121_TKSIBL20

July 2020

Taksim Echoes.

Prospective memories for Taksim Echoes for the future

Taksim Urban Design Competition

TKSIBL20.

Taksim Echoes.

A place for everyone and everything...

Taksim Square and its surroundings are one of the most intriguing and overwhelming public spaces in the world. The love for this place is not one at first sight, fueled by its photogenic appearance or aesthetic design. Rather, it is something around its people that makes Taksim so powerful.

It is beyond its stones that this place appears so open and optimistic. It is energetic; a hopeful spirit seeps through in the way people use it in a thousand different ways. With an open attitude an exceptionally mixed palette of users makes Taksim their own every day. It is also beyond its stones that Taksim is a symbolic site where local acts like these have a global impact. It is the designated place to reinvent the public space as product of democracy.

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With a sophisticated team of both local and international experts and designers, we started this journey to observe Taksim Square and Gezi Park with all our senses and to analyze, research, identify, design, test and rethink this place as a democratic public space. What can be set and what should be left open? How to guarantee inclusivity?

What decisions should be made by whom? On what scale level? How do we let all its users feel free to speak, free to play, free to listen and free to be who they want to be? Can Taksim be a place for everyone and everything?

The following proposal is our first vision on Taksim’s future, nurtured by the insights of all disciplines in the team. In this we hope to have captured all good things that already occur and that we can build upon. That we have picked up this collective drive towards the future, that is felt around the people of Taksim, of Istanbul and beyond.

Above: The proposal Taksim Echoes will build upon the rich history of Taksim and will colour the place by identifiyng the right physical circumstances to experience freedom.

TKSIBL20.

Taksim Echoes.

‘A democratic public space echoes its people’s voices. It is an open space, shaped by collective decision making, that reflects, enables and empowers all.’

1. Designing democracy on three scale levels

Small: Intimate space

Medium: Collective space

Large: Public space

Creating affordances, starting points for small activities

Medium spaces stimulate group activities by different users

Large open urban spaces give public initiatives a global stage.

2. Open interplay between spatial elements

Frameworks

Edges

Objects

An open structure for bottom-up infill.

Sophisticated transitions between different spaces.

Playful elements for diverse use and spontaneous interactions.

3. Including by connecting

Above: The definition of a democratic public space as worked with by the team.

Taksim is a people connector.

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TKSIBL20.

Taksim Echoes.

1.

Inspiration from Taksim’s users.

Qualities of current Taksim

Hours can be spent observing Taksim’s people.

In front of a collage of different backdrops, countless interactions seem to happen all at once. The liveliness and spontaneity of this place has been and still is one of our most important inspirations. Ultimately, how people organize themselves in the square and park and what specific spots they use reveals the qualities of the place. Independent of urban design, the site has many enjoyable conditions that serve Istanbul’s inhabitants.

We recognized small and intimate places (± 30 to 100 m2) used by individuals, to sit, relax and feel secure. Next to these, there are medium-sized fields (± 100 to 1000 m2) that are used for (group) activities and small events. Taksim square itself is, of course, a large (10.000+ m2) and open space, used for city-scale public events.

These three qualitative scale levels, already present in the current situation, form the basis of our democratic design.

2: Being playful with water

3: Using shaded places to relax

1: Using heights for overview 5: Using fields and squares for group activities

4: Organize interaction between walls and walkways

8: Seeing the city as a stage 7: Evoking inspiration

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6: Using the city to amplify your voice

Being playful with water.

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Running water is marvelous. It is refreshing, relaxing and stimulates playfulness

Using covered and shaded places to relax.

Benches, organized in an intimate zone covered by trees, give people a place to relax.

TKSIBL20.

Taksim Echoes.

Small

Using heights for overview.

Users feel safe and free from daily city life, and enjoy their view on the public square.

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Organizing interaction between walls and walkways.

Closed walls and wide pavements stimulate a linear programme that takes advantage of large walking streams.

Medium

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Using fields and squares for group activities.

The right size and position of green fields or small squares stimulates group activities in a spontaneous or organized way.

