J. W. Marriott Hotel, Ankara, Turkey

RMJM hotel design hopes to encourage green thinking in Turkish capital
Construction has commenced on a new luxury hotel designed to help “green” the Sogutozu district of Ankara, the capital city of Turkey. Designed by RMJM on behalf of developer Őzkar Construction Co., the 24 storey hotel will also be a sculptural landmark for the city.

Located on a 14,000 sq m site, the 400 room J. W. Marriott Hotel devotes the first four floors to spacious ballrooms, meeting facilities, restaurants and shops in a sky-lit galleria, with guest rooms starting on the fifth floor. The plan also includes an underground parking garage, a bistro and three further specialty restaurants an executive lounge and an outdoor wedding venue.

“The geometric and sculptural tower stands out among the Ankara skyline and is a striking and iconic element at the gateway route into the city,” said Peter Schubert, design director for RMJM North America. “Designed in a rich palate of stone and glass the tower will play with sunlight by day and, by night, the lighted tower will be the place to go in Ankara.”

Including a unique design of vertical stone fins that will act as solar shading devices on the east and west facades, the hotel hopes to encourage green design in Ankara by addressing the key issue of heat reduction in an ecological way. A glass curtain wall uses environmentally friendly materials such as high-performing, low-e coating and tinting that contributes to the reduced solar heat gain. Plentiful bamboo trees and vegetation will be included in the landscape to offer additional shading at the site.

The hotel is slated for completion in October 2010.

source: www.worldarchitecturenews.com
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