Atatürk Airport Millet Bahçesi

Atatürk Airport National Garden is located on the European side of Istanbul, on the former site of Atatürk Airport. Covering a total area of 8.5 million square meters, the airport was redeveloped after its aviation functions declined, transforming it largely into an urban green and recreational space. The project aims to create a vast green corridor at the heart of Istanbul.

^{Atatürk Airport National Garden} (Century of Türkiye)

Approximately five million square meters of the site have been designed as National Garden, with one of the airport’s runways preserved. The first phase, covering 499,000 square meters, opened on 8 May 2023. In this phase, 10,081 trees and 41,000 plants were planted, and infrastructure for social and recreational areas was established.

The National Garden offers a living environment where citizens can spend time together in a 2-million-square-meter section featuring walking, running and cycling paths, sports fields, play areas, exhibition halls, workshops, libraries, soup kitchens, restaurants and social facilities.

The garden contains approximately 145,300 trees, including 350-year-old olive trees and 50- to 60-year-old linden and plane trees. The combination of evergreen and deciduous trees ensures the garden remains green throughout all four seasons. The total green area spans 1,215,000 square meters, supported by event lawns and landscape design.

^{Atatürk Airport National Garden} (AA)

The landscape design features seven thematic hills representing Sarayburnu, Süleymaniye, Fatih, Yavuz Selim, Edirnekapı, Kocamustafapaşa and Çemberlitaş. Along the north-south axis runs a 2.5-kilometer artificial stream called “Ab-ı Hayat,” with viewing terraces, picnic areas and interactive water zones for children. Bicycle and pedestrian paths, as well as foot trails, are integral parts of the recreational area.

Social facilities are concentrated within two complexes: the North and South Külliyes. These buildings house workshops, exhibition halls, restaurants, markets, soup kitchens, libraries and public reading halls, creating a safe and peaceful environment for citizens. Additionally, 18 greenhouses, nine marketplaces and a parking lot for 4,000 vehicles form part of the supporting infrastructure.

The garden is also rich in sports facilities, including tennis, basketball, volleyball and football courts, skate parks and children’s play areas. These spaces provide a multifunctional recreational environment catering to different age groups.

^{Atatürk Airport National Garden} (Century of Türkiye)

The project has also been planned as an emergency gathering site. The area can accommodate up to 165,000 people in shelters and provide space for 40,000 tents, making it a critical assembly point in Istanbul’s potential disaster and earthquake scenarios.

The first saplings were planted on the 569th anniversary of the conquest of Istanbul. The garden includes cultural event spaces, science centers, museums and art areas, with educational and cultural activities planned for youth and citizens.