Juliette Estiot Thesis project - presentation report
TALABASI CITIZEN URBAN REGENERATION
Thesis project conducted by Susan Dunne, Graciela Torre & Sebastien Argant UE PFE Changing Cities ensa nantes janvier 2015
Acknowledgements
I would like to thanks first the other member of the Tarlabasi team, Antoine for his spontaneity, Maela for her devotion and Ilgin, our Erasmus student for her involvement and translation during the trip. I would like to thanks my friends and parents for their support during the semester and Yves Badiou for the correction. I would like to thanks all the people that host us in Istanbul, the Turkish Chamber of Architects, JeanFrancois Perouse and the IEFA, The Metropolitan Municipality of Istanbul, the Community Centre of Tarlabasi, the team of the Hostel and all the citizens we talk to. I would like to thanks the teachers team, Graciela Torre, Sebastian Argant and Susan Dunne for their advice, knowledge and support during the semester. I would like to thanks all the people from the studio and mostly my fellow PFE students for the good mood that had been kept during the whole semester without any competition feelings. I am happy to finish school by your sides . It has been quite an adventure, Thank you all.
CHAPTER I
CHANGING CITIES STUDIO IN ISTANBUL
4
p.00
1
Changing Cities studio approach p.02
2
Collective distant investigation p.06
3
CHAPTER II
FROM THE THEMATIC TO THE SITE p.18
1
Istanbul, a population in mouvement ? p.20
2
Beyoglu, a district at a turning point p.26
3
Localised case studies within the territory
The insularity of Tarlabasi
p.16
p.34
CHAPTER III
CHAPTER IV
STAKES & STRATEGIES
p.36
p.58
1
1
Tarlabasi neighbourhood
Proposed strategies
p.38
p.60
2
Tarlabasi Boulevard p.44
3
*
Istiklal Street
Conclusion of the report
p.48
p.67
4
*
Meeting with social patterns
Resources
p.52
p.67
5
THE SITE
CHAPTER
00
I
CHANGING CITIES STUDIO IN ISTANBUL This chapter was written collectively by the thesis students as a tool to look back upon this semester’s experience in Istanbul through a critical paper focusing on theoretical researches, the study trip, the group studio works and the individual projects in balance.
CHAPTER NAME
01
STUDIO IN ISTANBUL
1. 02
Changing Cities studio approach
What is Changing Cities about?
Changing Cities is a studio founded 5 years ago, in the school of architecture of Nantes, basing its interest in the study of the vivid evolution of cities currently on. The common outcome shows a portrait of how these cities, suffering because of the fast and violent urban mutations, are struggling to move forward in a sustainable way. The past few years, the study cases were located in Ireland: Belfast, Limerick and Tallaght. This year, the study case is Istanbul, where the city is mutating extremely quickly to become one of the most influential global cities. Indeed, in the Western part of Turkey, located between Europe and Asia, Istanbul has experienced fundamental changes through a demographic boom for the last fifty years. Today, the population is up to 14.3 million people1. Those mutations have implied social inequalities, distributing people in a constantly sprawling urban fabric.
1
According to Population Data website, in 2014 the population
of Istanbul Province was up to 14,350,423 inhabitants.
The studio’s purpose is to deeply analyse the city, so to come up with various propositions according to constraints and issues observed on site. We aim at creating a new synergy within the city scope, taking into account the nowadays requirements for sustainability, meeting people’s needs and placing them in the core of our new development proposals. Changing Cities is an interdisciplinary studio. Indeed, various interventions have taken place with sociologists, geologists, architects, landscape designers and former studio’s students all along the semester. These figures help us through presentations to enlarge the study scope of Istanbul. Changing Cities is also a bilingual and international design studio. Indeed, our teachers, Susan Dunne (Ireland), Graciela Torre (Argentina) or Sebastien Argant (France) and the Erasmus students are from different countries. Furthermore, most of us have already spent time abroad. These various experiences enhance the sharing of knowledges and references.
STUDIO IN ISTANBUL
Photographer: Jérémy Binard ©
03
Meeting with Mücella Yapıcı and an artist painting a canvas about the Gezi event at the chamber of architects
During the first weeks of the semester, the 38 persons studio was organised in ten groups of three to four students (Erasmus, master and thesis students). This type of structure represented an opportunity to analyse the territory through a large spectrum of subjects, meaning History, Heritage and Architecture, Demography and Sociology, Commerce, Industry, Energy and Agriculture, Water and Waste, Transport, Geography, Geology and Urbanism, Diversity and Culture and eventually Housing. This allowed us to understand Istanbul in detail, connecting each subject to another, in order to grasp the city global scale. Thanks to tools such as a common, interactive 1-1000 scale model linked to posters and researches weekly produced, both students and teachers could discover new aspects of Istanbul and more generally of Turkey. We came up with the following question: Is Istanbul a resilient city? Resilience is defined as: “the capacity of individuals, communities, institutions, businesses and systems in a city, to survive, adapt, and grow no matter what kinds of chronic stresses and acute shocks they experience”.2 Through our observations and researches, we noticed various issues and stakes within the city. Over our propositions, we would try to answer this question as a possibility for Istanbul to bounce back and survive a globalised system. Changing Cities is about distinguishing constraints and contrasts to hit upon and build opportunities. In October, we all went to Istanbul for two weeks to better compare our previous ideas with the city’s reality. It was a way to humanise Istanbul by understanding the culture, getting in touch with
locals and starting to personally care about it. We spent most of the time on the chosen sites, trying to comprehend their dimensions.We did an intervention, a change in the landscape, a gesture to transform the place and enhance it. We also met local people from different backgrounds trying to get the gist of their everyday life, their wishes, their hopes, their regrets, their feelings. Furthermore, we also discussed with stakeholders involved in the making-process of Istanbul. For instance, we presented at the Chamber of Architects our first intentions for our projects and discussed the issues of Istanbul. Jean Francois Pérouse3 gave a lecture at the Institut Français des Études Anatoliennes. Besides, we met people from the Municipality and from Mimar Sinan University, Fine Arts University. Returned from Istanbul, it was time to make our analysis more precise and to articulate them to the project conception, developing strategies for future actions. We came back with various feelings that we had to handle in order to tackle the stakes of the city. They were so complex that we decided to keep the collective studio around new tools. We continued the group model and map, did conceptual works and developed a website called Meta-Istanbul4 in order to broadcast our researches. This semester is deemed as an experimental design studio. The form of presentation is free to let us the possibility to use models, videos, interventions or posters. 3
Jean François Pérouse is the director of the Institut Français
des Etudes Anatoliennes (IFEA), Lecturer in the University of Galatasaray, he is specialised in economical geography of Turkey. He currently runs lessons about the risks managements in the contemporary Turkey.
2
http://www.100resilientcities.org
1/1000 scale model of the city centre.
4
http://meta-istanbul.tumblr.com
Photographer: Chloé Mettrie ©
04
STUDIO IN ISTANBUL
How is the semester organised?
History
Pierre French Master 2
Jérémy French Master 1
Fanta Malian Master 2
Andrea Peruvian Final thesis
Cécile French Master 2
Adèle French Master 2
Élodie French Master 1
Eugenio Italian Erasmus
Marie French Master 1
Giorgia Italian Erasmus
STUDIO IN ISTANBUL
Morgane French Final Thesis
Diversity & Culture
Industry & Agriculture
Pauline French Final Thesis
Heritage & Architecture
Marion French Final Thesis
Demography, Sociology and Politics
Kévin French Master 2
Juliette French Final Thesis
Maela French Master 2
www
Antoine French Master 1
Ilgin Turkish Erasmus
Lucie French Master 2
Mimar Sinan Turkish Pantheon of architect
Geography, geology & urbanism
05
Jean-Christophe French Master 2
Lucas Brazilian Erasmus
Eliott French Master 2
Mathilde French Final Thesis
Water, waste & energy
Clara French Final Thesis
Housing
Teachers
Chloé French Master 2
Hippolyte French Master 1
Helena Czech Erasmus
Céline French Final Thesis
Sébastien French Teacher & Landscaper
Cyrille French Master 2
Maud French Master 1
Daniele Italian Erasmus
Alice French Master 2
Mimar Graciela Argentine Teacher & Architect
Jitka Czech Erasmus
Mimar Susan Irish Teacher & Architect
Marie French Final Thesis
Commerce
Jonathan French Final Thesis
Julien French Master 2
Changing Cities teams
Gabriela Peruvian Master 2
Gabriela Brazilian Erasmus
Photographer: Jean Christophe Brard ©
Transport
STUDIO IN ISTANBUL
2. 06
Collective distant investigation
Istanbul historical overview This second part aims at getting people onboard. The features that make Istanbul unique among the other global cities are its historical depth, its specific geographical location, its cosmopolitan population. The city was the capital of three empires, of which the heritage is still visible. It’s been a crossroad for centuries, straddling the seas, a bridge between Europe and Asia through the Bosphorus. Istanbul remains the economical and cultural centre of the country, attracting people from all over the world. The understanding of the past reveals all the layers that need to be considered.
680BC to 1453 - From the Greeks to the Byzantines: emergence of a world power
An ancestral commercial node
The story of Istanbul started in the 7th century BC under the name of Byzance, when a Greek colony invested the city first hill between the Bosphorus and the Golden Horn. That specific location between an
important water network and the famous Silk Road5 offered Byzance a strategic trade position. The city was mainly structured along the coastline with ports and fishing villages. Different flows of merchandise and people between China and Europe crossed the city.
The birth of a capital
During the 2nd century AD, when Byzance was part of the Roman Empire, it was built as a traditional roman city. As the peninsula was composed of seven hills, it was easily compared to Rome. New walls were built to enlarge the city, a street called the Mese was established across the peninsula. Afterwords, a hippodrome, a series of churches and forums public spaces made for social meetings, political and religious debates - were set up along this main axis. An ambitious water network was developed at the sametime with the help of the Valens
5 
According to Ancient History Encyclopedia website, the Silk
Road was a network of trade routes between 130BC and 1453.
Black Sea
Byzantine Empire Mediterranean Sea
550 AD Byzantine Empire under Justinian
Atlantic ocean
Latin Empire
Slavs & Bulgarians
From one Empire to another
Byzantine Empire Mediterranean Sea
800 AD Period of Invasions
Lycus River
Golden Horn
8
Bosphorus
1. Hagia Sophia
4
Mes 7
2. Great Palace and Hippodrome
Sea
3
e
1
6 2
3. Basilica Cistern
Hills
4. Valens Aqueduct
Water network
5. Harbour of Theodosius
5
Roads Marmara Sea
The historical peninsula under the Byzantine Empire
1km
Perimeter wall
N
6. Walls of Constantine 7. Walls of Theodosius The Great 8. Galata Tower
07
During the 6th century, the Emperor Justinian led the Byzantine Empire to its apogee and built the biggest religious monument of all times: the Hagia SofiaBasilica. Soon after, the Empire started to decline mainly because of and the Arabic and Catholics invasions. Later, at the beginning of the 13th century, the fourth crusade led by the Latins determined the fall of the Empire. As a result, Catholic religion replaced the previous Orthodox beliefs and new neighborhoods appeared on the other sides of the Golden Horn and the Bosphorus. In 1453, Mehmet II and his Ottoman troops took advantage of the Byzantine Empire vulnerability to violently obtain the domination of Constantinople.
