Ground has been broken in Turkey on what is expected to become the largest science centre in Europe, attracting upward of 30 million visitors per year.

Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdoǧan attended the groundbreaking ceremony at the historic 15th Century Haliç Tersanesi (Golden Horn shipyard) in Istanbul. The Tersane Istanbul project will feature three museums – including the first museum dedicated to women in Turkey – as well as hotels, retail stores, entertainment facilities, offices and a mosque in an area of 238,000sq m (781,000sq ft).

DP Architects is the appointed Design Architect for the project, which it is reported will be carried out under a build-operate-transfer model, with the first phase expected to open in November 2020.

The women’s museum will be joined by the Sadberk Hanim Museum, a private archaeology and art history museum that will be relocated from its current site in the Sarıyer district of Istanbul, and a Turkish-Islamic arts museum.

President Erdoǧan commented: "The project will not only increase the brand value of Istanbul. It will also make a positive contribution to Turkey’s tourism revenue."

He added that 15,000 direct and 45,000 indirect jobs would be provided when the centre becomes operational. Last year, President Erdoǧan claimed that the science centre will hold exhibitions on digital and virtual reality, artificial intelligence, maritime and shipyards and science history.