Affiliated with Johns Hopkins Medicine, Anadolu Medical Center was master planned to include a six-level medical center with a hospital, rehabilitation center, medical office building, medical research institute, nursing college, hotel, nurses’ residence, staff residence, assisted-living community, hospice, central services facility, village management center, and pharmacy.

The initial phase was a six-level medical center including 209 general acute care beds, a medical office building, management offices, and support facilities. The nearly 150,000-sq.-ft. facility was completed in 2004. It is located on approximately 45 acres on the shore of the Sea of Marmara in Istanbul. The Sea of Marmara swells behind the facility, while the land slopes from a height of about 90 feet down toward the sea, providing a striking vista.

The main entrance is created by stark-white cladding and barrel-shaped forms to evoke a “nautical” feeling. Each patient room is designed with a view of the sea from the patient bed to aid in relaxation and recovery.

In the Emergency Department, clean lines, the lack of clutter, and sparing use of color punctuated by natural wood depict sterility and cleanliness. Central Registration is characterized by softer, sound-attenuating materials including carpet, wood, and acoustical tile. The Intensive Care Unit is just as spacious and uncluttered as the other patient care units. The interiors are cool, contemporary, and calming. Where color is used, it is soft and monochromatic. The material selection and detailing of the building’s exterior conveys a clean, antiseptic message.

The client’s desire to maximize patient and public access to the healing power of nature drove the triangular shape of the nursing wings. The orientation of the beds in patient rooms gives most patients visual access to the sea and sky. Artwork and accessories are few, directing the attention to the sea and surroundings. Brise soleils protect patient windows from direct sun and veil glare, while the terminus of each patient wing offers a panorama of the sea.

Sunlight infuses the interior throughout the organizing spine of the hospital. Opportunities to link multiple levels of the hospital are afforded by open stairs. The lack of color saturation accentuates the cool light throughout the facility.

This facility is fully paperless for easy transactions among departments.

Project category: New construction (completed January 2004)

Chief administrator: Murat Dayanikli, MD, MPH, General Director, (90) 216-573-5869

Firm: Rees Associates, Inc., (405) 942-7337

Design team: Walter L. Gregg, Project Director; Frank W. Rees, Programmer/Planner; Jim Gary, Hospital Planner; William Howell, Director of Design/Senior Designer (Rees Associates, Inc.); Vicki VanStavern, Interior Design (VanStavern Design Group); Ayse Hasol Erktin, Associate Architect (Local) (Has Mimarlik, Ltd.)

Total building area (sq. ft.): 150,000

Construction cost/sq. ft.: $133

Total construction cost (excluding land): $20,000,000