FLORYA AQUARIUM

Shaped by Nature, Designed for Experience
Aqua is a shopping mall located in Florya, Istanbul. Its primary architectural concept draws from the theme of tectonics—a term that refers to the structure of the Earth’s surface and how it is shaped, shifted, and transformed by internal forces. From a distance, Aqua's layered façade resembles a natural cliff rising from the edge of the water. Upon closer inspection, however, it becomes clear that this seemingly organic form has been deliberately sculpted to create stairs, bridges, and voids that allow light to filter between the layers.
By evening, the structure emits a warm glow from within, producing an effect akin to a hidden blaze beneath the surface. This cliff-like form is further shaped into piers at ground level, extending out over the sea. VIP retail spaces occupy the terrace level, while the main entrance opens onto a landscaped plaza that discreetly conceals the shopping areas below. The breathtaking sea view further enhances what is already an exceptional and immersive shopping experience.
GAD Foundation works to positively affect practice and theory in architecture and urbanism with a focus on education, society and their intersection with architecture and urbanism.
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