Another important step was taken to bring new centers to Izmir, the city of culture and arts. The project of the building, which was designed by Izmir Metropolitan Municipality as a special center for opera art and whose foundations were laid in 2018, has been updated. Izmir Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Dr. demonstrated a determined will to complete the project, which will be among the leading art centers in Turkey. The process was restarted under the leadership of Cemil Tugay. All technical details of the project, which is planned to be implemented in Karşıyaka Mavişehir in two stages, have become clear.
OPEN AIR STAGE IN THE FIRST STAGE
The open section of the Opera House was designed to cover an area of approximately 39 thousand square meters. Closed buildings with a construction area of approximately 6 thousand square meters, including a green-roofed parking lot and technical parts, were considered. Here; It was planned to include a closed car park for 139 vehicles, toilets, fire water tank, irrigation water tank, hydrophore and mechanical technical volumes, generator, transformer and electrical technical volumes. An open-air stage was designed in the landscape area, with a stage of 400 square meters and a seating capacity of approximately 2 thousand people. At the same time, an ornamental pool, recreation courtyard, botanical garden, cafeteria and an open car park for 199 vehicles were included in the plan. In the second block, there will be a taxi park for 12 vehicles, a cafeteria, a driver's room, a rest point and a warehouse.
METICULOUS WORK FOR THE SECOND STAGE
The second phase of the project includes the Opera House, which has a construction area of approximately 67 thousand square meters. In this context; The main hall and stages with a capacity of 1435 people, support spaces directly connected to the stage, units related to the stage to be used jointly by opera and ballet staff on performance days, a small hall and stage with a capacity of 437 spectators, rehearsal halls, a courtyard-open performance area with a capacity of 350 spectators, workshops and warehouses, main service units, administrative section, general facilities, technical center and a parking lot with a capacity of 155 vehicles are planned.
AN APPROPRIATION WAS ALLOCATED IN THE 2026 BUDGET
Izmir Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Dr. Cemil Tugay used the following statements in his evaluation at the January council meeting on the subject: "In the 2026 budget, an allowance of 1 billion 938 million liras was allocated within the scope of capital expenses. Necessary predictions were made in the general budget of the department for the construction of the opera house. After the project is prepared, it will be done in two stages. We will waive high-cost works to make it more economical. The concept and use of the building will not change; however, we will make some expenditures, which we can call luxury, more economical. Our aim is to complete the construction as soon as possible." "And to put as little burden on the municipality as possible in this process. Hopefully, if God does not allow anything to happen, we will put the building into service before the end of this period."
WHAT HAPPENED DURING THE PROCESS?
Construction of the Opera House started in 2018, with the application projects completed at the end of 2016. However, the business was liquidated in 2023 before the project was completed. In order for the building to be completed, a completion construction tender had to be held. In order to speed up the process, the project was handled in two stages. In this process; In accordance with the Circular No. 2024/7 on Saving Measures, the necessary approvals were received from the Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change on 16 January 2026 for the 1st stage and on 3 March 2026 for the 2nd stage. The construction process was aimed to begin with the completion of the first stage project service procurement process in 2026. Preparatory work for project service procurement for the second phase continues.