Black Sea
STUDIO IN ISTANBUL
These infrastructures ran the ambitious settlement of a powerful city. Two centuries later, when Rome became too weak to efficiently control that growing territory, the Roman Empire was split into two parts. The Western Roman Empire was led by Raven, while Byzance became the capital of the Eastern Roman Empire. That was the beginning of the Byzantine Empire and Byzance was renamed Constantinople. During this period the architecture of the city considerably evolved. The city walls were enlarged, important buildings were developed and the water network was improved to fulfill the growing population needs. Furthermore, the water was stored in two different ways: in three open reservoirs built on high points and in underground cisterns.
Atlantic ocean
STUDIO IN ISTANBUL
2.2 1453 to 1923 The Ottoman Empire: 500 years to shape the image of the city
The bloody transition of Constantinople from the Byzantine Empire to the Ottoman Empire marked the beginning of five centuries of transformations and innovations, which actively contributed to build the image of the city. The Ottoman Empire started in 1299 and its civilisation was one of the most important in the world. During the 15th century, it extended over three continents, from the Mediterranean Sea to the northern Black Sea coasts and from the Arabian Peninsula to Morocco.
The Ottoman Empire was a slight balance between various religions and cultures. To repopulate the city, many minorities were invited such as Turks, Greeks, Armenians, Jews. Despite this meaningful tolerance, the Sultan soon converted several churches into mosques. Among them, the immediate transformation of the Hagia Sophia Basilica manifested the influence of Islam in the renewal of the city. Külliyes, as an urban complex, well represented this link between religion and urbanism. They were located at the top of the city
Strategies to keep the Empire afloat
Under the reign of Suleiman the Magnificent from 1520 to 1566, The Ottoman Empire was at its peak of territorial, economic, military and cultural extension along the Mediterranean Sea and the Black Sea. In 1498, the discovery of the maritime route from Europe to India passing through The Cape of Good Hope, by Vasco de Gama, disrupted the privilegedsituation of the city and predicted the future decline of the Empire. Starting from the late 17th century, the sultans tried to maintain the old
Source: James ROBERTSON/Collection Pierre de Gigord / CNRS Éditions.
08
Social and spatial organisations led by religion
hills. They constituted an important social life support and a centrality around which an organic pattern took place, in opposition to the Hippodamian model of Byzance. The orientations and widths of the streets frequently changed and cul-de-sacs became usual. Külliyes brought different facilities: a mosque, a hospital, a religious school, a library, a refectory, a hammam, a fountain. These water equipments were the only source of fresh water for the inhabitants’ daily life. They naturally became strategic gathering places of every Külliyes. The long covered markets named Bedesten formed other meeting points. The best exemple was the Grand Bazaar, influenced by oriental tradition of commerce.
Hagia Sophia mosque in 1854
Black Sea
Mediterranean Sea
Actual frontiers N
Indian Ocean
1000km
1451-1481 AD Ottoman Empire under Mehmet II
Atlantic ocean
At the beginning of the 20th century, the Ottoman Empire faced a series of nationalist revolts by different ethnic groups claiming for their independence. Some demands were repressed, such as the Armenian movement for civil rights which ended in massacres6. Other groups obtained their independence following the Balkan Wars7. All those protests accelerated the dissolution of the Empire.
STUDIO IN ISTANBUL
glory, adopting reforms inspired to European policies: a westernisation process occurred between 1839 and 1877, during a period called Tanzimat. It led to a process of reorganisation and modernisation based on European models. Deep social, economic and urban changes occurred during those years, hygienists and functionalists principles led to the adoption of a grid pattern mainly in those neighborhoods devastated by suspicious fires.
Atlantic ocean
Black Sea
6 The number of Armenian victims varies depending on the sources : 1,500,000 according to the Armenian State, between
Mediterranean Sea
300,000 and 800,000 according to Turkish statistics. 7 The Balkan Wars (1912 and 1913) was a coalition between
Actual frontiers
Bulgaria, Serbia, Greece and Montenegro that declared the war Indian Ocean
1000km
to the Ottoman Empire.
09
N
1520-1566 AD Ottoman Empire under Suleiman the Magnificient
Golden Horn Lycus river
Bosphorus
6 7 5
1. Topkapı Palace
1
Sea
Divanyolu
4
2. Hagia Sofia
2 3
3. Blue Mosque
Water network
4. Grand Bazaar
Roads
Marmara Sea
1km
The historical peninsula under the Ottoman Empire
Hills
Perimeter wall
N
5. Süleymaniye Külliye 6. Fatih Külliye 7. Galata bridge
Atlantic ocean
Influenced by Great Britain Black Sea
STUDIO IN ISTANBUL
Mediterranean Sea
Actual frontiers
Influenced by Italia
Turkey
Influenced by France
Armenia
Kurdish Territory
Indian Ocean
1000km
1920 Treaty of Sèvres
Constantinople
Atlantic ocean Black Sea
Turkey Mediterranean Sea
10
Actual frontiers N
Indian Ocean
1000km
1923 Republic of Turkey
1914 to 1980 - The Republic era: modernisation of Turkey
Istanbul
Birth of a laic Republic Already weakened, the Ottoman Empire did not resist to the First World War. In 1920, The Treaty of Sevres proposed the division of the Empire between the Allied forces and the regional minorities. Since this partition was not approved by the Turkish, Mustafa Kemal, a former military, gathered people around nationalist ideas. He was at the head of the Independance War that led to the proclamation of the Turkish Laic Republic in 1923. Ankara was chosen as the new capital. Mustafa Kemal, called Atatürk, became its first president. He embodied the renewal of the country in rupture with the Ottoman Empire. Secularisation and modernisation policies led to the adoption of several laws: the caliphate8 was abolished in 1924, a civil code was created in 1926, the latin alphabet was adopted in 1928, women obtained the right to vote in 1934, religious brotherhoods were evicted from educational system, and Sunday replaced the Friday holiday in 1935.9
8 The caliphate is a form of Islamic religious and political leadership. 9
BOZARSLAN Hamit, Histoire de la Turquie contemporaine,
Edition La découverte, 2006, p.33
Golden Horn
Bosphorus
Sea Roads Main planned boulevards Planned squares
Marmara Sea 1km
Henri Prost’s master plan 1936-1951
Planned parks
N
Rupture with the Ottoman urban fabric
the European tendencies, Henri Prost10 imagined a city with large boulevards and public places respecting the historical layers. His masterplan was not completely realised. Nonetheless, after World War II, some principles became effective thanks to the Marshall fund11. Afterwards, large public places were created, such as Taksim square, which became the new European center of Istanbul. The transformation of Hagia Sophia Mosque into a museum was an other example of the distance taken from the Ottoman Era.
In 1945, Atatürk’s successor allowed a multi-party political system. This period marked the beginning of an alliance with Western countries and in particular
Industrialisation process In 1950’s, the Golden Horn became the core of the industrial activities. According to Prost plan, the Ottoman shipyards were replaced by textile factories, electric plants and warehouses. It remained the main production place in Istanbul until the 1980’s. First, the industrialisation process provoked the first large-scale migration wave from the East to the West. The migrants were looking for better job opportunities within the city. Istanbul population doubled in twenty years, going from 983,000 in 1950 to 2,772,000 inhabitants in 197015, penalising the investments concerning housing, public and health services, education and transportation system, which were judged nonproductive. As a result, informal systems took place such as private mini-buses called dolmuş or street
12 10
Henri Prost (1874-1959), studied architecture and fine arts.
13
Turkey became a member of the Council of Europe in 1949. The
North
Atlantic
Treaty
Organisation
is
an
He worked on several urban master plans for cities in Morocco
intergovernmental political and military alliance signed in 1949.
and France.
14
11
which improves economic social well-being around the world.
Also called European Recovery Program, the Marshall fund
was a financial help from USA to reconstruct Europe after WWII.
Gecekondu in the district of Küçükçekmece in Istanbul
15
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development According to the Turkish Statistical Institute
11
After 1945: international economical and political agreements
STUDIO IN ISTANBUL
During that period of radical transformations, most of the public finances were invested in Ankara. Istanbul, after losing its relevant diplomatic position, its administrative workers, its political and financial influence, faced a period of economical stagnation. The city was not able to maintain its expensive and over-proportionated infrastructures anymore. In response to this decline, a French urban planner, Henry Prost, was invited in 1936 to work on a masterplan for Istanbul. According to
with Europe12. Turkey appeared as a strategic way for them to deal with the unstable situation in the Middle East. As a result, Turkey became a NATO member13 in 1951. In addition to this political entente, economical alliances were sealed facilitated by the global prosperity. For instance, Turkey became one of the OECD14 fundator members. The financial agreements led to foreign investments that notably allowed Istanbul development. The previously dominant agricultural economy was rapidly replaced by an industrial one.
1900
1950
1970
1990
2000
20XX prospective urban expansion
12
STUDIO IN ISTANBUL
Urban sprawl over the 20th century
Urban Sprawl during the 20th century
sea
Population growth over the 20th century Forest
1900. 1 125 000 inhabitants Urban area
1950. 983 000 inhabitants 1970. 2 772 000 inhabitants 1990. 7 620 000 inhabitants 2000. 10 923 000 inhabitants
N
Main Roads 0
50km
The economical crisis of the 1970’s, marked by an economic dependence of foreign lenders, increased poverty, worsened socials inequalities and enhanced negative effects of the rapid urban growth. These difficulties led to a governmental fragmentation and to the rise of radical parties. The military interventions in 1960 and 1971 tried to re-establish a Kemalist government. Eleven governments followed one another between 1971 and 1980, trying to find sufficient measures to adjust the effects of the first oil crisis.
and industrial services shaped by the two bridges17 and the following beltways. The Central Business District shifted to the North on the Maslak-Levent axis, with the ambition of being the new financial centre of the Middle-East. Since they had become too polluted and too big to be maintained in the historical centre, factories settled on the periphery along the major roads.