4 7

Using the city to amplify your voice.

Open squares and urban structures enlarge the radius of the public voice.

Evoking inspiration.

Large horizontal surfaces stimulate the flexibility for expositions, events and large get-togethers.

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Seeing the city as a stage.

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Higher platforms in public space enable the use of the city as a stage.

Large

Designing democracy on three scale levels:

Left and above: Analysis of the use of Taksim nowadays, revealing its current qualities.

Small: Initimate space 1 to 5 people 30-100 square meters

Medium: Collective space 5 to 50 people 100-500 square meters

Large: Public space

50 - 10000 people 500 - 10000 square meters 5

TKSIBL20.

Taksim Echoes.

2.

Inspiration from Taksim’s history.

Qualities of Taksim through the ages

The history of Taksim is unbelievably rich; every time period it seems to have been completely transformed. Nonetheless, it always has been a place of interaction. A central spot in people’s lives. Its layout may have been formal, it was the

informal use of it, that brought it to life. Taksim was a place of entertainment, of joy.

The spatial elements that enabled this, can be categorized into: objects, edges or frameworks.

2: ± 1810

Objects Pavillions in the gardens of Taksim.

An international, cultural hub with global attraction.

Open architectural structures as a meeting point in an idyllic landscape.

The vertical facade can still be used as a exposition and event object. Art, flags and banners can be shown here.

Water sources as a meeting point.

‘Taksim’ may mean ‘division’, yet, as a distribution point of water, it was in fact a place where different levels of society came together.

1: ± 1790

Military barracks as an orthogonal landmark in an open landscape setting

Edge

8: 2020+

Edges become a landmark in making a high contrast between the natural landscape and orthogonal rationalism.

A public sports field with stacked tribunes as its edge.

Hybrid structures connect the inside and outside and gives order to a public manifestation.

3: ± 1815

Prost’s orthogonal layout as a framework.

4: ± 1930 6: 2013

7: 2013+

The division of spaces in medium-sized fields, separated by pathways, proved a flexible framework for the Gezi Park.

People occupying the city as their own.

The Gezi protests were the example that a right sized space can be the framework for a spontaneous city.

5: ± 1950 6

Activating a framework of plinths by making pedestrian streets.

Plinths on a well-designed public space are a decor for various flexible infill.

Frameworks

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Taksim Echoes.

1: ± 1790

6: 2013 4: ± 1930

7: 2013+

3: ± 1815

5: ± 1950

8: 2020+

2: ± 1810

1: Taksim Gardens with coffee house, Antoine Ignace Melling, ca. 1784 1802

Open interplay between spatial elements:

2: People gathering around the Maksem water fountain, Michel François Préaulx, ca. 1796 - 1827 3: The barracks as a landmark in the landscape, Charles Petusier, ca. 1815.

4: The barracks turned into a stadium, 1921 - 1939 5: Prosts design of the Gezi Park.

Photograph taken by Henri Prost.

6: Gezi park protests in May/June 2013.

7: Pedestrian area over Tarlabasi cd. that was tunneled. Opened in September 2013. Picture: Google Streetview.

8: Render of the new AKM, currently under construction.

Frameworks

Edges

Objects

An open structure for bottom-up infill.

Sophisticated transitions between different spaces.

Playful elements for diverse use and spontaneous interactions.

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TKSIBL20.

Taksim Echoes.

3.

Inspiration from Istanbul’s people.

Crossing routes

Aylin Hanım (35), Pinar (3) and Ece (1) A family with a busy day.

For many people Taksim is already on their daily route. It lies in the center of modern Istanbul, in between shopping streets, hotels, consulates and congress centers, universities, nightlife, mosques, schools and neighborhoods. Right now, however, is it more of a crossing than a destination.

“ I pick up the children at kindergarten and together we get some food and go to Gezi Park to let the children play with their friends.”

Zeynep Bey (79) and Gizem Hanım (82)

Making Taksim and Gezi a targeted destination for all these people is a great opportunity to let them see each other, engage in activities together and meet.

