Architect to design two of the scheme’s high rise towers

Work has started on site at architect HOK’s £1.7bn Istanbul international financial centre in Turkey.

The 70 hectare development includes 4.2m sqm of office, residential, retail, conference, hotel and park space.

There will also be a new subway line and station as well as sustainable power, water, data and security centres.

HOK is also doing the design work for two of the high rise towers on the site.

The development is aimed at establishing Instanbul as a global centre for finance.

Bill Hellmuth , president of HOK said he was “honoured” to be part of the project.

He said:“Our master plan provides a framework for developing a sustainable financial center in a way that blends human need, environmental stewardship and economic viability into a new global model of urbanism rooted in Turkish culture.”