The concept of global city had huge impacts on the urban development of Istanbul. Firstly, Istanbul was subjected to an important population growth: the number of inhabitants jumped from 2.9 million in 1980 to 13.1 million in 201018. Then, the separation of the production system from the living environment increased spatial fragmentation and social segregation. Finally, rapid urbanisation partially destroyed the forest, reduced the part of available agricultural lands, obstructed the river beds with backfills and polluted lakes, rivers and seas waters.19
Neo-liberal policies and consequences in Istanbul
The 1980’s began with a third Coup d’état headed by General Kenan Evren. It followed a difficult social, political and economic period during the 1970’s. The military regime remained in place for three years. In 1983, the liberal party came into power and started reforming the city choosing to develop an economy based on services and opened the Turkish market to foreign investors. This internationally based economy was reinforced by the end of the Cold War, as Istanbul came back a strategic point for commercial trade between Europe and Asia. The main consequence of those neo-liberal policies was the decentralisation of both transportation infrastructure, commercial
Rapid urban growth had an impact on land values and was mainly supervised by distant governmental decisions from Ankara. Since then, land has become a commodity and urban planning is led by private investors and speculation. For instance, this period has seen the emergence of mega projects dispersed in the city, built with both lack of transparency and respect of the rules. In parallel, at the beginning of the 1980’s, the government created a fund for mass housing: the Mass Housing Authority and TOKI20 (the housing development administration of Turkey). As there was an increased demand for housing, which where crucially under-available within the city’s territory, 17
The first Bosphorus Bridge was built in 1973, the second
one was accomplished in 1988. 18 The case of Beyoglu, Istanbul. Dimension of Urban Redevelopment, Technische Universität Berlin, Berlin Editions, January 2014, 19
The land has already shown its limit, as during the
Ayamama’s floods in 2009. 16
Litteraly meaning built in one night
20
TOKI for Toplu Konut İdaresi Başkanlığı in Turkish.
13
Land as a commodity 1980 to 2014 Fast social and spatial transformations within the context of a globalised Istanbul
STUDIO IN ISTANBUL
vendors. Moreover, shanty towns called gecekondu16 started to proliferate on public lands. Because they generated social interactions and created a strong neighborhood feeling, this informal housing could be considered as a social accomplishment, but in term of construction quality, they appeared to be weak and vulnerable. The increasing number of the inhabitants consolidated this type of urban pattern, made out of illegal settlements. They participated to the city huge expansion outside the historical walls. The construction of the First Bosphorus Bridge, in 1973, accelerated the urban sprawl, especially on a West-East axis, along the E-5 highway.
In 2002, after the 2001 economic crisis, the AKP21 (Justice Development Party) came to power and aimed not only to privatise the state owned real estate assets, but also to reactivate the economy through construction. That led to six years (20022008) of reorganisation of TOKI’s powers and the administration acquired new rights. The most important of them was the right to revise planning and zoning regulations in transformation zones. In 2005, Istanbul municipality applied laws that expanded the land under its jurisdiction. That facilitated the establishment of collaboration between public and private companies and allowed urban transformation projects, with for instance the law n°5366, or « Renewal Law ». Today, those newly created laws are strong alibis providing the authorities the right to undertake urban cleansing. Gentrification is one of those initiatives that occurs in renewal projects, in order to improve the security and the life conditions in districts located in the inner-city, mostly inhabited by migrants, and where there was a strong tourism potential. Urban renewal is claimed as an excuse to drive poor inhabitants out. What was a spontaneous ennoblement in the 1980’s has now become a planning tool and the previous impoverished citycentre has turned into a touristic and cultural centre.
Urban renewal leading to social transformations That so-called urban renewal has several major effects on the urban pattern. Firstly, it increases the polarisation of the city. In fact, urban transformation projects are displacing the low-income inhabitants from the city centre and the cleavage between populations is mainly based on an economical criteria. The city today is quite composed of strong mono-oriented areas of informal constructions, gated communities, industries, to-be transformed zones, among other. Secondly, urban renewal tends to be very specific depending on its location within the city: the neo-ottomanism is for instance one of the most important drivers of the historic peninsula, defined as the beautification of the city from its major buildings to its street vendors. By the glorification of its past, the historical city seems to become a pastiche area made only for tourists. That renewed interest for the Ottoman period is associated with the coming up again of Islam in the everyday life, disregarding the various ethnic groups and languages of the communities22. This radicalisation partly stops the discussion about Turkey entrance in The European Union23.
22
“A non-exhaustive selection of such groups in strictly
alphabetical order: Abkhaz, Albanians, Arabs, Armenians, Bosniaks, Bulgarians, Circassians, Georgians, Greeks, Kurds, Laz, Pomaks, Roma, Tatars, Turks.” Pelin Derviş, Bülent Tanju, Uğur Tanyeli, Becoming Istanbul, an encyclopedia, Garanti Gallery, 2008, p96.
AKP for Adalet ve Kalkınma Partisi in Turkish. It is a social
conservative political party.
23
Turkey became an official candidate to join the European
Union in 1999. Its entrance was refused seven years later.
Destruction of the Sulukulé old neighborhood
The Sulukule urban renewal
Photographer: Insaatnoktasi ©
21
Photographer: Kristoffer_l ©
STUDIO IN ISTANBUL 14
the aims of the MHA were to provide dwellings for low- and middle-income groups and to regulate the housing sector. The organisation faced different problems and the one who benefitted those housings were more middle- and upper middle-class than the original targets.
STUDIO IN ISTANBUL
Land is used as a powerful tool to transform the society. The Gezi events of May 201324 show an emerging resistance fighting against an authoritarian leader and a lack of consideration of the inhabitants’ voice. Turkey experiments today several challenges. The consequences of the renewal projects are now emerging, showing social un-cohesion, poverty relocation, mono-oriented functions zones among other. That fragmentation of Istanbul social and spatial landscape is one of the main stakes the city will have to face in a close future.
24
The trigger of the OccupyGezy movement was the
reconstruction project of military barracks instead of Gezi park. The movement started spontaneously led by a small group of ecologists but facing the violence of the sit-in repression, supporting protests and strikes took place rapidly across Turkey.
Photographer: Mstyslav Chernov ©
15
Womens get involved during the Gezi events
STUDIO IN ISTANBUL 16
3.
Localised case studies within the territory
“The ecological limits have been surpassed. The population limits have been surpassed. The economic limits have been surpassed. If you ask me where this will lead, I’ll quote Dogan Kuban: chaos.”
In this context, we decided to act on various parts of Istanbul embodying such contradictions. The means of our propositions are the explorations of new forms of stability within a more equitable and sustainable urban future.
Mücella Yapici, Istanbul Chamber of Architect
Istanbul’s fast and unstoppable growth is generating two polarising visions concerning the future: the Turkish state aims to shaping Istanbul as a global city by developing large-scale transformation projects, while the ordinary citizens reclaim their currently neglected rights to the city. The fracture between the wealthiest inhabitants residing in defensible spaces25 and the low-income population living in the margins of both city and society is increasing.
25 The defensible space theory was developed by the architect and urban planner Oscar Newman in the 1970’s. He gave design guidelines to prevent crimes through neighborhood safety. In Turkey, such spaces can be assimilated as gated communities or TOKI housing areas.
The historical centre Five sites located along the Golden Horn carry a heavy historical charge, trying to deal with the historic peninsula and the modern city-centre: •
Galata Bridge
•
Tarlabasi neighbourhood
•
Golden Horn dockyards
•
Eyüp district
•
Following the footsteps of the Orient Express
STUDIO IN ISTANBUL 17
The outer-city and the periphery
Istanbul fringes
Three districts, which faced an extremely fast urbanisation since the 1980’s, are located outside the historical core:
Finally, a site is located on small fishing villages down the under construction third bridge on the Bosphorus and near the new highway. Four villages take place on both sides of the Bosphorus:
•
Zeytinburnu district
•
Küçükçekmece district
•
Mahmutbey district
•
Garipçe
•
Rumelifeneri
•
Poyraz
•
Anadolufeneri
CHAPTER
18
STUDIO IN ISTANBUL
II
FROM THE THEMATIC TO THE SITE This following work, mainly toward social status, takes roots in the thematic chosen at the beginning of the semester, in this case Demography, Sociology and Politics. The previous introduction explains that Istanbul is facing crucial issues, mostly from the growth of its population. This increase is the most important element to be considered in this analysis.
STUDIO IN ISTANBUL 19
Photographer: Joshua Sterett ©
w
15 14
Paris
13 12 11 10
Teheran
9 8
Ankara
5
Berlin
4 3
1918 WWI ended
1919 Turkish War of Independence 1915 Armenian massacre more than 2500 villages emptied and over 1 million died
Henri Prost’s urban plans 1930
plans for a city with cars
1923 proclamation of the Republic of Turkey
1.
1960’s Labour migration
1973 Germany stopped accepting Turkish immigrants
1955 September 6 - 7 events
racist attacts against the minorities in Turkey caused them to leave the country
2005
2010
2000
1984 Kurdish rebellions
more than 1.6 Million Syrian refugee moved into Turkey
more than 2500 villages emptied
1st Bridge 1980 is built Alevi massacre in Çorum
1974 Turkish invasion of Cyprus
2011 Syrian Civil War started
1995 Forced migration in the south-east of Turkey
to Germany but it didn’t stop people entering the country illigally to work more than 3 Million workers migrated in 40 years Military coup
1995
1990
Military coup
Military coup
expedited with the Marshall aids between 1948 - 1952
1985
1980
1975
1965
1970
1955
1950
1960
1971
1950’s The migration from villages to cities
interchange among Romans and Turks
İstanbul became less-habited as Ankara became the new capital
20
1945
1935
1940
1924
WWI started
1927
1821 Greece gained its independence
1914
1800
1850
1
2014
Athens
2
Athens Agglomeration
6
number of habitants in million
THEMATIC TO THE SITE
7
2013 Gezi Protests
People from various etnicies and backgrounds protested together. 1999 Police forces were much more violent in Earthquake in Düzce minority neighbourhoods.
1988 2nd Bridge is built
7,6 17.127 people died
1978 Alevi massacre in Maraş
more than 150 Alevi citizens were murdered Alevi Citizens were forced to migrate to other cities including İstanbul
The construction of the 3rd bridge started
Istanbul, a population in mouvement ?
Istanbul is the most populated city in Turkey although not the capital, its population has reached 14 350 4231 inhabitants in 2014. The attraction of the city is explained by its complex history through the ages and its well-known and unique geographical situation between two continents. As previously said in the common introduction, it must be remembered that Istanbul has faced different phases of migration, some coming from inside Turkish borders, others from different parts of the world. At the international scale, migrations are mostly coming from Eastern Europe countries such as Bulgaria, Greece; the Middle East from Iraq, Iran and mainly from Syria. Middle East migration also concerns the non-official Kurdistan region shared by those four countries, including Turkey. The recent political conflict that occurred in Kobane (Syria) has forced more than 150 000 Kurds of Syria to cross the
borders and take refuge in Turkey. 2 This last tendency matches the inner migration mostly coming from East, South Anatolia and Black Sea regions. These people are the ones that migrated the most toward Istanbul, following industrial activities. Over the past decades Istanbul has become a hub of migration, a bridge for those trying to make their way to Europe, such as African and Southern countries, sometimes a harbour for people waiting to cross. This migration, either coming from inner or outer Turkey, is one of the biggest reasons of population growth and diversity.
2
Forgetting about the civil war that opposed Turks to Kurds in
1990, Turkey is now accepting Kurds refugees, protecting them 1
Populationdata website
from the rise of the Islamic State.
