Masterplan to rebuild earthquake-stricken Turkish city unveiled

Antakya in southeastern Turkey was devastated by an earthquake – plans for its rebuilding centre around green spaces, connectivity and resilience.

Around 80 percent of the historic city of Antakya was destroyed in the 7.8 category earthquake in February 2023, according to British architecture studio Foster + Partners.
Now the firm has revealed its vision for rebuilding the city.
As well as being the regional capital of the Hatay province, Antakya is steeped in history and was known in Roman and mediaeval times as Antioch, one of antiquity’s most important cities. 
The proposal by Foster + Partners – in collaboration with Dutch engineering consultant Buro Happold, Italian transport planner Mic-hub, and Turkish practices DB Architects and KEYM Urban Renewal Centre – spans an area of 30 square kilometres, and aims to encourage displaced people to return to the city. 
Leaning into the area’s distinct local character and climate has also been a foundational principle of the work. “A significant part of the process has been understanding and embedding Hatay’s rich history into the vision,” Foster + Partners said in a statement.
The plans form part of the Turkish Design Council’s wider initiative to rebuild Turkey after the earthquake, which destroyed multiple cities and killed more than 50,000 people (also in Syria).
Working to preserve surviving structures and enhance accessibility and inclusivity, the new designs encourage public transport, walking and cycling – as well as bolstering the city’s resilience against potential future disasters. This latter goal includes creating green areas around areas at risk of flooding to provide more space for water runoff, simultaneously creating much-needed outdoor community spaces.  
With many people blaming the government for the low-quality construction work that exacerbated the extent of destruction during the earthquake, designers have made particular effort to engage with local residents in the process.
“We have been inspired by the resilience of the people of Antakya, and share their passion for their unique, historic city,” said Bruno Moser, Senior Partner, Head of Urban Design, Foster + Partners.
“We have developed the vision underpinned by the fact that reconstruction following a natural disaster is not merely about buildings but about rebuilding communities, feelings of safety and belonging, and rebuilding trust.”