Over the centuries, İzmir has been one of the most important centres of trade, entertainment and culture in Turkey. And now, Adnan Menderes Airport will set the city's pulse ticking once again by bringing the interaction of the region with both Anatolia and the world to another dimension. Airports are like the doors on the ground opening to the sky. The sky journey of the passengers starts with taking off and ends with landing. The sky is limitless and free. The architectural history of Izmir Adnan Menderes Airport began with these thoughts. At first, Izmir won a unique, independent and modern International Terminal and then a brand new Domestic Terminal... The International Terminal of Adnan Menderes Airport achieved the standards it has reached today as General Directorate of State Airports Authority (DHMI) took action for the construction of international terminals of the airports in 1998. Yakup Hazan Architecture ranked first in the Adnan Menderes Airport International Terminal Competition and the project was initiated. Havas-Bayındır Construction Joint Venture undertook the responsibility of construction works. Later on, since TAV Airports bought Havas, the whole operation was transferred to TAV and the construction works of Adnan Menderes International Terminal were completed within 13 months and the Terminal was put into service. AIRPORTS WHERE INFINITY STARTS In the architecture of Adnan Menderes International Terminal which has been operated by TAV since 2007 and which ranked first in the European Steel Design Awards, the effects of the infinity of the sky and the scale change from land to sky can be observed. To ensure that the passengers feel close to the sky, in the terminal, an opening of 66 meters between bearings was provided, colorless glasses were used for the apron side and glass surfaces were used. It corroborates the terminal’s sense of architecture that the passengers will be close to the apron, airplanes and airfield and they can easily see the place from north to south, from east to west and from land to sky. The new design of Adnan Menderes Airport Domestic Terminal, which will be operated by TAV Airports until 2032, was completed on March 17, 2014. After the Old Domestic Terminal was demolished in 2012, Yakup Hazan Architecture undertook this project which will breathe new life into Izmir. The main design idea of the terminal was based on open places and the infinity concept was considered. All visual obstacles between the land and the air were removed. Turkey’s biggest Domestic Terminal was embellished with galleries and hanging gardens. The form of the design was shaped by a vault supported by four elephant-feet. The new Domestic Terminal building, notable for its wagon roof of 29 meters and which won the “National Steel Structure Award” given by the Turkish Constructional Steelwork Association, makes an impression with its clear and modern edges, courtyards and pools, and large and plain internal area. Professional Architect and Restoration Expert, Yakup Hazan, the designer of the International and Domestic Terminals and multi-storey car parks, owes his success regarding the airport design to his command of technical subjects, free thinking and unique works and emphasizes that the important thing when designing the airport was to ensure that the passengers reach the plane by passing through comfortable places. Hazan stated the following regarding the design of the airport: “One of the main criteria of design is to ensure that the passengers reach the plane through the shortest way.” AN AIRPORT FULL OF ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY APPLICATIONS Apart from the design features, the sustainable environmental policy of TAV in the new Domestic Terminal of Izmir Adnan Menderes Airport, which has been selected as the “most environmentally conscious airport” of Europe for its International Terminal, is crucial. As part of this policy, the wastes resulting from the demolishing process of the old terminal were recycled at a rate of 99%, or reused. Concretes, concrete reinforcing bars and cables were recycled. Insulation materials, light bulbs and hazardous wastes were disposed of as per the legal legislation. With this recycling procedure, the airport won the “Innovative Sustainability Practices Award” given by the Sustainable Development Association in 2013. The roof of the new Domestic Terminal was designed in such a way that the place will receive heat and light according to the weather conditions of Izmir. Moreover, the airport has applied for the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification for the terminal and multistorey car park, where energy, water consumption and waste management are considered. Within this scope, the new Domestic Terminal is expected to be Turkey’s biggest building with an LEED certificate.