THEMATIC TO THE SITE
MARMARA SEA
Istanbul
BLACKSEA MARMARA
EASTERNANATOLIA AEGAN
CENTRALANATOLIA IRAN
SOUTHEASTERNANATOLIA
Kurd population
MEDITERRANEAN
21
SYRIA
IRAQ
MEDITERRANEAN SEA
migration toward Istanbul by name
TEKIRDAĞ
BLACK SEA
Catalca Silivri
Eyüp
Sarıyer
Gaziosmanpaşa
Küçükçekmece
Bay. Esenler
Şişli
Beykoz
Kağ.
Şile
Beş. Bey. Gün. Üsküdar Bah. Fat. Emi. Bakırköy Zey. Kadıköy Bağ.
Büyükçekmece Avcılar
Maltepe
Black Sea Eastern Anatolia Central Anatolia
Ümraniye
Sultanbeyli
Kartal Pendik
MARMARA SEA
Adalar
Tuzla
KOCAELI
South Eastern Anatolia Marmara
population repartition by origin regions
0 5
10 15
25 km
THEMATIC TO THE SITE
< 50 000 < 40 000
N
< 30 000 22
< 20 000 < 10 000 < 1000
population density of Istanbul(inhab/km2)
Seen as a cosmopolitan city, Istanbul, even though essentially represented by the Muslim religion, has been and is the heart of different religions. Following the city history, non-Muslim minorities areas are concentrated around the central district. Latin people, followers of the Christian religion, settled first in the historical peninsula where they built churches during the Byzantine period. Chased at the Ottoman time, the Christians and Jews, chased from Spain during the Inquisition, had to settle outside the Fatih peninsula.
0 5
10 15
25 km
CHRISTIAN 0,13 % 60 % Armenian Orthodox 20 % Syrian Orthodox 10 % Protestant 8 % Chaldean Catholic 2 % Greek Orthodox
15% Alevi
JEWISH 0,03 % 96 % Sepharadi 4 % Askenazi
ISLAM
96,83% 85% Sunni
Today, the religious diversity is still existing although only a trace comparing to the Islam religion. Istanbul religious diversity
BAHAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;I 0,01 %
Ă&#x2DC;
ATHEIST 3%
THEMATIC TO THE SITE
+ 10 % + 15 %
N
-1%
23
+5% - 15 % population mouvement of Istanbul (inhab)
-5%
0 5
10 15
25 km
ISTANBUL AGE STRUCTURE
Datas 7.115.721 4.094
7.044.726 90 +
12.192
15.231
85 - 89
18.928
40.273
80 - 84
67.594
57.803
75 - 79
85.186
70 - 74
117.451
90.143 140.347 212.427 302.878 388.157 466.261 557.662
65 - 69 60 - 64 55 - 59 50 - 54 45 - 49 40 - 44
163.215 225.757 305.811 379.427 448.145 538.413
35 - 39
639.368
616.701
30 - 34
731.494
710.359
25 - 29
671.518 556.727
20 - 24
566.464
15 - 19
549.855
10 - 14
664.216 567.087 527.760 517.048
557.802
5-9
527.047
567.218
0-4
536.055
Istanbul pyramid of ages
Mapping statistics figures and census data about the population was the first approach in order to identify problematic areas. These studies helped learning more about the city through different elements, such as medium age, revealing the youth of Istanbul population. The study of density informs that the central districts are the most populated, since they are the oldest ones. However, data showed that the central peninsula heads towards the exodus of its inhabitants, leaving housing vacant, waiting to be replaced by urban renewal project. This population movement is also matching the current urban sprawling that led to merge Istanbul municipality to Istanbul province, two political scales. This is one of the many arguments to highlight that Istanbul has grown into a megalopolis.
THEMATIC TO THE SITE
Once in every four years
GRAND NATIONAL ASSEMBLY OF TURKEY (TBMM) PRIME MINISTER TURKEY CENTRAL GOVERNMENT PUBLIC WORKS AND SETTLEMENT
FINANCE
ENVIRONMENT AND FORESTRY
TRANSPORT
1 ISTANBUL DEVELOPMENT AGENCY
EDUCATION
CULTURE AND TOURISM
HEALTH
GOVERNOR OF ISTANBUL National Primary Education, Local Health Authorities, Police Force, Traffic Management, Disaster Management, Industry and Commerce, Social Services
Investment Orientation, Socio-Economic Development
Once in every five years
METROPOLITAN MAYOR * OF ISTANBUL
2
METROPOLITAN MUNICIPAL COUNCIL
PROVINCIAL COUNCIL
3
URBAN DEVELOPMENT
FINANCE
TRANSPORT
INFRASTRUCTURE SERVICES
UTILITIES
Housing, City Planning, Real Estate, Purchasing Fire Brigades
Budgeting, Systems, Transport Planning, Transport Coordination
Road, Rail, Public Transport Historical Sites Protection, Waste Management, Parks and Gardens
Construction, Environmental and Tourism Support Earthquake RiskServices Management
Cultural and Social Affairs,
Cultural and Social Affairs, Tourism Support Services,
24
DISTRICT GOVERNORS(39)
DISTRICT COUNCILS*
Once in every five years
DISTRICT MAYORS (39) *
URBAN DEVELOPMENT
LAND REGISTRY
ENVIRONMENT
SERVICES
Development and Urbanisation, Plans and Projects
Registry and Audit, Real Estate and Expropriation
Environment Protection, Parks and Gardens
Cultural and Social Affairs, Support Services, Health, Sanitary Services and Maintenance
executive power including the right for regulatory overwrite some limited powers
National Level State Level City Level District Level Mahalle Level
* Directly elected
1 Recently established, not yet fully implemented 2 Formed by selected members of District Councils
and all District Mayors
3 Headed by the centrally appointed Governor of Istanbul,
it is the council of the Provincial Special Authority
executive power limited power
digram of local governement of Turkey
*
directly elected 1 recently established, not yet fully implemented
2 formed by selected members of District Councils and Mayors 3 headed by the centrally appointed Governor of Istanbul it is the council of the Provincial Special Authority
in habitants
1 000 000
2009 Local Election in İstanbul
DSP 2.5%
500 000
CHP 30% AKP 67.5%
Üsküdar
Zeytinburnu
Sile
Sisli
Tuzla
Umraniye
Silivri
Sultangazi
Sultanbeyli
Pendik
Sariyer
Sancaktepe
Kartal
Maltepe
Kucukcekmece
Kadiköy
Gungoren
Kagithane
Eyüp
Fatih
Gaziosmanpasa
Catalca
Esenler
Esenyurt
Cekmekoy
Beykoz
Beyoglu
Buyukcekmece
Besiktas
Beylikduzu
Bakirkoy
Basaksehir
Bayrampasa
Avcilar
Bagcilar
Bahcelievler
Adalar
Atasehir
Arnavutkoy
0
KIRKLARELI
TEKIRDAG KARADENIZ
Çatalca
Sariyer Beykoz
Sile
Bakirköy
Kadiköy
Sancaktepe
Ümraniye Atasehir
Pendik
Sultanbeyli
Silivri
Pendik
Adalar
Sariyer
Sancaktepe
Maltepe
Kucukcekmece
Kartal
Kadiköy
Gungoren
Kagithane
Eyüp
Fatih
CHP 30%
Sultanbeyli
Kartal
Gaziosmanpasa
Catalca
Esenler
MARMARA DENIZI
Esenyurt
Cekmekoy
Beyoglu
Buyukcekmece
Beykoz
Beylikduzu
Besiktas
Bakirkoy
Basaksehir
5- Küçükçekmece
Bayrampasa
4- Güngören
Bagcilar
3- Zeytinburnu
Avcilar
Adalar
Atasehir
2- Bayrampasa
Bahcelievler
1- Gaziosmanpasa
Tuzla
Üsküdar
Üsküdar
Maltepe
0
DSP 2.5%
Çekmeköy
Sisli Beyoglu Fatih
KOCAELI
Zeytinburnu
Avcilar
2 Bagcilar 4 Bahçelievler 3
Sile
Beylikdüzü
5
Sisli
Esenyurt
Kagithane Besiktas
Sultangazi
Büyükçekmece
1
Tuzla
Esenler
500 000
Sisli
Sultangazi
Umraniye
Basaksehir
Arnavutkoy
in habitants
Eyüp
Silivri Election in İstanbul 2009 Local
AKP 67.5%
2009
KIRKLARELI
TEKIRDAG KARADENIZ
Çatalca
Arnavutköy
Eyüp
Sariyer
Silivri
Beykoz
Basaksehir
Esenyurt
Beylikdüzü
5 Avcilar
Sisli
Sultangazi Esenler
Büyükçekmece Bagcilar
1 2
4 Bahçelievler 3 Bakirköy
Sile
Kagithane Besiktas
Çekmeköy
Sisli Beyoglu Fatih
Üsküdar
Kadiköy
Sancaktepe
Ümraniye Atasehir
Pendik
Maltepe 1- Gaziosmanpasa
MARMARA DENIZI
2- Bayrampasa 3- Zeytinburnu
Kartal
Sultanbeyli
Tuzla
KOCAELI
Adalar
4- Güngören 5- Küçükçekmece
2014 local election results
AKP
CHP
THEMATIC TO THE SITE
Arnavutköy
1 000 000
The expansion of the city has also influenced its administrative and political organisation. Divided in districts, Istanbul, facing massive migration and urban sprawling, had to officialised areas of the city developed by the population itself 3. In 2008, Istanbul moved from 32 to 38 districts, annexing nextdoor independent municipalities. A municipality elected by the local people rules each district. The Metropolitan Municipality of Istanbul is coordinating and controlling the local municipalities. Through the different political levels, the AKP is mainly represented, reintroducing Islam in the society and consequently disregarding the minorities. In order to overlap the previous data with the migration study we look at the minorities repartition in Istanbul, either recent as the Kurdish people, or older as the Greeks and Jews. This last map allowed us to identify one district as a problematic area, combining a great density of minorities but also affected by the strong population movement.
DSP 3
Building gecekondus.
25
Romans Gypsies
N
Kurds Armenians Jews
minorities repartition of Istanbul
0
5
10 km
THEMATIC TO THE SITE 26
2.