From an urban void on which their routes all just miss, the site becomes a collective place to feel at home.

Couple since 1971, out for a stroll “ First we will visit the mosque and do our prayer. After that we stop by the pharmacy and rest at Gezi Park, we love feeding the birds”

Sofia (29) On a biking tour through Istanbul Koray Bey (40)

“I rented a bike so I can check out Istanbul in one weekend! As a tourist, I want to see the most of the city, and cycling gives me this possibility!”

On a business trip, always at work. “ I’m on a business trip, I work for the consulate. I work close to Taksim square. During lunchtime I like to eat and walk around in Gezi Park.”

Selcuk (30) Here to raise his voice.

Tezer (10) and Yilmaz (11) Sent outside as they make too much noise.

“ I will stay at Taksim square as long as I have to. I want people to hear me and join me in this protest!”

“After school we go to Gezi Park to play a game of soccer together with our friends. We can go there by ourselves because there are no cars in Istiklal street.”

Meryem (45) - Musician Esin (16) and Duygü (17)

“I am a musician doing some gigs in different bars around Taksim. In the meantime, I play music in public space to entertain people, and to gain some extra money.”

School friends on a shopping tour after class “We are best friends and together we go shopping in Istiklal Street, hang out in Gezi Park and go the cinema. We love vlogging our activities.”

Ahmet (33) - Music lover Cem (20)

“I love music and don’t even care what genre. Today I will just see what comes in my path.”

Student at the ITU “In between classes I always sit down in Gezi park with my coffee, to study in the shade.”

Including by connecting: Bringing people together By making Taksim into a destination for many, it will become a place of seeing each other, hearing each other and acknowledging each other.

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TKSIBL20.

Taksim Echoes.

Legenda

Existing bike stations

Proposed bike stations

Vision.

Proposed bike routes Ferry stations Metro stations Bus stops

The design of Taksim Square and Gezi park goes beyond the project borders. It enforces and strengthens the position of Taksim as a central place of connection for everyone and for everything.

Tram Amplyfied (pedestrian and bike) routes to and from the site, connected with the new design

We propose a framework that holds small, medium and large spaces, whose infill is open to individual and collective decisions by the public. Its layout echoes and reinvents Taksim’s deeply felt historical layers. A lifted edge, as a playful and multifunctional structure, will be both reflecting and radiating out through the adjacent streets and surrounding morphology.

Inonu

Maçka Park

The north of Gezi Park, the area around the Intercontinental Hotel and the area around the library will be absorbed in a fluent and organic landscape that will connect the area with the Macka Demokrasi Parki.

By creating a strong network of pedestrian streets, bicycle paths and ecological corridors, Taksim strengthens its function as a center, both for people and for nature.

Kocatepe

Bulbul

Huseyinaga

Omer avni Katip Mustafa Çelebi

Galarasaray

Cihangir Kabatas

1. Designing democracy on three scale levels

2. Open interplay between spatial elements.

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Scale: 1 : 10.000

3. Including by connecting

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TKSIBL20.

Taksim Echoes.

Spatial challenges.

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Taksim square Taksim square lacks connection with the surrounding neighborhoods. It stands on its own with poor connection to the adjacent streets and little interaction with the surrounding buildings.

Public space as a void

Gezi park

Disconnected and isolated greenery

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Because the routing in the Gezi park is not clear, there is no structure and the green spaces in the park are underutilized. Whilst there is a great need in Istanbul for large green spaces that can be used in a divers, exible and intens way.

Lack of connection to adjacent streets and neighborhoods

Paths lack clear structure and hierarchy, causing shortcuts and unclear routing Green spaces are unused and do not invite to recreate and relax

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Edges and entrances

Organization of trees and species is random and cause dark, unsafe places at night

Due to the elevated location, the unclear routing and poor connection of the entrances to the park with the surroundings and the park itself, Gezi Park becomes an inaccessible space.

Multiple entrances to the Gezi park without clear hierarchy.

Big height differences prevent integral accessibility for all.

Walls that enclose large height differences create a hard edge between the square and the park.

