The second phase of the satellite city

The second phase of the satellite city of Bahcesehir, 30 minutes west of Istanbul, Turkey, was designed by Torti Gallas and Partners/CHK using new urbanist principles. The completed 3,500-unit first phase is a conventional mix of identical high-rise blocks and villas designed by Turkish architects. The 170-acre second phase is 50 percent complete, with approximately 1200 of the 2,300 planned residential units built. When completed, this phase will include villas, townhouses, mid-rise and high-rise apartments, and 4,000-5,000 square feet of retail, some below residential. In response to local market research, a relatively new practice for Turkey, traditional Turkish and Ottoman architectural styles were used. The second phase also features an interconnected network of narrow streets and compact squares. The developer is Emlak Bankasi, a large government-owned bank, which has previously helped create towns outside major Turkish population centers. The hope is that the project will serve as a model for mixed-income new towns.