Beyoglu, a district at a turning point
The district of Beyoglu is located on the other side of the Golden Horn, called then â&#x20AC;&#x153;Haliçâ&#x20AC;?, in front of the current historical peninsula called Fatih. The first settlement has been developed in the 5th century during the Greek period. During the 6th century the land was mostly used as a farming area due to the development of harbour activities. The Fourth Crusade has been the time where Genoeses and Venetians settled in this northern part of the Golden Horn, Galata, introducing a different culture to the region. This settlement was the opportunity to develop the urban fabric, fortifications, towers but also buildings that allowed this well-protected area to become a place of economic trade. In 1453, under the lead of Sultan Mehmet II, Constantinople was renamed Istanbul with the ambition to become the capital and the economic and cultural centre. Following this idea, and with the necessity to repopulate the city after the conquest, the Sultan allowed prisoners and non-Muslims minorities to settle in Pera. In the 17th century, Pera grew into an economic and commercial centre and
foreign embassies started to settle in the Grand Rue de Pera, increasing the diversity of population (35% Turks, 39% Greeks, 22% Europeans, 4% Armenians). Spreading out of the fortification walls, the agricultural and industrial activities continued to form the outskirts during the 17th century and until the 19th century. At this period, the urban fabric starts to get denser due to the population growth. The densification came with a new urban pattern, more geometrical rather then the originally organic forms, and also the construction of religious buildings, changing the character of Byzantine avenues. This modernisation aimed at transforming Istanbul into a European city model and also rebuilding the burned part of the city. This area across the Golden Horn, called then Beyoglu, became the part of the city associated with bourgeoisie lifestyle. The mid 19th century was a turning point in the social- political and economic trade of the city, allowing European investors to purchase anywhere they wanted, investing capital and developing the urban fabric. Improvement and increase in the
THENATIC TO THE SITE 27
View of the Galata, Beyoglu oldest neighbourhood
THEMATIC TO THE SITE
transportation system, connecting the two sides were even more necessary since Beyoglu became the cultural and modern part of Istanbul. Attracting European upper class merchants and craftsmen, the urban fabric kept changing and improving through technological services, infrastructures and regulations. One of the most important regulation that occurred in the 19th century was the regulation about construction materials and the switching to bricks and stones instead of timber to prevent fires in the most populated areas.
28
The Republic of Turkey was the time for new modernisation projects but none of it was sufficient to respond to the demands. The urban fabric was not adapted to the rapid transformation that occurred during the 20th century mainly concerning car traffic. Even though the Grand Rue de Pera, newly called Istiklal Strreet, was still the biggest shopping street of Istanbul, Beyoglu could not face company development and lost its status of economic place, which was relocated elsewhere. In 1950 Istanbul faced a great period of migration coming from the Black Sea Region and South Anatolia. New districts were developed where the wealthiest families settled, leaving the damaged buildings of Beyoglu. On another hand migrated people from the Black Sea and Anatolia region arrived there, close to the industrial activities on the Golden Horn. Several political events happened such as the creation of Israel State in 1948 and the September 1955 riots related to the conflict between Greece and Turkey led to the departure of Beyogluâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s religious minorities. In the 1980s different plans were executed in order to preserve the urban fabric of Beyoglu but mostly to create a socio cultural area. To this effect, the widening of Tarlabasi Street to connect easily the historical peninsula to the newly built Taksim Square, one of the only official green spaces developed by Henri Prost plan. This modification had a big impact on the architectural dimension and this led to the area being declared as an urban heritage zone. The well-known Istiklal Street was also pedestrianized. Considered the cultural and entertaining centre of Istanbul, Beyoglu became popular again and several sectors benefit from this regain of interest such as tourism, company offices, but mostly real estate developers.
Today, the heritage urban fabric of Beyoglu is facing deterioration because of the land speculation and several urban renewal and gentrification projects have been announced in the district. One of them, the Taksim project, has particularly risen the population against urban policies but also against the current government. The district has faced demographical and cultural changes, reinforcing its capacity to adapt as a multi identity district. However, if Beyoglu did accept and assume the burden of being the witness of Istanbul evolution, urban policies are today heading to the homogenisation and the gentrification of not only the urban fabric but also its population.
Istiklal Street before pedestrianization
September 1955 in Beyoglu minorities area
9 7
1 1
1
Y
3 8
3 3 3
3
2
3
5
4 3 3
1
u
3
5 2
1
i
1
4
2
t 1
1
d
7 3
3 3
3
1
9 9
d
9
1
2
i
i
i
4
2
4
i
2
d
i
1 2
3
4
i 3
i
3
1
2
3
2
2
i
3
3
3
i
i
i i
2
2 2
9
1
9
5
2
2
2 2
3
4
3
2
1
2
5
2 2
5
o
2
2 4
3
r
d i
2
i
3
2 1 1
1
1
13
1
5
3 3
4
10
d
i 4
1
1 15
9
9
6
d
d
1 2
1 2
12
5 10
3
3
9
d
2
3
1
3
4
3
9
2
6
3
7
d
=
3
3
2
30468 21.149
2
r r
i
6
12 3 2 1 4
r
r
c
7
4
1
4
3
7
1
r
4 2
7
9
2
9
2 1 1
10359
5 3 1
;
2.009
1
r
6
5
2 2
1
3
c i
i
i
i
2
1 3
9
i
c
r
i
3
4 3
5
i
i
3
5
r
i
i
4
3
9
r
3
i
r
c
6
1
Y
5
4
3
1
i
4
3
6 4 4
4
3 5
i 2
o Y
1 7 5
i i
4
9
9
9
2
Y
i
8 8 9
10
8
10358
;
1.402 7
8 7
8
8
8
6
8
i
i
t
1 5
1 5 51
51 7
4
4 2 7
1
7
5
5
4 6
5
3
5
i
6 2
6
6 6
3
5 2
6
5
41
6
i
5
5 6
5
41
5 4
6
6
21
4
6 6
2 2
5
5
5
3
3
6 6
6 3 3 5
5
7
7
5
3 4
4
5
4
5
7
5
2
3
5 5
4
2
4
7 7
5 5
3
i
5
7
5 6
t
6 3
5
4
5 5
4
5
7 7
5
8 7
3
5
5
1
6
5
4
4
2
5
2
6
6
3
5
5
3
5
5
5
8
6 5
5
5
5
4 4
5 5 5
4 4
8
7
6 6
5 5
2
3
4
5
6
5
i
8
6 6
2
11
8
8
5
6
6 6
6
6 7
i
9
8 11 7
8
7
8 8 9
8
7
4
3
5
3
5
5
i
4
5
3
6
4
5
4
3
o
1
i
5
5
4
6
6
4
4
6 6
5
5
5
1
6 3
5
5 1
5
4
W 8W
5
5 4 5
5 1
5
11
5 5
3
11
5
5
6
4 2
6 5
6 5
5
5
5
6
i
i
6
5 3 3
5 2
i i
5
2 6
5
2
2
9
t
1
{STANBUL BO~AZI
4
3
i
2
3 5
4 6
7
5 3
3
4 1
4
5 4 2 5
1
4
6
5 4
6
9
2
4
3
99
2 4 4
9
1 3
6
5 2
4
5
5 4 6 1
4
5
1
6 6
6
6
3
6 4
4 4
5
9
5
4
4 4
7
1
C
4 2
4
5
2
9
4
5
5
5 4
2
5 3
10357
;
5
2.885
5 6 5
6 6 5
t 3
Go
ISTANBUL BO~AZI
lde
nH
or
n
N
THENATIC TO THE SITE
Beyoglu district towards urban renewal a loose of its historical idendity
7 6
? urban renewal projects in Beyoglu.
0
100m
200m
300m
500m
29
View of one of the renewal project proposal in Beyoglu.
commercial area manufacturing and industrial area green area sport facilities
N
education buildings cultural buildings
Beyoglu district land use .
0
100m
200m
300m
500m
xx
x
xx x
x xx
x
xx
xx xxxxx x x
x x xx xx x x
UUUU x x
x xx
x x x x
3 3
THEMATIC TO THE SITE
t
5 2
5
3
t
t
t
5
5
3
3
t
3
5
5
3
t
t
5 u
t
t
t
t
5 5
t
u
t
t
u
t
t
5
t
t t
5 x
t u
t
t
x
xx x x xx x x x xx
x
x
x x xx x x x x x x x x
t t
t
x
xx x xx
5
t t
5 x xx
t
5
t
t
t
t
5
t
t
t
t
x
x xx x x
xx x
t
t
x
u
t v
5
t
t
5 5
t
t
30
t
o
t
t t
9
t t t
t
u
t
U
u
tt
u
u
t
t
t
t
t
u
t
u
t
t
t
t
t
u
t
u
t
t t
t
t
t
t
t
u u
t
t
u
t
t
u u
u
t 5
t
t
t
t
t
x
5
u
t
t
x x
t
x x
u
x
x
t t t
t
t t
t
u
t
u u
x
3 u
t
u
u
u
N
u
u
t
u u
t
u
u
actual situation
u
0
u
u
u
u
t u
u
100
u
200
300
500m
To better understand the complexity of Beyoglu, a sample of the district including the Tarlabasi Boulevard was selected so as to comprehend its relation to the urban fabric.
administrative boundaries â&#x20AC;&#x153;mahalleâ&#x20AC;?
This sample is then been isolated with different elements that composed the city. Administrative boundaries, called mahalle, are today following the boulevard, acting then as a separation.
THEMATIC TO THE SITE 31
topography + main roads
The main road network is in accordance with the topography, settling on the plains.
urban developement + main roads 16th
20th
future
13th to 15h
18th to 19th
21th
Confronting to the urban development timing, it is clear that the boulevard is dividing neighbourhoods that used to be one in the past.
Tarlabasi Ă&#x2013;mer Hayyam Caddesi
THEMATIC TO THE SITE 32
Kasimpasa
view of the gap between the boulevard and Kasimpasa
o
view of the gap between the boulevard and Ă&#x2013;mer Hayyam Caddessi
relation to the boulevard 0 100 isolated area crossings closed area connected area
200
300
500m
informal officials underground
Those elements combined allowed to highlight which area is in relation with the boulevard. Areas not connected to the boulevard are either closed by
view of the connexion between the boulevard and Tarlabasi
entities such as private infrastructures, or isolated by another element such as topography or road infrastructures.
THEMATIC TO THE SITE
0 5 10 20 30
50
section in Kasimpasa
33
0 5 10 20 30
50
section in Ă&#x2013;mer Hayyam Caddesi
0 5 10 20 30
50
section in Tarlabasi
In conclusion, one area seems to share connexion to the Boulevard, it is the neighbourhood of Tarlabasi and the Istiklal Street on the other side.
THEMATIC TO SITE 34
3.
The insularity of Tarlabasi
Composed of different layers, the selected area is in definition linked to the boulevard. However the functioning of the space is still very complex. To
view of a slopping street in Tarlabasi
better understand its urban fabric, each element will be again commented upon separately.
Three main roads are to be noticed in the area, the Dolaptere Boulevard at the very bottom, the Tarlabasi Boulevard in the middle part and then the famous pedestrianized Istiklal Street. It is clear that the two boulevards are catching the Tarlabasi neighbourhood in a stranglehold acting as strong physical boundaries.
The secondary road network shows the organic and almost labyrinthine complexity of the urban fabric from the late 19th century, preventing cars to easily circulate inside.
empty spaces
blocks
roads network
main roads
The empty spaces resulting from this existing fabric express the porosity of the neighbourhood but mostly highlight the 20,000 m2 closed zone, consequence of the future urban renewal project.
As a conclusion, the site, previously selected as being in connexion with the boulevard, is actually fragmented and acting as three individual entities that urban history separated and developed in autarchy: the Tarlabasi neighbourhood, Tarlabasi Boulevard and Istiklal Street.
topography
35
From the existing blocks it is even clearer to see the break between the very orthogonal typologies of the buildings in the upper part of the site next and Tarlabasi buildings.
mahalleler
THEMATIC TO SITE
The topography, although not an obstacle to the communication with the boulevard, is still really pronounced. Around 60 meters of difference in level are separating the bottom from the top of the area, making the crossing quite difficult but also the neighbourhood almost invisible.
