no0815avjk
team no0815avjk pg. 2
TAKSIM URBAN DESIGN COMPETITION
no1 Introduction
Taksim Square and Ghezi Park have come to embody freedom and democracy for the inhabitants of Istanbul. The site has been home to celebrations, debates, protests, and violence, as well as the simple pleasures of daily life in the city. It is a place where people come to gather and to enjoy the liberty of free space within the dense urban environment of Istanbul. However, the site is not without its flaws and therefore this proposal will aim to address the main aim of the Taksim urban design competition, which is “to produce the democratic urban public space experience that embraces the sensitivities of all sections of society.” The authors’ approach to address this demand is to work within the existing parameters of the historic design, while redefining Taksim Square to create a functional and beautiful place where citizens can gather to perform the basic actions of a democracy. The concept of democracy and public space are intrinsically linked; they cannot exist one without the other. Derived from dēmos meaning ‘people’ or ‘public' and kratos meaning 'rule’ or ‘power'; democracy can be understood as ruling by the public. During its initial practice, democracy was direct, and saw the Athenian citizens assemble in the agora – a large public plaza, to participate in all decisions governing their society (Laopodis,1997). The development of this classical model serves as the central source of inspiration concerning political thought and contemporary interpretations of democracy as we now understand it. The fundamental act of citizens physically gathering in a public space to deliberate over the direct rule of their city-states has not persisted past this era (Örs, 2014).
Today’s society exists on a vastly different scale to that of ancient Athens, and logistical constraints associated with its complexity serve as an obstacle to political participation. When referencing the idea of the “public sphere, or the public realm” we are speaking primarily to the conceptual idea of government funded or socially oriented institutions. No longer is the idea of physical space associated with democracy or the democratic process. It is our opinion, however, that public space is still very intimately tied to democracy and it is this very idea which has served as the direction, and inspiration of the project. As far removed as the contemporary citizen may be from the decisions made in their society, whenever a collective chooses to speak out and make their voices heard, it almost surely will play out in a public space. Marches along major streets, gatherings in city parks, or demonstrations in urban squares - physical public space persists as the arena for the citizen, for all citizens to exercise their democratic rights, to express their voice concerning how their society is governed. This project has chosen to hone in on this concept and provide a facsimile of the democratic process wherein users of the site can have a direct influence on the space through popular vote. How this is done will be addressed in the last section of this booklet. Though it is important to understand that the overarching concept of this project is to create a participatory performance of the democratic process.
no2 Urban Context
Parks and public open spaces have always played an integral role in the development and maintenance of a well-functioning urban environment. Though we often consider cities to be defined by their built-form alone, it is rare to see a great city without impressive public spaces. These places take on several forms; be it gardens, squares, plazas, parks, or pedestrian streets. They all serve the function of providing a place for citizens of a city to inhabit a free space in any way they wish; to gather, play, sell goods, perform, express themselves and interact without restrictions.
Our proposal for Taksim Square aims to make the most of the strongest elements on the site, while improving the missing elements that prevent it from being a successful combined public space and green space. However, for Istanbul to improve its living standards, the transformation of Taksim square and Ghezi Park is merely one piece of a potential network of green and public spaces within the existing urban fabric. Going forward with our proposal, we aim to employ the skills of an urban planner to expand our concept of the democratic space and to link it in with the wider urban context. Our approach would begin with a transit-oriented concept: the network would emanate from Taksim Square, and branch out to all ends of the city through a chain of connected public spaces.