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Clear edges to connect and diversificate

TKSIBL20.

Taksim Echoes.

Design proposal.

Structures for playful stimulation.

New structures emphasize important transition spaces where routes, different identities of public space and various usage come together.

The structures add a playful and flexible stimulation of space.

The clear edge binds different identities and layered inspiration from history. The edge promotes accessibility for everyone and binds small, medium and large space together in an iconic, progressive and respectful way.

A green framework as a catalyst for activities.

Humanizing anonymous space.

Large anonymous space wil be diversificated in smaller parts and clearly connected to the surrounding streets and neighborhoods. Modular elements stimulate playful and diverse use of large spaces.

New plantation will provoke cross-over neighbourhood routing and provide comfortable and intimate green spaces that can be used in different ways.

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TKSIBL20.

Taksim Echoes.

Democratic Framework.

1 : 1000

Taksim Square will be redefined as the democratic public space Istanbul needs and deserves. We do so by following our main points of attention: •

Strengthen people interaction: create liveable and dynamic spaces.

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Encourage traffic calming and safe streets: reduce car traffic increase pedestrian and bike friendly environment.

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Activate public space for new activities and play: mobility, adaptive streets and spaces, places for kids and the elderly.

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Foster human and ecological health: increase green space connections, foster ecological values by careful choices of species.

Taksim Square as a place for events and actions

We embrace the urban space that Taksim Square already offers, and make sure that it can be used for larger events and is optimally accessible from the surrounding streets and neighborhoods. We do this by: 1. REDESIGNING THE PROFILE of Mete Cd into a shared space in which the car is a guest, and pedestrians and cyclists play a prominent role.

2. CONNECTING THE SURROUNDING streets to Taksim Square through well-designed street-to-square transitions in continuous materialization and introducing a strong green network. Bike paths connect Taksim to surrounding neighborhoods.

3. BREAKING UP THE LARGE SPACES into smaller, flexible public squares where various activities can take place.

Gezi Park as a place for recreation and relaxation

We redefine Gezi Park as a place for all people.

Transforming it into a pleasant green city oasis and providing space for activities: fun, recreation, relaxation and sport. We do this by: 4. MAINTAINING AND STRENGTHENING THE ORTHOGONAL STRUCTURE, as an important framework 5. INTRODUCING A CLEAR NETWORK of paths. Understanding the genius loci of Gezi Park, remembering Prost: structuring it with clear hierarchy. With a design of paths of 6, 8 and 10 meter width we create small, medium and large green spaces for various activities.

6. MAKING A CLEAR PLANTING PLAN, in which existing trees are preserved as much as possible and the trees are replanted or planted according to the philosophy of Prost. Various local species combined with exotics provide a diverse appearance and define the different places in the park and make the connection with Taksim Square.

Edges and entrances

We transform a now messy, interrupted built structure into a clear, organized, well designed edge. We do so by: 7. MAKING IT RECOGNIZABLE by marking clear entrances and accentuate the corners 8. MAKING IT ACCESSIBLE by solving height differences in multiple ways (stairs, ramps) to provide access for all.

9. MAKING IT FLEXIBLE by realizing a built structure that provides various facilities, corresponding with the needs and wishes of a specific moment in time. People can use the edge in a various and playful way.

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Metro entrance

Busstop

Tram stop

Bike sharing point.

Electric bikes, scooters, mopeds are for rent. As an extention of the existing Ísbike.

Taksim Square. A ‘L’ public space, introducing ‘M’ space with different materials. Possibilities for temporary and moveable furniture ‘S’.

Maksem. Space for market, exhibitions and gatherings.

Cumihuriyet Cd. with narrowed street profile through grass surfaces to be flexibilly used. Introduction of bike lane and lanes of trees (in pots).

Gezi Park stairs. With respect to the historical stairs, they are renovated and a water element is gently integrated in the existing structure.

The edge. A new structure, based on the existing walls and balustrades. Covering height differences in many ways.

Gezi Park. Clear routing with marked and designed paths. Greenery and water elements make it a pleasant place to stay.