CHAPTER
36
CHAPTER NAME
III
THE SITE The following chapter will present each individual space of the study area, highlighting the stakes and asking question on waht could be done to treat the different issues.
37
Photographer: Tarlabasi 360 Š
CHAPTER NAME
THE SITE
Taksim Square
Tarlabasi neighbourhood Tarlabasi Boulevard
38
Istiklal Steet
1.
Tarlabasi neighbourhood
To have a better understanding of the Tarlabasi neighbourhood it is important to explain its history more precisely. Following Beyoglu evolution as explained before, Tarlabasi has developed during the Ottoman period around the 16th century when nonMuslim diplomats built their houses. Later in the 19th century, the residential area expanded, hosting middle classes in five storey-buildings that followed the Levantine1 architectural before construction materials switch from timber to stones. Mostly composed of Greeks, Latin People and Armenians, the Tarlabasi population was affected by the tax established on non-Muslim minorities. Not being able to pay it off properly, many of the merchants and craftsmen sold or left their buildings, leaving them empty. The riots of September 6th and 7th 1955 toward minorities, Greeks and Armenians in particular, degraded the Tarlabasi buildings and 1 Architecture style referring to European influence, mostly use in Pera.
forced the local population to leave. Happening during a rural migration period, new people settled in the cheap-rent buildings, sometimes illegally. With its damaged buildings and the massive arrival of low income classes, Tarlabasi was soon seen as a no-go neighbourhood, a slum area. Isolated by the new boulevard in 1988, the area became even more segregated but kept welcoming new migrants such as Kurdish people during the civil war in 1990.
In 2006, the Beyoglu municipality, after submitted it to the Council of Minister, declared 6 areas as urban renewal projects, Tarlabasi being one of them. The recent Law 5366 for the Protection of Deteriorate Historical and Cultural Heritage through Renewal and Re-use give new power of expropriation to the local authorities without the consent of the property owner. Soon enough Gap Ä°nĹ&#x;aat, a private
5
3
t 3
3
t 3
THE SITE
3
3
5
Taksim
Square
2
t
5
basi Tarla
5
vard boule
5
5
t t
t t l kla
Isti
eet Str
commerces
39
manufacture religion housing cultural and religion
land use of Tarlabasi
view of a Tarlabasi street
t 0 10 20 40 60
100
200
Photographer: Svetlana Eremina Š
5
t 3
t
3
3
t 3
3
3
3
5
5
3
3
development company, led by Recep Tayyip Erdogan2’ son-in-law, won the exploitation of the site. The first plan was leaving almost half of the current floor for t the existing owner after renewal and gave them the 5 possibility to renovate their 5building themselves. 3 Finally the official plan was based on transforming the area into a pretended mixed-uses area with luxury housing, hotels, cafes and shopping centre. t
t
3
t
5
5 5
5
5
5
3
5
2008 5
t
t
Homeowners and tenants created an association to 5 plan and with the denunciate the abusive renewal 5 help of the Turkish Chamber of Architects (TMMOB) applied to UNESCO to stop the project. For now the demolition has stop but the construction of the first t block is on-going. Between
t
3
3
THE SITE
3
t
2011 363
t
t
360 5
5
393 594 387 362 361 386 360
5
t t
385
5
5
5
2016 evolution of the urban renweal zone 5
t
t
20XX 5
5
t t
t
t
The renewal project called Tarlabasi 360, based on the gentrification process of the area, is the beginning of the entire neighbourhood reorganisation.
40
t
“Like Sulukule, Fener and Balat4 the cultural and historical heritages of Tarlabaşı are going to be sacrificed to financial benefits of some people or companies […]The poor and rich will be divided spatially, too. The city’s poor will be pushed outside more with this recent gentrification project.”5
renewal zone project on Tarlabasi Boulevard
Tarlabasi Today Today Tarlabasi is still seen a slum area and maybe even more since the shadows of the Tarlabasi 360 boards have been cast on the neighbourhood. Almost 300 buildings are to be knocked down because of the urban renewal project, and all the people living there were evicted. Despite that, a heterogeneous population is still living there, Romans, Kurds, Greeks, Africans, Syrians, Armenians, and Transsexuals. All these repressed minorities found a home in Tarlabasi, sometimes living in very drastic conditions, but very attached to the place, in the heart of Istanbul centre.
future project of Tarlabasi 360 and 361
2 Actual President of Turkey. 3 UM report 4 other historical neighbourhood declared as renewal areas. 5 Mücella Yapici, Istanbul Chamber of Architects into the destruction zone of Tarlabasi
t
COUNCIL OF MINISTERS PROVINCIAL ADMINISTRATIONS 3 months answer
METROPOLITAN MUNICIPALITY
define the zones together
BEYOGLU MUNICIPALITY
1993
LAW N°2863
RENEWAL PROJECTS
forbid the owner to renovate
Law of Protection and Natural Assets modification of the law
2006 signature of the contract
6 RENEWAL PROJECTS
submit the selected zones
2007
define the conservation criterias together
GAP INSAAT DEVELOPER
Article 3 : Protected Sites Cities and city relics from various civilizations, extending from the prehistoric era to the present day, that reflect the social, economic, architectural and similar characteristics of their period, places where important historical events have taken place. These sites should be protected and their natural characteristics preserved.
THE SITE
URBAN POLICIES
2005
LAW N°5366
Preservation by Renovation and Utilization by Revitalizing of Deteriorated Immovable Historical and Cultural Properties
TARLABASI
negociations and proposition to renovate their buildings
Article 1 reconstruction and restoration in line with the progress of the area of zones which are registered and declared as conservation areas by boards of conservation of cultural and natural assets which have been worn down and are tending to lose their characteristics.
POORLY MAINTAINED BUILDINGS OWNERS
signatures
LOW SOCIAL LEVEL SLUM AREA
2008 without possibility to renovate the buildings
2010
RENOVATION PLAN
278 BUILDINGS TO BE DESTROY 2005
2011
2008
Tarlabaşı Homeowners and Tenants Social Solidarity and Development Association
HOME TOWN
CLOSE NEIGHBORHOODS
DENUNCIATION TO UNESCO
social actors
political actors
consequences
LAW N°5366
Preservation by Renovation and Utilization by Revitalizing of Deteriorated Immovable Historical and Cultural Properties
Article 4 The use of expropriation by a private administrator is allowed. The possibility of using expropriated land for private interest, within this framework, the expropriated land can be sold by the municipalities for new residential or tourism purposes, thus distorting the original purpose of the expropriation. the law does not set the time or conditions for the agreement with the property owners, and tenants and other inhabitants of the area are excluded from the negotiations.
41
TENANTS
official version
TOKI SETTELMENT
2010
EVICTIONS
explanations and links
Some of them managed to adapt their houses, building expansions on the roof that might be called gecekondus. Historically settled there, craftsmen, mainly in iron, textile or wood, are still living in Tarlabasi having their workshop on the ground floor and teaching their children or apprentice their savoir-faire to keep the tradition of small manufactures alive Informal jobs flourished in the area, such as the picking up of paper or the cooking of food that will be sold in touristic streets. In spite of its poor upkeep and its political situation, Tarlabasi seems to have a strong community feeling. In order to be better educated and integrated, the Tarlabasi Community Centre is offering courses and activities for children and adults. Some of them who are more aware of the endangerment of the area want to express themselves through art or writings on the neighbourhood walls.
Tarlabasi typical facades
How to prevent further destruction on heritage buildings and the dispersion of an entire community ?
How to change the bad image of the neighbourhood ?
In each street, some of the buildings has follen down and there the nature seem to get back its own rights by growing again.
42
THE SITE
Ruines
Tarlabasi Market
Happening every saturday morning, the market is a place of reunion and where people socialize.
Heritage buildin
Built in the 15th c ing has been occu non-Muslims mino people. Today it is n because the munic the owners to resto have been declare h ESCO
ildings
Following the new urban policies, the Beyoglu Municipality let the neighborhood got worse to justify new expensive dwelling projects. Right now the first step of the Tarlabasi 360 project is being constructed where a whole part of the Mahalle has been taken down.
â&#x20AC;&#x153; Tarlabasi no ways out â&#x20AC;&#x153; Artists from the neighborhood use the walls of the building and destruction site to express their feelings about the place and against the politics.
THE SITE
5th century, those buildoccupied by diplomates, minorities then migrated it is not be taking care of municipality doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t allow restore themself since it lare heritage area by UN-
Destruction area
43
Garbages
The municipality stops to collect house garbages in the neighborhood and the citizen in contestation put them around the destruction sites.The paper is being picking up by the people as informal job
Street sellers
Local food products such as simits, mussels or rice and peas are produced in Tarlabasi in order to be sold in Istiklal street. They have to cross widely the Boulevard with their cars to go there.
THE SITE
Taksim Square
Tarlabasi neighbourhood Tarlabasi Boulevard
44
Istiklal Steet
2.
Tarlabasi Boulevard
As previously said, Tarlabasi Street has been widened in the 1980s for two main reasons. The first matches the new neo-liberal policies of the time and the ambition to transform Beyoglu into the cultural centre of Istanbul. To achieve that goal, it appears to be necessary to connect the historical and touristic centre of Fatih district to the newly transformed Taksim place. Resulting from the Henri Prost plan
and its vision of a city adapted to the cars, the Taksim Square is the only green and appropriable square of Istanbul city centre. The widening of Tarlabasi Street in Tarlabasi Boulevard was not without consequences. Indeed, 1100 19th century buildings were demolished, many of them were listed, and that has caused the displacement of 5000 people. This very consequence is the second reason of the
Tarlabasi Boulevard - before / after
Tarlabasi Boulevard during the widem
3
t 3
3
5 Taksim
Square
2
t
vard oule
5
asi b
5
b Tarla
5
THE SITE
5
5
t t
t l kla
Isti
map crossings
official crossings
construction of the boulevard, seen as an attempt to physically separate the growing slum area from the famous and touristic Istiklal Street. The coexistence of the two opposites had become a real issue for the Municipality reputation.
view of an informal crossing point on Tarlabasi Boulevard
t
official tunnels
informal crossings
but make it still difficult for the people pulling their food cart. For now, the boulevard is as t it has been designed: hard to cross from both sides. However when the urban renewal project will be completed, the urban segregation boundaries won’t be that defined anymore. Ahmet Misbah Demircan, Beyoglu’s mayor declared that the Tarlabasi Boulevard will become the Champs Elysées of Istanbul. In that idea, urban planning would have to think about an official way for the new population to cross the boulevard.
How to improve the access of the economic and touristic side ?
