The post-earthquake reconstruction plan for Antakya, Turkey

Eighteen months after the devastating earthquake of February 6, 2023, that hit Antakya – the capital of the province of Hatay in southeast Turkey – Foster + Partners, together with a team of international and local architects, has unveiled its urban reconstruction plan.

The masterplan, developed by Foster + Partners, Buro Happold, MIC-HUB, and Turkish studios DB Architects and KEYM Urban Renewal Centre, is part of a wider revitalization process led by the Türkiye Design Council (TDC). A non-governmental organization, TDC has brought together international and local architecture, planning, urban design, and engineering experts to tackle the many challenges created by the earthquake and contribute to the rebirth of the city.

 

Eight principles for the reconstruction of Antakya

With some 80% of the city of Antakya destroyed in the earthquake, beginning reconstruction and restoring hope to future generations are absolute priorities. The masterplan centers on improving the city, while keeping its identity intact, by giving it greater resilience against climate change, and ensuring social and environmental wellbeing.

Strengthening both accessibility and inclusiveness are central, with the plan including new public green spaces, efficient transportation, and community hubs according to eight key principles: building on safe land, improving circulation and connectivity within neighborhoods and across the city, creating new open spaces and new districts, layering neighborhoods, and above all, building back, while putting the needs of the community first.

 

Parks, squares, and social infrastructure

The masterplan identifies 13 new neighborhoods, each defined by a waterway or street as its perimeter and with a main street, with commercial and retail activities, as its backbone. Open spaces and greenery are evenly distributed in each, with a network of parks and plazas. Community and social facilities are located centrally in each neighborhood as a point of reference for residents.

Future challenges will be transformed into opportunities, with buildable land defined according to projected rises in water levels and new buffers planned to create more space for water runoff. New road networks will maintain existing patterns but with further strategic connections added to enhance walkability. Local main streets will be rich in social infrastructure, including schools, community gardens, libraries, cultural centers, cafes, cooking schools, and educational facilities.

 

The cultural and historical legacy of Antakya

To recapture the spirit and atmosphere that existed before the earthquake, a fundamental element of the reconstruction process has been to understand the rich cultural and historical heritage of both Antakya and Hatay, and integrate them into the project’s overall vision.

Antakya is 30 km from the Mediterranean, surrounded by vast olive groves, and stands on the Asi River plain, at the foot of Mount Habib Neccar. It was one of the first cities with a Christian community and, since ancient times, has been an important meeting point along the Silk Road. Today, the city is one of Turkey’s most vibrant and multicultural metropolises, reflecting a rich tapestry of traditions and cultures. With the region home to the most accessible sea ports on routes to the Mediterranean, Hatay is an important transport hub between Syria and other areas of Turkey.

 

The Türkiye Design Council

The involvement of the Türkiye Design Council – backed by the Turkish Ministries for the Environment, Urbanization, and Climate Change and Culture and Tourism – focuses on the rebuilding of important sites, such as the Uzun Bazaar, churches, mosques, and synagogues. The objective is to restore Antakya’s reputation as a place of religious tolerance that also works for the good of the local area, including the plains of the Asi River.

Over the coming months and years, the TDC will be creating a comprehensive new approach to the reconstruction of cities throughout the entire earthquake-stricken region, bringing together the world’s best architects and giving a voice to the Hatay community. The Turkish province is set to become a global example for reconstruction after natural disasters, drawing on best practices from around the world and applying them to its own unique circumstances.

The rebuilding of Antakya needs to be carried out piece by piece, house by house, like a puzzle. It needs to begin by focusing on restoring everyday life as a small but significant step towards restoring a much-needed normality.

 

>>> Architecture and natural disasters: a few insights after the Turkey-Syria earthquake