KOSBAŞ-Free Trade Zone İZMİT
tÜRKİYE
AREA
850.000 m²
YEAR
2001
The establishment of a Free Trade Zone (FTZ) in the bustling port city of Izmit-Harbour marks a strategic leap towards fostering global shipyard operations and advancing high-technology manufacturing on an international scale. Positioned at the crossroads of Europe and Asia, Izmit-Harbour’s Free Trade Zone is poised to become a pivotal hub for economic growth, innovation, and seamless international trade. This ambitious initiative reflects a forward-looking approach, leveraging the region’s geographical advantage and economic potential to create a thriving ecosystem for shipbuilding and high-tech manufacturing enterprises.
The concept of a Free Trade Zone is a testament to the commitment of the local authorities and stakeholders to eliminate trade barriers, streamline customs procedures, and attract foreign investment. In the case of Izmit-Harbour, this FTZ is specifically tailored to cater to the unique demands of global shipyards and cutting-edge manufacturing industries. By offering a business-friendly environment, regulatory incentives, and state-of-the-art infrastructure, the Free Trade Zone aims to foster a conducive atmosphere for businesses engaged in shipbuilding and high-tech manufacturing to thrive and expand their global footprint.
The integration of a shipyard within the Free Trade Zone is a strategic move that capitalizes on Izmit-Harbour’s historical maritime significance. The global shipbuilding industry demands precision, efficiency, and a well-connected logistical network, all of which are provided by the unique combination of the Free Trade Zone and the established harbor facilities. This synergy positions Izmit-Harbour as an ideal location for shipyards to conduct operations seamlessly, from the acquisition of raw materials to the export of finished vessels.
Furthermore, the Free Trade Zone in Izmit-Harbour is designed to support high-technology manufacturing, providing an ecosystem conducive to research and development, innovation, and the production of cutting-edge products. The integration of advanced manufacturing facilities within the FTZ ensures that businesses have access to state-of-the-art infrastructure, a skilled workforce, and a regulatory framework that encourages technological advancements.
In summary, the establishment of a Free Trade Zone in Izmit-Harbour dedicated to global shipyards and high-technology manufacturing symbolizes a significant step towards economic transformation and global competitiveness. This initiative aims to unlock the region’s potential, offering a gateway for businesses to thrive in an environment that fosters innovation, collaboration, and international trade. Izmit-Harbour’s Free Trade Zone is poised to emerge as a beacon of economic prosperity, linking the world through seamless trade and pioneering advancements in shipbuilding and high-tech manufacturing.
Budget: 25.000.000 €
Location: İzmit -Kocaeli, Turkey
Architectural Statement – Industrial Architecture in the Free Trade Zone of Kocaeli-İzmit
Amidst the dynamic economic landscape of the Kocaeli-İzmit Free Trade Zone, a new industrial ensemble is emerging—one that not only meets functional demands but also articulates its own architectural language. A language consciously positioned between tectonics and transparency, mass and lightness, technology and context.
This region, known for its seismic activity, imposes specific requirements on construction and material choice. Steel construction—due to its structural efficiency, modularity, and flexibility—is not only a technical necessity here but also a means of architectural expression. In its essence light, adaptive, and precise, it reflects the logic of the industrial processes taking place within the buildings, while simultaneously embodying a responsible attitude toward building in a context shaped by risk and transformation.
Yet, this architecture responds to more than just structural demands. It engages in dialogue with its surroundings—with the undulating topography between the Sea of Marmara and the mountains, with the industrial heritage of the region, and with the social and infrastructural connections to the city of İzmit. Large openings, rhythmic façades, permeable transitions between inside and outside, and strategically placed green spaces create an interplay between the built structure and its environment.
What emerges is an architecture that goes beyond the purely functional: an industrial typology that interlocks with the landscape, defines urban edges, and—despite its scale—remains committed to the site in terms of proportion, material, and detail. It envisions industry as part of a larger ecological and urban whole.
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