45
Today the 6-lane Tarlabasi Boulevard is a strong boundary between the two areas. Only used oneway, Tarlabasi people are struggling to cross it every day to go to work, selling their street food or being employed in the Istiklal street. Only two formal crossings exist on the Tarlabasi part of the boulevard, which leads to informal ways of crossing. This consists in running through the first 3 highspeed lanes of the boulevard, finding an opening in the central gate, waiting in the central reservation, and then crossing the 3 lanes left. Not only highly dangerous, it is also neither quick nor efficient. On this portion of the boulevard, which starts from the Atatürk Bridge, the topography allows the crossings
eet Str
Blank facades
THE SITE
On the Itsiklal part of the boulevard it is possible to observe the back of the buildings after the massive destruction of on block of the area to built the boulevard in the late 1980.
Risky and informal c
46
People try to cross the b day, doing it in twice. At the two sides of the bou at the same levels, forcin ways to make it easier. Th flow is from the Tarlabas ing the boulevard to han around Itsiklal Street.
Tarlabasi Boulevard
Used by cars but mainly taxis, dolmus, buse lines and tourist buses. There is no speed controls on the 6 lanes road.
â&#x20AC;&#x153; Tarlabasi 360â&#x20AC;&#x153;
THE SITE
Hiding the destruction zone, those panels are the main proof of the politcal manipulation, using fake local people to praise the futur urban project. It also shows the agreement between the Beyoglu municipality and the State.
mal crossing
the boulevard every ce. At some points, e boulevard are not forcing them to find er. The main people rlabasi area, crosso hang out or work et.
47
Street Informal sellers bus stops
Local Officials food busproducts stops aresuch under as the simits, new mussels Taksim tunnel. or rice and Spontanious peas are produced lanes are in forming Tarlabasi on in the order boulevard to be sold to wait in Istikand lal street. They have to cross widely the wave for the bus to stop. for them. Boulevard with their cars to go there.
THE
Taksim Square
Tarlabasi neighbourhood Tarlabasi Boulevard
48
Istiklal Steet
3.
Istiklal Street
Known as the Grand Rue de Pera during the 16th, Istiklal Street was the picture of Beyoglu westernization. Hosting Europeans, foreign embassies, cafés and stores started to flourish in Istiklal Street during the 19th century, reflecting the new and high standard of living of the place.
the street, old wagons from the Ottoman tramlines were pulled out of museum and re-established to connect Taksim Square to Tünel.
Gezi park
Facing rural migration during the 1960s, new districts were created, hosting new business places which eventually put Istiklal Street in the shade. At this time, wealthy families and companies left the famous commercial area and let it decay slowly. In the 1980s the urban policies started to focus on the touristic potential of the area and wanted to connect Fatih district to Beyoglu. The opening of Tarlabasi Boulevard and its pedestrianization in 1990 had the effect of supporting the trade and economy in Istiklal Street by giving a better access to it. New investors, such as banks and hotel companies found new interest settling around what was the most famous street in Istanbul. To valorise the history of
Taksim
al
ikl
Ist
et
e str
Şişhane
Galata tower Karaköy Go
lde
nh
Bosphorus
or
n
Galata bridge
Eminonu
Istikal geographic situation
THE SITE
5
3
3
3
t
view from Istiklal Street, between heritage and modernity 3
3
5
2
5
5
t
t
t
view of the new tunnel and the pedestrian space above.
Today, Istiklal Street is considered as the most famous street in Istanbul, becoming a street centred around tourism, catering and clubbing. In a city where car congestion is one of the biggest issues, Istikal Street offered a privileged situation by proposing a pedestrian process through the most touristic places, from Taksim Square to Hagia Sofia, walking by the Galata Bridge across the Golden Horn. However, Istiklal is also a strong example of the city turned toward touristic economy and profits,
The violent protest ended with the withdrawal of the Taksim Project and the pedestrianisation of the adjacent part of Tarlabasi Boulevard. In order to organise it, a tunnel has been dug from the beginning of the Taksim Square to its end, letting the upper part of the tunnel currently empty and undesigned. This pedestrianisation could today be developed as a continuity of Istiklal Street, however this has the consequence of overhanging Tarlabasi Boulevard and isolating it even more.
How to make Tarlabasi neighbourhood benefits from the pedestrianized and touristical system ?
49
5
t the pedestrian area linking Istiklal Street and Taksim Sq.
one of reasons why people rose to protect Gezi Park in 2012. Protecting the few advantages that urban policies drew for the citizen in the 1950s, civil riots occurred to protest against the megaproject designed for Taksim Square. People occupied the endangered Gezi Park at the north of Taksim Square and Istiklal Street, fighting with police forces. This was an example of the socio-political tension between the actual government versus civilians and the embodiment of the first rebellion against the urban planning policies.
Empty buildings
50
THE SITE
The very high development of Istiklal has been raising the rents of the entire neighbourhood. Most of the people canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t afford to settle there, the buildings then remain unhabited. Some of them are used for lightings at night.
re under the new tanious lanes are evard to wait and op. for them.
Mussels
Mussels, as well as rice and chicken, are prepared in Tarlabasi in order to be sold in Istiklal neighbourhood. People thus cross the Tarlabasi Boulevard twice a day.
Time for a drink
Beyoglu is a district also well known for its nightlife. Loud music is coming from the old empty buildings, bars and streets begin to get crowded
Demonstra
Demonstratio Taksim and becomes the People usual Galatasaray place where m
51
strations usually take place in and the street of Istiklal then s the way to go down walking. usually end stopping in front of aray Lisesi, which is also the here most police trucks are stay-
Simit sellers are at every corner of Istiklal. They carry their official and easy recognizable red cart all along the THE SITE
nstrations
One lira!
Nostalgia tramway The tramway of Istiklal street as we know it, was reopen in 1990. At this date, Istiklal became a pedestrian area and the shopping street we know. This tramway is part of the two heritage tram lines on both europeean and asian sides of Istanbul, it is called the “Taksim-Tünel Nostalgia Tramway”.
Loukoums Touristic shops are everywhere in Istiklal. It is possible to find the same clothes and food that are all around the world. A lot of these shops are brands that enlight turkish culture by selling its “typical” component for the tourists.
THE SITE 52
4.
Meeting with social patterns
The goal of the trip to Istanbul was to be confronted to the chosen sites and rather than analyse them and feel them. Even more complex than expected, every street was a discovery of social aspects that hadnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t been thought of yet. Studying a low income class zone with heritage buildings in danger, the feeling of indignation was constant.
the degradation of the buildings, Tarlabasi is also known for its illegal trades. Strong drug trafficking is well-settled and between pills and weed, local families are concerned about keeping the children safe of being used as distributors. Prostitution also occurs in the street of Tarlabasi were the Transsexual community found a protected place to live in.
In order not to be one-way influenced, meetings with different political actors were organised or happened unexpectedly, from the citizen to the Metropolitan Municipality of Istanbul.
People of Tarlabasi live together, such as the craftsman inside his workshop, the women cooking mussels in a basement, children playing in the street, men drinking çay sitting on their chairs or students finding a cheap rent.
50 shades of Tarlabasi Tarlabasi is famous for its diversity and its social mix of population coming from all around the world. If social boundaries can exist even inside Tarlabasi itself there is no segregation of origins. If the bad reputation is related to the minoritiesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; density and
The meeting at the Chamber of Architects was about presenting our work to actors of the city, but also and mainly being told what it is to work as an architect in Istanbul and how powerless they sometimes feel. The Turkish Chamber of Architects has been one of the biggest critics of the Taksim Project and fought against it, until Mucella Yapici as the spokesperson was eventually arrested and prosecuted.
THE SITE
physical intervention on Tarlabasi boulevard
The meeting at the Tarlabasi Community Centre was about asking question about their work toward the community, and the community itself. Ceren, the administrator of the Community Centre explained who was living in the neighborhoods and where were the people evicted from the destruction area. It was the opportunity to catch some aspects of the day-to-day life in Tarlabasi, as the condition of women, the different communities and the issues around children education. This meeting was a triggering factor of the work done during the rest of the semester. On-site interventions were also organised, trying to express the main problematic through physical actions. The first intervention took place on Tarlabasi Boulevard where informal crossings are the most
present. The first step of the intervention was to choose the right place to act and to study the way pedestrian used it. When one of the informal crossings was selected, the intervention began. It first started with the experience of informal crossing with other pedestrians, and then a more literal action consisted in drawing a crosswalk on the boulevard while cars were riding. People laughed and proposed their help but mostly they understood what the intervention tried to highlight. The second intervention concerned the two opposite neighbourhoods and by a basic action try to simply connect them. With a 2kilometer-rope, tape and pictures, the action consisted in linking the two sides by uncoiling the string through Tarlabasi and Istiklal Street. Two pictures were frequently taped around the rope with the word “neighbour” written in Turkish: one picture of Istiklal for the Tarlabasi neighbourhood and one picture of Tarlabasi for Istiklal Street. Between art, provocation and intrigue the interventions were mostly a way to have a contact with local people and have access to their thoughts.
53
The meeting at the Metropolitan Municipality was more about being explained how the city works through different actors, scales and plans. Ulaş Akın, manager of the Istanbul Metropolitan Planning and Design Center was the interlocutor there. The opportunity was also offered to talk about the issues on each site.
THE SITE 54
meeting at the Turkish Chamber of Architects
meeting with, a Roma iron craftsman from Tarlabasi
women demonstrating in Istiklal Street
kids playing in the street in Tarlabasi
THE SITE
Tarlabasi Sunday market
Cheila, a Transsexual that use to work in Tarlabasi
Tarlabasi Community Centre team, Nurg端l, Ceren, Ebru.
55
man colloecting rubbish to sell it
A Muslim worker renovating the Rum Orthodox Church of Tarlabasi
between curiosity, provocation ...
THE SITE
?
56
?
?
You’re doing some kind of art ? Have you seen the painting on the wall ? It is made by a French artist, like you guys !
... and social interplay !
THE SITE
Architect ? Don’t be that kind of architect, the one working here, the one who destruct everything and built this kind of things ! (talking about Tarlabasi 360) Maybe the new buildings are going to help to connect with Istiklal. But for now, it is just buildings crumbling.
We go to Istiklal Street but nobody is coming here. Nobody knows what is happening in Tarlabasi. 57
We are Kurds and don’t have IDs, we don’t go to Istiklal Street because the police is everywhere. Here the police is not coming.
Come and help us !
Istiklal is too clean and the people are unfriendly to us. My son just go their to sell the food I cook.
We know they are on the other side. But do they ? Plus it’s really far !
CHAPTER IV
58
Bronz Dekor
Bronz Dekor
STAKES & STRATEGIES This last chapter of the report will present the different strategies thought during the semester. It will be the conclusion of the whole analysis.
59
STAKES & STRATEGIES 60
1.