TAKSIM URBAN DESIGN COMPETITION
team no0815avjk pg. 4
no3 Spatial Context
Free space is inherently absent from prescribed use. This spatial liberty is conducive to a democratic occupation of public spaces for whatever is most desired by the occupants at any given moment. Take, for instance, the most extreme example of undefined public space; Templehof Feld in Berlin. Once a fascist-era airport, this expanse of open field and runways has been left virtually unchanged since its original function was retired. Nowadays the area has been co-opted by the citizens of Berlin for any variety of activities that urban-dwelling people require space for. Though this type of environment is highly unique, it serves to demonstrate the importance of flexible places within the highly-prescribed urban fabric of a city. As it stands, Taksim Square and Ghezi Park are two distinct and divergent public space typologies. Each stands as separate from the other, with a specific purpose and character; the square and the park. Ghezi Park functions as it was originally conceived: as a place of leisure and relaxation in a garden-like environment. The success in this execution is that it creates an inner sanctum, where the busy city is pushed out and the sounds of the garden permeate the senses. Our re-imagination of Ghezi Park stays true to the original concept, with the addition of a few very specific and targeted interventions. Most notably, a long and sweeping course curls up from the broad fanned steps in Taksim Square to finish in a nested clearing within Ghezi Park. This creates a smooth connection between the two
environments, linking them together seamlessly. The new design integrates more seating options, creates accessible water features, and provides two designated cafe and terrace spaces, as well as a larger and thoughtfully-situated playground. Planted areas would be enhanced with understory plantings, while maintaining a large majority of the existing tree canopy. Essentially, our aim is to enhance and complement the original design of this beautiful garden environment. Taksim Square, on the other hand, has a completely opposing character and role. As it is, the space is almost entirely devoid of organization or definition. After the pedestrianization of a large stretch of road transformed the space into a sprawling expanse of paved surface, little was done to redefine what Taksim Square really is. Our concept does just this; the square is created by defining a border and producing a designated space that we can call the square. This newly defined free space is bordered on the east by a fan of grand steps that lead into Ghezi Park, on the south by the monument to the republic, and on the west by a copse of trees with seating under the canopy. Finally, paving design will serve to further differentiate the form of the inner square from the grand boulevard that leads into it. Ultimately, we took care to make sure our interventions were not too prescriptive and allowed for free use of the public space, as well as providing a highly flexible environment at a human-scale.
no4 Site Components
transportation entrances
accessible ramps
park entrances
security check-point
playground
water/play space
intensive_planting
lighting
active space
cafes
passive space
flexible space via program
flexible space via participation
extensive_lawn
team no0815avjk pg. 10
TAKSIM URBAN DESIGN COMPETITION
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1
3
team no0815avjk pg. 11
TAKSIM URBAN DESIGN COMPETITION
no5 Water and Democracy
Taksim Square has long been associated with the concept of confluence. It is not only the main gathering place for people on the European side of Istanbul, but has historically been a place where the city's physical amenities converge. Originally, it was the location where Istanbul's main water lines collected and then spread through the city, and now it is the location of a massive transit juncture. Drawing on the concept of water as a representation of public will, this project highlights Taksim Square as a place of both physical and symbolic convergence.
the collective performance exploded axonometric diagram
selection no2 - wading pool and fountain
When activated, this space will be filled with children playing in the cascading water. At rest, the fountain will quietly bubble over, for a peaceful experience.
selection
no1 - misting pavilion & reflecting scrim
no3 - rill and flooding square
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Vote Tally Information Plate Selection Buttons
Card Slot Final Voting Handle
1332 1086
This selection is more of a statement, rather than a regular amenity within the park. It will require a higher vote-count and is intended as an event, or to mark something of significance.
After ascending the grand steps, or the sweeping course, visitors will find the first water feature - a thin scrim of water, flanked by a light shade pavilion. The space is partially covered and cool; made cooler by the misting components hidden in the construction, which are only turned on when the option is selected by popular vote. Further up, a constant slow stream over the edge of the terrace would generate a soft sound of falling water, as well as create a cooler environment within the sunken garden to the north. Travelling directly up from the terrace cascade, across the great lawn, visitors will encounter a historic piece of the former Ghezi Park: the fountain. Here the fountain has maintained much of its original shape, but now sits in an easilyaccessible pool of clean water. When activated by vote at the ballots, the fountain’s usuallyquiet bubble of water will spray higher and further, so that it showers the surrounding pool.
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1972
selection
Three water features would be linked together in a system that requires citizens to have an active role in their animation. Ballot boxes, placed on a grid, would be situated throughout the site: this is where people can place their vote to animate one of the three water feature options. Your transit card will act as a voting method, ensuring that an individual can only vote once every cycle. Whichever water feature reaches at set amount votes first, will be turned on and will run until another cycle of voting is performed. The votes will be counted and visualised on the screen of each ballot box, with an indication of how many votes are needed to reach the majority.
