 projects certified or pursuing green building certification, comprises corporate, hospitality, residential, academic, civic, transportation and mixed?use projects located in more than 35 countries. The firm’s recent work includes the Abu Dhabi International Airport,
the Shanghai World Financial Center, the International Commerce Centre in Hong Kong, New Songdo City in Korea, the Mandarin Oriental Las Vegas, the RBC Centre and Ritz? Carlton in Toronto, and Heron Tower, Sixty London and Unilever House in London.
Related Stories
| Aug 11, 2010
RTKL names Lance Josal president and CEO
Lance K. Josal FAIA has been named President and CEO of RTKL Associates Inc., the international planning, design and engineering firm. Josal succeeds RTKL’s current President and CEO, David C. Hudson AIA, who is retiring from the firm. The changes will take effect on 1 September 2009.
| Aug 11, 2010
Balfour Beatty agrees to acquire Parsons Brinckerhoff for $626 million
Balfour Beatty, the international engineering, construction, investment and services group, has agreed to acquire Parsons Brinckerhoff for $626 million. Balfour Beatty executives believe the merger will be a major step forward in accomplishing a number of Balfour Beatty’s objectives, including establishing a global professional services business of scale, creating a leading position in U.S. civil infrastructure, particularly in the transportation sector, and enhancing its global reach.
| Aug 11, 2010
Construction unemployment rises to 17.1% as another 64,000 construction workers are laid off in September
The national unemployment rate for the construction industry rose to 17.1 percent as another 64,000 construction workers lost their jobs in September, according to an analysis of new employment data released today. With 80 percent of layoffs occurring in nonresidential construction, Ken Simonson, chief economist for the Associated General Contractors of America, said the decline in nonresidential construction has eclipsed housing’s problems.
| Aug 11, 2010
Billings at U.S. architecture firms exceeds $40 billion annually
In the three-year period leading up to the current recession, gross billings at U.S. architecture firms increased nearly $16 billion from 2005 and totaled $44.3 billion in 2008. This equates to 54 percent growth over the three-year period with annual growth of about 16 percent. These findings are from the American Institute of Architects (AIA) Business of Architecture: AIA Survey Report on Firm Characteristics.
| Aug 11, 2010
CHPS debuts high-performance building products database
The Collaborative for High Performance Schools (CHPS) made a new tool available to product manufacturers to help customers identify building products that contribute to sustainable, healthy, built environments. The tool is an online, searchable database where manufacturers can list products that have met certain environmental or health standards ranging from recycled content to materials that contribute to improved indoor air quality.
| Aug 11, 2010
ICC launches green construction code initiative for commercial buildings
The International Code Council has launched its International Green Construction Code (IGCC) initiative, which will aim to reduce energy usage and the carbon footprint of commercial buildings.Entitled “IGCC: Safe and Sustainable By the Book,” the initiative is committed to develop a model code focused on new and existing commercial buildings. It will focus on building design and performance.
| Aug 11, 2010
Green Building Initiative launches two certification programs for green building professionals
The Green Building Initiative® (GBI), one of the nation’s leading green building organizations and exclusive provider of the Green Globes green building certification in the United States, today announced the availability of two new personnel certification programs for green building practitioners: Green Globes Professional (GGP) and Green Globes Assessor (GGA).
| Aug 11, 2010
Potomac Valley Brick launches brick design competition with $10,000 grand prize
Potomac Valley Brick presents Brick-stainable: Re-Thinking Brick a design competition seeking integrative solutions for a building using clay masonry units (brick) as a primary material.
