The VARYAP Meridian Project, which was unveiled in Istanbul, the largest city in Turkey, recently has been described as Turkey’s “most green” development. A mixed-use, super-development which will house Istanbul’s new financial and business district, the project is located the Atasehir district.

It’s been designed by RMJM, based in New York and Istanbul and is considered by many as a model for future green development. The VARYAP Meridian Project has been designed as per LEED standards and after “carefully analysing” the site to take advantage of the surrounding topography, context and climate, according to the developers.

The project is a 60-storey tower comprising 1,500 residential units, a 5-star hotel, offices, conference facilities as well as landscaped public areas and parking spaces.

The residential part of the VARYAP Meridian Project will have an array of options ranging from posh 5-bedroom penthouse apartments to small studio apartments. It indends to serve 20,000 people, should to cost $1 billion and scheduled to be completed in 2011.

The special features of the green project include several sustainable factors such as sites for collecting rainwater, facilities to optimise water usage and cut energy consumption, cooling water pools that add to the external landscape, wind-turbines, as well as a co-generation plant that will generate electricity for the development.

[via Inhabitat]