KPF has been commissioned to design the new headquarters for Ziraat Bank (Türkiye Cumhuriyeti Ziraat Bankası), the country’s largest and oldest financial institution in Instabul, Turkey.
Located in the heart of Istanbul, the two tower, 200,000 square-meter Ziraat Bank headquarters will be the centerpiece of the new Istanbul International Financial Centre (IIFC) development, a large step towards Turkey 's goal to expand its economy to become one of world’s largest by 2023.
At the convergence of Europe, the Middle East and Asia, Istanbul has been one of the world’s foremost cultural and commercial capitals for centuries. With a flourishing economy and record levels of foreign investment, the city is once again becoming one of the world’s top financial centers.”
The form of the building and its facade adopts motifs, geometrical patterns and symbols of the Ottoman Empire, including the Ottoman symbol of the Tugra; the seal of the Sultan. The Tugra symbol is prevalent throughout the design.
The podium is designed as a plinth for the towers, organising the interior and exterior spaces to create vibrant and dynamic public realm around the buildings.
The towers, of 46 storeys and 40 storeys respectively, will rise from the podium, progressively becoming more transparent as they reach towards the sky. Facades and interior materials are inspired by their locality, combining high quality glass and metal frames to accentuate the building’s geometry.