Is it possible to build cities that are resilient to earthquakes and flooding? Architecture firm Foster + Partners hopes to do just that with its climate-first master plan for the city of Antakya, in southeastern Turkey.
More than 50,000 people died and millions more were displaced when two earthquakes of magnitude 7.8 and 7.5 rocked the country's southern region and northern Syria on February 6 last year. The United Nations put the rebuild cost for the region at more than $100 billion.
The city of Antakya (historically known as Antioch), capital of Hatay Province, was one of the worst hit in Turkey, with almost 80% of buildings reportedly damaged beyond repair.
It was devastation "beyond imagination," according to Nicola Scaranaro of Foster + Partners. The architectural firm last month published its master plan to not only rebuild and revitalize the city, but to "future proof" it against earthquakes, flooding and other natural disasters.
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📸: Artist rendering courtesy the Türkiye Design Council | Hassan Ayadi / AFP via Getty Images
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A new retrofit procurement guide uses public spending to expand capacity, create local jobs and tackle skills shortages by baking training and labour targets into contracts. This gives sustainable construction and decarbonising the built environment delivery teeth, promoting life cycle thinking in construction, resource efficiency in construction and eco‑design for buildings, alongside sustainable material specification and low carbon building upgrades that support carbon neutral construction.
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