The ‘ballot boxes’ will essentially be providing nodes of data input in a cybernetic network, on the physical grid over the entire site. Each ballot box will serve both as a receiver and processor of the voting information, meant to activate one of the three available operations, of the three separate water-based installations. The practicality of the ballot box allows for easy access, with the interface legibility suitable for a variety of different age groups - ranging from the children to the elderly. In addition, the ballot box adheres to accessibility standards, which allows for nearly any user to participate. The aesthetic properties of the ballot boxes communicate a robust quality of the public furniture, designed for longevity; while its user-friendly interface would provide a playful and straightforward interaction. In this respect, both the functionality and the aesthetics of the ballot box allude to the sense of the true and timeless democratic processes.
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Used in the summer as a place for cooling off and play, this space will likely be activated with children and others looking for a refreshing place to relax. The thin scrim of water will reflect the sky during the off-times.
The site will be the stage for a collective performance; a statement on the idea that every citizen can have a direct influence on the governance of the society to which they belong. You can choose to be an active participant or voyeur, but by stepping on the site, whether you are aware of it or not, you are in effect “playing the game”. A participatory performance is built into the park that reclaims the space as one that belongs to the citizen, figuratively imparting them with power to shape their environment.
The last water feature would also be the most rare to experience. Requiring a large percentage of votes to be activated, this water feature is completely invisible for the majority of the time. When chosen, the water runs down the fanned steps, travels around the square in a shallow rivulet and pools in the corner, just at the base of the Ghezi Park wall. Because it takes so many people to activate this option, the expectation is that it will only be triggered during an important event, or if a large group of people will it to happen. Ultimately, the selection of any of the three water features is based solely on the popular vote and can be triggered only by the will of the people. This amounts to a commentary on the idea of democracy, through an interpretation of the democratic process. With this proposal, the site becomes a commentary on the idea of “public space” being synonymous with the idea of “democratic space”.
team no 0815avjk pg. 12
TAKSIM URBAN DESIGN COMPETITION
team no0815avjk pg. 13
TAKSIM URBAN DESIGN COMPETITION
Misting Pavilion (waterfeature no1) - rendered view
team no 0815avjk pg. 14
TAKSIM URBAN DESIGN COMPETITION
team no0815avjk pg. 15
TAKSIM URBAN DESIGN COMPETITION
Taksim Square, looking North - bird's eye view
team no0815avjk pg. 16
TAKSIM URBAN DESIGN COMPETITION
no6 Team Organisation Chart for Stage 2
Profession Landscape Architect
no Responsibilities 2
concept design for park, square and green space connections, water feature design, lighting design
2
team coordination, pavilion design, out-building design, ballot box design
1
urban-scale concept approach
Software Developer
1
voting system realisation and programming
Horticultural Expert
1
planting and ecology
Waterfeature Specialist
1
waterfeature concept development & realisation
Architect Urban Planner
no7 References
Ansari, Nazia. "The Islamic Garden." CEPT University, India (accessed at) http://medomed. org/wpcontent/uploads/2014/08/ NAnsari_Islamic_Garden_r. pdf (2011). Giddings, Bob, James Charlton, and Margaret Horne. "Public squares in European city centres." Urban Design International 16.3 (2011): 202-212. Held, David. Models of democracy. Stanford University Press, 2006. Laopodis, Vassilios. "DEMOS: Democratic evaluation of multiple options in society." An Ethical Global Information Society. Springer, Boston, MA, 1997. 318-329. Romain Ors, Ilay. (2014). Genie in the bottle: Gezi Park, Taksim Square, and the realignment of democracy and space in Turkey. Philosophy & Social Criticism. 40. 489-498. 10.1177/0191453714525390. Parkinson, John. "Holistic democracy and physical public space." British Journal of Political Science Conference. London: British Academy, 2006. Sadri, Senem Zeybekoglu. "Oeuvre vs. Abstract Space: Appropriation of Gezi Park in Istanbul." Journal of Contemporary Urban Affairs 1.2 (2017): 1-10. Sadri, Senem Zeybekoglu. "The Scale of Public Space: Taksim Square in Istanbul." Journal of Contemporary Urban Affairs 1.1 (2017): 67-75. Sonesson, GÜran. "Spaces of urbanity. From the village square to the boulevard." Place and location III: The city—topias and reflection (2003): 25-54.
team no0815avjk pg. 17
TAKSIM URBAN DESIGN COMPETITION