Proposed strategies
Through all the process, theoretical studies and on-site analysis, it is possible to understand how the three spaces grew apart from each other and why the situation is what it is today. Although those areas have a different history, today they seem to be a common ground for the people living in Tarlabasi and struggling to belong to one of them. Taking this community as a point of impact, the strategies proposed on the site would have to act at different levels: local, urban and territorial. Those strategies will try to answer the major problem: How to blur the boundaries of urban segregation? This question leads to different goals:
Involving the inhabitants: making them a part of the urban recovery of Tarlabasi and acting on the trauma they lived seing their neighbourhood dismantled. Changing the bad image of the neighbourhood: by offering a mixed uses area and
Reconnect the site : create different supports to offer a better access to the site and the edges of the city. In order to put the proposed strategies in place we first need to highlight in which scenario the project will evolve. As we saw in the previous analysis, Istanbul is facing urban renewal projects everywhere. Claiming that it is not happening will be completely changing the actual mentality of urban policies. Tarlabasi 360 is not only planned but is actually under way, for this reason the project will occur with the renewal area being constructed. However, Tarlabasi 360 being only the beginning of the whole area destruction, the proposal will then try to improve the site having the ambition of foiling the urban renewal criterions and keeping the neighbourhood alive.
The project is developed through time in 3 interdependent phases
PHASE 1 / REORGANISE
ACTUAL SITUATION community center influence potential spaces
the community centre influence :
However the local institution seems to have a great influence on the community. To develop a local governance scale the first step will be to put the Community Centre as the core of the neighbourhood and multiply its influence, then creating a new political level. The existing Community Centre will be moved to a bigger place and will host all the educative and group activities. New Community Centres will be created, acting as satellites and will be aimed at administrative and advising functions.
STAKES & STRATEGIES
The first phase of the proposal is to redefine local governance in the neighbourhood. After meeting different interlocutors having political influence, the conclusion was that even the lowest scale of policy is still not adapted to take care of each specific area. DELEGATION TIME ACTUAL SITUATION
before
community centers influence community center influence potential spaces potential spaces
DELEGATION TIME CONNEXION TIME community centers influence
after
community centers organize potential spaces potential spaces
potential spaces direct link logistical link hierarchy link
muhtar
61
The “muhtar”4 is an existing political status supposed to watch the “mahalle” well-functioning. He / She lives in the mahalle, being the best people in place to deal with the local issues. He will be valorised as a political figure of the new community centres created, surrounded by a citizen council.
muhtar with citizen council
CONNEXION TIME community centers organize potential spaces potential spaces direct link logistical link hierarchy link
Then, in order to really blur the boundary of the Tarlabasi Boulevard, administrative boundaries, “mahalleler” will be extended to the other side of the road, including the transition zone between Tarlabasi Boulevard and Istiklal Street. mahaller 4 Mahalle guardian
new mahalleler
STAKES & STRATEGIES
PHASE 2 / TAKING ACTION
The second phase is about taking action on the Tarlabasi urban fabric and trying to rebuild the community and its spirit around services. The first step is focused on the valorisation and the use of local savoir-faire. Indeed we have seen in the analysis that the Tarlabasi community is composed of craftsmen in different fields and some people are able to build gecekondus. Based on this observation, those skills will be used in the neighbourhood forming trained renovation teams to renovate the damaged heritage buildings. Those newly renovated buildings and the empty spaces of the neighbourhood will host a mixing of programs such as social housing, public spaces or cultural activities.
62
Some of the ruined buildings that cannot be renovated will be kept as witness of the previous state of Tarlabasi and be used as medium of expression for local artists. This will respect a master plan that ensures each part of the area being galvanised.
Set up by the community centres, those interventions will be participatory. Inspired by the method of the architect Patrick Bouchain and its collective “Construire Ensemble”, collective meetings will occur to open discussion within the inhabitants and involve them into the process. Gathering around a big model each one, professionals of the city as the Chamber of Architects, craftsmen and citizens will be able to express their desire.
craftsmen
damaged buildings
ruined buildings
renovation team
new programs
open air programs
To end up with the second phase, the valorisation of the informal collect of valuable waste will be a support to develop a recycling system for Tarlabasi neighbourhood. informal collection
Ensemble à Tour-coing - construire ensemble - P.Bouchain
recycing system
Ensemble à Tour-coing - construire ensemble - P.Bouchain
PHASE 3/ OPENING
The first will consist in the redesigning of the Tarlabasi Boulevard to valorise the pedestrian crossings toward Istiklal Street. This will also allow to finally complete the pedetrianisation of the area, linking it with Taksim Square
STAKES & STRATEGIES
This last phase of the strategies will be composed of three main axes.
before
after
. The second step will create a route to connect the two sides of the boulevard. Passing by public spaces, cultural facilities or heritage monuments this line will be targeting tourists or local citizens to make them discover both sides. It will also lightly include Tarlabasi in the touristic tour of Istiklal and will be the opportunity to develop a Hall on Taksim Square. points of interest
touristical route
63
Finally, the establishment of a local tramline network will be an answer to different issues. The first lane will be a solution to the strong car traffic on the Tarlabasi Boulevard and the second tramline will provide connexion with other manufacturing and isolated neighbourhoods. This last step is shared by another group of the studio, the Industry Group, making this new transport system a collective piece. It is a way to work at a bigger scale, connecting both sites to other parts of the city.
Le Voyage Ă Nantes
New Tram line Tram line Metro line
local transport system
Red Light District Montreal
STAKES & STRATEGIES
STAGE 1
COMMUNITY CENTRE
STAGE 2
engage the process and inform
LOCAL GOVERNANCE & PARTICIPATORY SYSTEM
64
MANUFACTURING RECYCLING CENTRE
informal collection apprenticeship
URBAN
inventary
FABRIC
BOULEVARD PLANNING
develop urban public spaces
scheme of the interdependance of the different phases
SORTING CENTRE RENOVATION TEAM
IMPROVING EXISTANT
IMPROVING CONNEXIONS
STAKES & STRATEGIES
STAGE 3
COMMUNITY CENTRES
activities
hiring
toward local management
LOCAL
interventions
waste management
toward participartion
renovations
social housing
gardens
URBAN
+
65
ACTIVITIES & WORKSHOPS
BUILDING NEW PROGRAMS alternative education
DEVELOPING ATTRACTIVITY
TERRITORIAL
light tourism
STAKES & STRATEGIES 66
Mahalle councils
Having the community center as a centrality in the neighborhood allow people to gatherto talk about big decision in the neighborhood, to aware others and fight for what they believe. (THTSSDA)
Art to enlight
Buildings renovation
Using the local artists to officially ask them to decorate the ruines of Tarlabasi. This action is political and philosophical, to give the message that it is possible to take over the neighborhood even if it is destructed.
STAKES & STRATEGIES
Using the workshop team of the community center, made of local craftmen and volonteers, heritages buildings will be renovated to make it better place to live and also taking care of the damage buildings.
67
TODAY
Community center sattelites
In each mahalle will be sattelites of the community center to â&#x20AC;&#x153;entertainâ&#x20AC;? children of Tarlabasi, then giving free times to the mothers to get involve in the life of the neighborhood.
Street Garbage sellers collection
As for food Local the paper products and cartons, such asthe simits, commussels center munity or rice and organise peas are a collect produced of in Tarlabasi housing garbages in order to to clean be sold up the in Istikplace lal street. and employ They people. have to This cross collection widely the will Boulevard end up in the with recycling their cars center to goatthere. the bottom of Tarlabasi where the municipality will collect it with official trucks.
68
Conclusion
This report aimed to explain all the process of the analysis to make understand to the members of the jury how the site has been chosen and even more what are the stakes. The report was also a support to explain the dynamic of the Changing Cities studio and its interdisciplinary approach and working at different scales. On the day of the final review, the previously explained pieces will be presented to the jury following the different phases of the strategy. The project which has been developed as a teamwork will be composed of different scales, design, architecture and urban, some of the pieces will be pushed further for the PFE review.
Discovering Istanbul through architecture was an amazing way to apprehend the city and the interdisciplinary aspect of the studio allowed the students to easy and shamelessly communicates with the foreign people. As an architectural student the main quality I learned from the studio was the humility and understanding that sometimes, big architecture, or architecture itself is not the solution. Being my last semester before graduation, I was happy to spend it on something that I didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t know how to handle, I learned a method, but mostly from my colleagues thanks to the collective and open studio approach.
69
To conclude, the Changing Cities studio was no less than expected. It was the opportunity to learn more about the urban scale and handling a complete and precise analysis of a site. Thanks to the complementarity of the teachers, the students learn how to juggle with the different scales of the city.
BOOKS Marcos, L. Rosa, Ute E. Weiland, Handmade urbanism : From Community Initiatives to Participatory models, Jovis, 2013, 224p Françoise Choay, Pour une anthropologie de l’espace, Paris, Seuil, coll. « La Couleur des idées » 19 octobre 2006, 418 p. Ricky Burdett, Deyan Sudjic, Living in the Endless City, Phaidon, Hardback English, 2012, 512p BOURDIEU, P. Effets de lieux. Pp. 249-262 in Pierre Bourdieu et al., La misère du monde. Points/Seuil, Paris. Marc Angélil & Rainer Hehl , Building Brazil! The Proactive Urban Renewal of Informal Settlements, Ruby Press ,Berlin, 2011 English, 464 p.
OECD TERRITORIAL REVIEWS: ISTANBUL, TURKEY 2008 Où va la Turquie, Courrier International, Hors série mai 2014
Jean-François Perouse, Phénomène migratoire, formation et différenciation des associations de hemşehri à Istanbul : chronologies et géographies croisées, European Journal of Turkish Studies, 2005
Rachel Sara , The architecture of Transgression, AD, John Wiley & Sons, Inc. nov 2013 ,134p
WEBSITES
70
THESIS & PUBLICATIONS
Mustafa Aslan & Jean-François Pérouse, Istanbul : le comptoir le hub, le sas et l’impasse, Revue européenne des migrations internationales, vol 19, 2003
Emin Özgür Özakın , Space, identity, and abjection: purification of Beyoğlu, Ph.D. in Art, Design and Architecture, January, 2011
http://www.radikal.com.tr/turkiye/danistaydan_ tarlabasi_kamulastirmalarina_iptal-1202701 http://www.beyoglu.bel.tr
Bediz Yilmaz, Migration, exclusion et taudification dans le centre-ville istanbuliote: étude de cas de Tarlabasi, Institut francais d’urbanisme, Paris 2006, 339p
http://www.tarlabasi.org/en/ http://www.megaprojeleristanbul.com/# http://construire-architectes.over-blog.com http://mashallahnews.com/
The case of Beyoglu, Istanbu, Dimension of a urban Re-development, case study 2013. Technische Universität Berlin Urban Management Program, Berlin 2014.Hüsniye Güngör, Tarlabaşı bölgesinde yaşayan çocukların çevrelerini algılaması ve değerlendirmesi, Istanbul Technical University, 2002.
http://www.tarlabasi360.com/tr/
MOVIES Tarlabasi, Tarlabasi. TTMOD, 1989
Ayse Sema Kubat, Özhan Ertekin, Engin Eyü boglu, Özlem Özer, Movement Activity and Strategic Design Study for Istanbul’s Historical Galata District, Istanbul Technical University, Turkey
Jónsi & Alex - Happiness / The people of Tarlabasi Tarlabaşı halkı, Istanbul Panasonic GH1, 2013