SIG D&T has played a key role in the urban renaissance of Istanbul by topping off a radical new shopping centre with thousands of square metres of green roofing.

In a departure from Istanbul’s usual high-density concrete development, the 70,000sqm M1 Meydan Umraniye shopping complex has become the first shopping centre to feature a green roof – and the largest of its kind.

The 54,000sqm green roof contributes much-needed breathing space to the city of 14million people.

Some 35,000sqm of flat and sloping roofs, intended to integrate with the surrounding topography, have been planted with vegetation, while another 20,000sqm was gravelled to provide a public square and walkways.

M1 Meydan Umraniye, designed by international practice Foreign Office Architects, sits off one of the city’s main arteries leading to the famous Bosphorous bridge connecting European and Asian Istanbul.

SIG D&T provided all the specification and technical support to the architect and to the owner, Metro Group Asset Management, to help realise the roofs which are bursting with vegetation.

Rhepanol Hg provides a completely waterproof and root-resistant cover, allowing the entire roof to be planted up, which offsets some of the development’s carbon emissions and enables it to merge with the topography.

Meydan Umraniye is typical of the urban renaissance now taking place in one of the world’s most enchanting cities. Ecology is being put right at the heart of flagship developments, which will lead the next generation of urbanism in Istanbul.

The average size for a green roof is about 1,000sqm. This project has 54,000sqm, a truly ambitious project.

Roof lights allow natural light to flood into the centre and car parking for the shopping centre has been taken underground to create space for the large public area and to allow the roof to be greened.

The €34m shopping centre will be the 17th retail development in Metro Group Asset Management’s Turkish portfolio.