Inspired by Maksems history of water distribution, water becomes a central element in Gezi Park and a connector between square and park

Northern Gezi. A place to sit and relax.

Enjoy quietness and many different tree and plantation species in the Arboretum.

The ecobridge is preserved, but connectivity is enhanced, connecting is to Maçka park in one fluent line.

Library area. Opening up the entrances, creating a more visible and better accessible cultural venue. A place for study, inside and outside

Mete Cd. transforms into shared space. A kiss and ride for cars provide easy access but cars are guests in this street

A bike network is introduced which connects Taksim to its surroundings.

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Playing football.

Small concert.

Tezer and Yilmaz live in the Kocatepe and Cihangir neighborhood. They just caught up in the park to play a game of football together. Recip walks by and joins in!

Sofia is visiting Istanbul in her holidays. Cem just finished his classes in university and is on the way to the metro station. Sarah is off today and taking a stroll. A spontaneous concert just popped up on the little stage in the edge. Sofia, Cem and Sarah have a chat about Turkish pop music and the fact that this is well known in Europe!

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Taksim Echoes.

Photo exhibition.

Cafe.

Zeynep Bey, Gizem Hanim and Sofia just met at the international photo exhibition at Taksim Square. Sharing the same interest they have a chat about the strength of combining local culture with international exposure.

A nice cafeteria just opened in the corner of the edge. This space is combined with a playground for little children. After shopping Esin en DuygĂź have a lunch here and meet Koray Bey.

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Taksim Echoes.

Urban Systems.

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Current green The larger green areas around Taksim are not well accessible and do not invite to stay in. The recently opened ecobridge provides a nice access to the northern Maçka park, however, the route leads directly back to the street.

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Future green Gezi Park’s layout is unclear, the many paths lack structure and the trees within the park are scattered around the park without a clear layout. The whole area consists of small and medium green spaces without being a destination for people.

By introducing a strong, connected green structure, people and animals will be able to move around Taksim through green spaces. We implement two types of green structures.

1. Organic. Organic forms and hilly landscapes serve as inspiration for more secluded quiet gardens, such as the garden around the library and the northern part of

Gezi Park. Offering wide varieties of trees these areas can function as an arboretum.

2. Orthogonal. Using existing paths of Gezi Park and adding more connections for pedestrians and bicycles, the park will be better and widely accessible. At least 2/3 of the current trees can be kept. The others can be replanted.

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Current pedestrian flows The current pedestrian flows on Taksim Square and Gezi Park show limited walking patterns. The flows of people are mainly directed from Istiklal street towards the metro entrance. Within Gezi Park the crowds minimize as a result of the unclear layout of the park. The surrounding neighborhoods are not optimally connected and visible

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Future pedestrians flows and bicycle routes and therefore the main streams of people hang around the monument in the south and continue their journey to other places.

By creating a clear layout for Gezi Park and structuring public square of Taksim, pedestrians are more evely distributed. Introducing bike sharing networks and bike paths, creates a new layer of use.

• Creating better road connections for cyclist which connect to existing bike path and sharing network.

• New sharing stations for electric mopeds, (electric) bikes and scooters as an addition to existing

•

•

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Current car traffic and parking Car traffic around Taksim is busy and chaotic. Because of broad streets and limited pedestrian crossings, the car dominates the environment. Parking happens in the streets and in public or private parkings. Especially

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streetparking causes high demands on public space, mainly in Mete Cd. and Tak-ı Zafer Cd.

network of Ísbike.

Pedestrian access to Gezi Park improved resulting in better distribution of slow traffic around the project area.

Pedestrian boulevard on Cumhuriyet Cd. will be narrowed by flexible public space. Offering place for terraces, greenery, stages and markets.

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Future car traffic and parking Routes for car traffic stay more or less the same. By narrowing street profiles and careful design, traffic will slow down and adapt to cyclists and pedestrians. We propose the following adjustments: • Scaling down Mete Cd. as a shared street road.

Pedestrians and cyclist have priority. Parking on the street is not allowed, only a kiss and ride.

