3.2. Lighting 3.3. Vegetation 3.4. Softscapes – Hardscapes 3.5. Water Features

This intervention will keep the existing platform and ceremonial space from being left idle. These areas will be brought into public use, invite people in, bring them together, and be available for use 24/7. The curved platform designed under the canopy and named the see saw, collects people in an environment of meeting and dialog, and by way of a set of stairs leads down into the art gallery, multi-purpose halls, conference hall, workshops, cafeteria, digital art museum and metro station below. With its artistic, sculptural, symbolic and joyous structure, the see saw, both above and below, acts as an experience area, interfaces to access these public spaces.

Gezi Park’s interface with Cumhuriyet Blvd is another of its potentials. Utilizing the level difference between the park and street, we created a linear arcade in addition to public spaces horizontally and vertically behind it, made up of study halls as co-working spaces, workshops, cafes, exhibition halls, bookstores etc. Interconnected with the facilities created below the platform, this will provide a 24 hour environment of cultural activity. We performed a very precise study to integrate all of these public spaces into the underground below Gezi Park without changing its original design; destroying any existing, mature trees and causing any architectural or technical problems.

The arcad and the spaces behind it, organized along Cumhuriyet Blvd, are designed as a digital library & study halls, bookstore & museum shop and a cafe where young people and everyone else can come, sit and work throughout the day. Tablets will be provided to access the library content. The facades of these spaces are made of foldable panel glasses so that under the right weather conditions, these spaces can be fully opened to the street. This feature will make the permeability of the space and its “free” openness for public use more prominent physically. Likewise, it will be possible to reach the park by going up through these spaces, or descending to them from the park.

The square area surrounding the Atatürk monument is inspired by original plans. Radial shape dominates the new square and puts the monument to the centre. Larger green space is designed around the monument and trees are placed that partially cover the North and West side of it. Using trees, we have emphasised the Atatürk monument, and have created shaded areas for people to sit, socialize and enjoy the square. Moreover, much larger green patches were designed leading to Atatürk Cultural Centre and Cercis trees (judas tree) have placed in radial form. Cercis tree symbolizes İstanbul and especially Bosporus. This radial beam leading to Atatürk Cultural Centre leads people towards the Bosporus with its symbolic tree. Every spring, cercis tree will add its beautiful color to the atmosphere of the square. At the end of this symbolic path there is a dry fountain. People could sit on lawn surface and enjoy watching the fountain shows. When the fountain is turned off, the space is transformed into an activity area. The activities squeezed out of Atatürk Cultural Centre can be undertaken in this area. This platform can be also used for public installations.

The vast majority of the square is covered with permeable surfaces, and small green gaps are designed throughout the square to increase drainage capacity. In total, more than twice as much green space is designed compared to the current state of the square.

We wanted the square and its streets of pedestrians and vehicles to be on the same plane level, vehicle lanes to be marked on the ground, and the entire area to serve as a common ground. Moving Traffic Flow between Tarlabasi and Cumhuriyet Boulevards underground has caused a look of desertion and loss of scale; therefore, traffic has been moved back above ground. No other changes have been made to the surrounding streets. However, there will continue to be no vehicle entrance to the square from Tarlabasi Blvd directly.

The majority of the now ineffective underground tunnels will be transformed into a digital art museum and VR experience space. A smaller portion will be used as service, staff and visitor parking. To discourage access by car, we kept parking space limited. The museum and parking will be accessible through the existing metro station.

3. URBAN LANDSCAPE DESIGN ELEMENTS

3.1. Urban Furniture

Urban furniture as seating elements and buffets are planned and the square, which is equipped with lighting elements, is available to the citizens for 24 hours.

Around the Republic Monument, the concrete seating elements that rise from the “ground” are radially positioned in relation to the monument. In other parts of the square and in the park, parallel, linear and continues concrete seating elements were placed along the lawn and pedestrian areas.

Inside the Gezi Park, seating elements in the dry pool area and the surrounding activity area, are not stationary, instead they are mobile. Armchairs have been placed to be used for different activities according to the need.

3.2. Lighting

It was aimed to fulfill space requirements for public events such as workshops, exhibitions, fairs, and sports activities, placing temporary light structures on these permeable hard surfaces.

Special lighting fixtures will be designed as triangle prism shape in accordance with canopy’s colonnade. It will be arranged to strength the radial position of the square and will be located in the park and on the square.

The multilayered glass block floorings have been placed in the ground to provide natural daylight for the underground closed spaces at intersections of new designed facilities and the park (along the base of the canopy, the podium area, and the block of study halls along the Cumhuriyet Blvd).

The floor of podium in Gezi Park is equipped with glass blocks with photovoltaic modules. During the day, these blocks act as an installation which stores up solar energy and projects an interactive and entertaining light show during the night.

In order to increase dramatic light effects in the park area and the Taksim Square, pv power lighting elements are provided. Some luminaires embedded in the ground as footlights.

3.3. Vegetation

Although there are many different varieties of plants in the area, the vast majority of the trees in the area is decidious. This is one of the main reasons for the park lose its greenery and green identity during the winter season.

Moreover, we have increased the number of varieties with rich flowers in the area, in order to achieve much richer experience of flowers and smells in different seasons. We have added plants, which are suitable for Istanbul’s climate conditions. This would reduce time, money and energy spent to the management and provide much more sustainable green spaces to the area.

The number of coniferous plants are very low in the area. This does not seem to be matching some of the basic rules of landscape design. Coniferous plants will be placed to increase green feeling of the area during the winter season. Majority of the coniferous plants were placed on the borders of the park to create enclosure and acknowledgement in some areas, as well as screening unnecessary views.

3.4. Softscapes – Hardscapes

The vast majority of the square is covered with permeable surfaces. In accordance with our paving design, permeable concrete, and natural stone in a slightly different color tonalities will be used.

Besides lawn areas, pebble stone in variety of sizes will be used for paving in pedestrian areas. Small green gaps are designed throughout the square to increase drainage capacity.

As is known in urban areas absorption of heat by materials increases the temperature in the urban environment. We call this urban heat island effect. Non-permeable, reflective and heat absorbent materials produce more heat in the urban areas. In order to reduce urban heat island effect, we have created large lawn areas on the eastern direction of the square and around the Republic Monument and the dry fountain area in Gezi Park.

At least twice as much soft surfacing materials were used compared to current situation. This would dramatically reduce the heat produced by the square and green spaces with trees in the square give public an opportunity to sit, talk and socialize with other people in an urban crowd.

3.5. Water Features

To ensure that Taksim’s name are visible, various other water features have been included in the landscape.

A dry fountain has been placed in front of the AKM. People could sit on lawn surface and enjoy watching the fountain shows. When the fountain is turned off, the spaced is transformed into an activity area. The activities squeezed out of Atatürk Cultural Centre can be undertaken in this area. This platform can be also used for public installations.