Istanbul has completed the transformation of more than 924,000 housing units, including 78,000 supported by the government-backed “Half from Us” campaign, as part of Türkiye’s nationwide efforts to reduce earthquake risks and enhance urban resilience, according to Anadolu Agency (AA).
The Ministry of Environment, Urbanization, and Climate Change, working with private sector partners, said an additional 263,895 units are under construction or in development. Türkiye’s location in a high seismic activity zone places Istanbul, home to 16 million people, at exceptional risk, with over 1.5 million units identified as structurally unsafe.
Urban transformation in Istanbul is not limited to building reconstruction. Authorities are upgrading safety standards, integrating smart city technologies, expanding green spaces, and reinforcing neighborhood infrastructure and utilities. The “Half from Us” campaign accelerates construction through government-backed subsidies, while reserved zones facilitate regulated and orderly development across the city’s 39 districts.
Since 2012, 427 designated urban transformation zones have been active in Istanbul. The Urban Transformation Department has delivered 49,214 turnkey housing units, while 125,437 units remain in planning, and 47,617 are under active construction. Altogether, 173,054 units are in ongoing transformation phases, reflecting the scale and urgency of the effort.
Effective transformation requires coordination among public institutions, municipalities, universities, and technology firms. Initiatives such as Kentfest 2025, organized by the Urban Transformation and Urbanization Foundation, promote innovation and policy alignment. Competitions involving five universities integrate academic expertise and student innovation into urban planning and climate adaptation strategies.
Authorities have emphasized that urban transformation is both a social and economic challenge, requiring a coordinated, long-term housing strategy. Plans for a Türkiye Housing Policy Platform aim to provide a structured framework for sustainable and equitable housing development over the next decade.