
This Underground Terminal in Istanbul Offers Cruise Ship Passengers a Unique Entry to Land
Istanbul is on a mission to revitalize its ancient commercial port district of Karaköy into a world-class cruise destination. It was up to hometown firm Autoban to conceive a cutting-edge, 3-million-square-foot terminal capable of serving 1.5 million passengers. To keep the waterfront open, the team took the radical step of burying the Galataport Istanbul Cruise Terminal underground: As a cruise ship docks into the port, a gangway rises to meet its doors and subsequently transports the passengers below. To make up for the lack of natural light, spaces are open and airy, with silvery artificial illumination throughout. The motif of repeating arches comes from another subterranean part of the city’s history: its ancient underground cisterns.







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See Interior Design’s Best of Year Winners and Honorees
Explore must-see projects and products that took home high honors.
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Projects
Rockwell Group Earns a Best of Year Award for the Moynihan Train Hall in New York
2021 Best of Year winner for Transportation – Small. Rockwell Group designed a ticketed waiting area for Amtrak and Long Island Railroad customers that brings the glamour back to travel.
Awards
Interior Design’s 2022 Best of Year Award Winners
See Interior Design’s 2022 Best of Year Award winners, representing the best A&D projects and products from across the globe.
Projects
HOK Creates a Streamlined Office for a Freight Rail Operator in Atlanta
For the Atlanta headquarters of Norfolk Southern, HOK helped consolidate employees into one streamlined, amenities-fueled workplace.
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Projects
Indulge In This Minimalist Winery With Mountain Views
Chen+Suchart Studio craft a minimalist material palette for Los Milics Vineyards in Elgin, Arizona, that’s equal parts sci-fi and Stonehenge.
Projects
Take A Break At This Open-Air Café In Houston
Grab a snack at the Memorial Park Running Complex Café, designed by Schaum Architects, before exploring the rest of the Houston conservancy.
Projects
This Japanese Sweets Shop Serves Up A Taste Of Tradition
UNC Studio incorporated shoji sliding doors and Kaishi paper motifs to foster a serene environment for Tsuruyachosei Sanneizaka sweets shop in Kyoto.