About the project
A flowing, ribbon-like wall has been installed in the new Istanbul Airport that unites a suite of lounges, forming an intuitive route through the space. Designed by Softroom for Turkish Airlines in collaboration with MNG Mapa, the Flow Wall is over a kilometre long, making it one of the longest parametric interior forms and weaves through six new lounges, creating a series of unified areas.
Placed high-up on the central axis of the building, and resonating with the domed forms of the main roof, the Flow Wall highlights the prime location of the Turkish Airlines’ lounges as a centrepiece of the terminal. The wall flows through the reception area and then into the main space, forming a hub for access to many zones. The wall shifts and changes as it moves through the lounges to accentuate various functions. When it reaches the cinema room, it shrinks down to draw passengers towards the screen, while at the main kitchen area it raises up into a peak to act as a beacon from afar. Inspired by Istanbul, this light-filled and uplifting interior space feels more like an open-air courtyard.
Contemporary and dynamic, the wall adds warmth and character to the spaces that it encloses. To achieve this, the complex forms were realised in a plywood structure, skinned in strips of bleached oak. The surface is divided by seven flowing lines, representing how Turkish Airlines connect the continents of the world. Light is also used to increase intuitive wayfinding. Flow lines in the wall itself are animated by over five-and-a-half kilometres of programmable LED lighting that can pulse or glow when needed, and overhead strips of lighting at the lower levels follow the contours of particular routes, reflecting off the highly polished floor.
The six lounges are made up of two international departure lounges, an exclusive lounge for frequent flyers, a lounge for arriving passengers and two domestic lounges. The focus of the main spaces is food and hospitality with a choice of over seven different live cooking counters for passengers, including the famed Pide experience. Turkish Airlines and Do&Co furnished the lounges and invited local designers to create an installation of an Aegean taverna in the main courtyard, accentuating Turkish food heritage, with a tea room and library behind the ribbon.
The International Business Lounge is unique as it also contains a museum space, lined with display cases which will house a changing exhibition of contemporary and historic Turkish art and artefacts. The opening display will feature contemporary artworks from partner Istanbul Modern’s own collection.
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