Istanbul New Airport unveils tulip-inspired control tower

The new international airport, currently under construction in the Arnavutköy district on the European side of Istanbul, has seen world-renowned figures compete to design the tower in its ‘Air Traffic Control Tower Design Competition’. The winners, who won the competition with a tulip-inspired design, are AECOM and Pininfarina.

AECOM and Pininfarina's winning design “The ATC Tower that is inspired by tulips and designed by AECOM and Pininfarina will contribute much to Istanbul New Airport with its iconic character. Istanbul New Airport is recognised as one of world’s biggest aviation hub projects, and it will crown Turkey’s role in the international aviation sector,” said Yusuf Akçayoğlu, CEO at İGA, the new airport’s operator. The winning design displays an aerodynamic and modern form, while the 96-metre high elliptic tower will be visible in and around the new airport. The tower’s shape is inspired by tulips, which have long been associated with Turkey. In fact, the botanical name for tulips, “tulipa”, is derived from the Turkish word "tulbend" or "turban", which the flower resembles.

Istanbul New Airport's location Jennifer Dixon, AECOM’s Head of Architecture, Europe, Middle East, India and Africa, said, “In the competition, our intent was to bring together the dynamism and romance of Pininfarina’s architectural style influenced by automotive design and AECOM’s aviation architecture capabilities. AECOM and Pininfarina teams have created a totally functional and beautiful work that will intensify the excitement and glamour of air travel at the crossroads of Europe and Asia.”

CGI of Istanbul New Airport Istanbul New Airport is poised to become the largest airport in the world, with a 150 million passenger annual capacity. It will be the third international airport to be built in Istanbul, however, Istanbul Ataturk Airport will be closed down once the new airport is operational.