• Because of this the traffic circulation in the

•

Miralay Şefikbey Sk will be adjusted. Two crossings will have to be changed to provide safe circulation and routing.

Sıraselviler Cd. - Tak-ı Zafer Cd. stays a two way car traffic road, but is designed with a smaller profile with parking possibilities on one side.

Designed and well signed pedestrian crossings make sure the slow traffic has priority.

TKSIBL20.

Taksim Echoes.

Team.

Our international and local team of design experts is a carefully well over thought composition, that worked in cities in Europe on similar challenges. The goal is to combine international expertise and experience with local cultural know-how and integral design force.

We work in an integral team. Professionals with dierent backgrounds (urban design, architecture and landscape architecture) work on assignments at the same time, which enables us to come up with innovative ideas.

In phase two, in collaboration with the core team of leading partners, a team of different design experts, both locally and internationally, work constantly on the different scale levels and research questions around the project.

From metropolitan scale to architectural details, the core team deploys the right (design) experts at the right time. The diagram above illustrates the local and international core team and surrounding expertises.

In the next stage our team will focus more specifically on answering the following questions: Art. How can we involve local artists and makers in the realization of the design and thus make Taksim part of the rich identity and art culture of surrounding neighborhoods?

Cultural history.

How can the cultural history of the Taksim be inspirational for renewed urban design principles to set the future of Istanbul?

Mobility.

How can we think of a new mobility strategy, that radically changes the need and the use Of (shared) transport. How can the change of this transition lead to new possibilities in the public space?

Sociology.

How can we oversee the demography and use social knowledge for a more inclusive and collectively independent society?

Architecture.

How can we replace our focus from buildings to identity and concentrate on the transition zones between inner space and outer space?

Ecology.

How can we think of an ecosystem on different scales to embody the force of nature as a catalysator for new city development?

Traffic engineering.

How can we produce walkable, accessible cities for everyone? How can we calm down traffic and make area shared by all users?

Urban planning.

How can we oversee the policies on different scales and construct a future strategy that implements the existing policies into a coherent perspective for the future?

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TKSIBL20.

Taksim Echoes.

Taksim echoes.

Being playful with water.

Running water is marvelous. It is refreshing, relaxing and stimulates playfulness.

Using covered and shaded places to relax.

Elements organized in an intimate zone covered by trees, give people a place to relax.

Using heights for overview.

Users feel safe and free from daily city life, and enjoy their view on the public square.

Organizing interaction between walls and walkways.

Closed walls and wide pavements stimulate a linear programme that takes advantage of large walking streams.

Using fields and squares for group activities.

The right size and position of green fields or small squares stimulates group activities in a spontaneous or organized way.

Be a part of it...

Our team has a vast and broad experience, both internationally and locally with the embedding of ideas in a participatory way. In the second round we will enforce our ideas and design strategy but also create a specific and stimulating participation strategy.

Strong framework For a bottom-up participatory urban planning process a strong urban design framework is needed. In this first round we present the first principles for this framework, in the second round this strategy will be more detailed.

The framework is meant to show various possibilities and examples of the use of public space and present how people can occupy or use spaces in various ways.

Visualize the future People want to speak out and be part of the creation of urban ideas. On the other hand people want to be inspired and stimulated to come up with ideas and be provoked to be part of a great common future. Strong visualisation and great future perspectives are important part of this stimulation. In the second round we propose to produce inspiring perspectives, but also show the benefits on the human scale and based on users needs.

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Testing ground In the second round, we are pleased to show how public space can be used as a testing ground for ideas, initiatives and phased realisation in the meantime. By visualizing and testing temporary situations, we all become aware of the fact that a public domain is dynamic and always changing.

Open attitude Our team works, designs, listens and plays with an open attitude. We are pleased to meet in Istanbul and look forward to be in open discussion with stakeholders and people from Istanbul to get more inspiration and ideas. We can organize this in real-time or organize online webinars to hear the voice of Taksims users.

‘A democratic public space echoes its people’s voices. It is an open space, shaped by collective decision making, that reflects, enables and empowers all.’