NEW CONSTANTINOPLE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22545, 12 April 1935, Page 18

NEW CONSTANTINOPLE

CITY BY THE GOLDEN HORN The German architect, Professor Herman Ehlgoetz, whose designs for the rebuilding of Constantinople the Turkish Government recently adjudged the best, has now made generally known the broad outlines of his plan for transforming the capital in the course of the next 50 years into a modern, yet characteristically Turkish city. The competing architects were advised to take into special consideration the peculiar geographical situation of the city, the __ climate, the steadily increasing traffic, and the desirability of preserving and showing off historic buildings. Professor Ehlgoetz’s plan includes the construction of a series 'of terrace roads flanked by low shade-giving houses with gardens, and he has persuaded the city authorities in future to forbid the erection of any buildings more than three storeys high. The main street of Constantinople is to run from the famous Hagia Sofia to the Bajbsid Square, near which a communal forum will be built. Provision is further made in the architect’s plan for the laying out of a new park and the building of a new theatre and hospital, and an impressive entry for what is popularly known as the London-Istambul road. The present seaplane harbour at Hujark-Dere being inadequate, a new harbour is to be built ou the Tschekmedie Lake, together with a motor road to connect the harbour with the capital. The harbour for shipping will be modernised though not enlarged. An underground railway is to run from Pera in the north to Galata, the Golden Horn Hagia Sofia, the Sultan Achracd Mosque, and stations in the west. Professor Ehlgoetz hopes to be able to persuade the authorities to give the contract for the building of the railway 10 a German engineering firm.