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Floating Spheres TAKSÄ°M URBAN DESIGN COMPETITION

principles

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The Square as the assembly area for the People

In addition to being a cultural and commercial meeting point, Taksim Square has traditionally been a stage for citizens to express their collective wishes For this reason, any landscape intervention that would prevent crowds from assembling was avoided on the pavement of the square.

Re-creating the “human scale” suppressed by the new structures

Taksim Mosque and Atatürk Cultural Center, two new buildings under construction in the Square, dominate the Square by blocking both sides of Taksim Square with masses well above the human scale.

Individuals who feel burdened by the dominance of these buildings choose to leave the square as soon as possible.

However, the Square should be a peaceful and pleasant area where the citizens will enjoy, embrace, and want to stay longer.

Shading

The large ground area of the Square is intended to be shaded in order to encourage the citizens to spend more time and to protect them from the sun when they gather to declare their ideas and wishes.

Considering that the trees and similar landscaping arrangements would diminish the Square's function as a public assembly area, a different approach was explored other than the basics of landscape design.

Small meeting spaces

Cities increase the social, scientific and artistic interaction between individuals. Thus, they create the ideal environment for fueling creativity with shared wisdom and interaction of ideas.

Taksim Square is a unique space for the interaction of citizens, both in terms of its location and tradition.

Small-scale spaces were considered where smaller groups could come together any day to discuss, exchange ideas, make amateur art performances, forums, press releases.

Protecting Gezi Park as a recollection of memories

Gezi Park, which is one of the few green areas of the city, is proposed to be preserved as it is because of its symbolic value in the common memory of the city. However, it is suggested that the points where Taksim Square meets Gezi Park are rearranged to soften the transitions.

İstiklâl, Cumhuriyet and Tarlabaşı street approaches

Approach from the main roads to Taksim Square should indicate the “buzz” in the Square.

These introductory signs need to mobilize, motivate and create a desire to reach the Square.

design “Floating Spheres” Between the Ataturk Cultural Center and the Taksim Memorial, “Floating Spheres” are proposed to • allow for an unobstructed ground surface • reflect the history around the Square • break the domination of the buildings in the Square • re-claim the “human” scale • protect people from the sun • provoke creative thinking These “Floating Spheres” will be connected with a thin structural network system that will allow them to move together.

With the changing environmental conditions(below), the “Floating Spheres” will also create a different performance every day.

Wind During the "lodos" and "poyraz" winds of Istanbul, the “Floating Spheres” will be shifted downwind (where the wind flows), and will inform the citizens of the changes in the weather.

Pressure At "low" and "high" air pressure, the “Floating Spheres” will ascend and descend to inform the citizens of sunshine or rain.

Nighttime At night, the “Floating Spheres” can be used as reflecting surfaces for video-mapping.

Integrated lighting effects placed inside the “Floating Spheres” will also allow for lighting art performances.

Daytime During the day, the “Floating Spheres” will be used as shading elements to protect the individuals from the sun.

They will also reduce the dominance of the buildings in the square in favor of “human scale”.

Perception from the connecting streets At the points of approach from Istiklâl Street, Cumhuriyet Street and Tarlabaşı Boulevard were placed an introductory line of “Floating Spheres” in order to arouse curiosity and provide a pre-view of the action at Taksim.

In extraordinary weather conditions such as a hurricane etc., the “Floating Spheres” will be piled in a corner and lowered to the ground and parked.

For the technical feasibility of the “Floating Spheres”, please see the attachment: “AEROMECHANICAL FEASIBILITY AND ENVIRONMENTAL RESILIENCE ASSESSMENT”

“Mini Amphitheaters�

In the square, 3 mini amphitheaters have been proposed for exchange of ideas or amateur performances and art shows that can take place 365 days of the year.

These mini meeting areas can be used for forums, press releases or art shows, outdoor performances, as well as mini-parks where residents can just sit and relax.

Green seating steps Seating of mini amphitheaters will be grass.

Incorporating the existing trees with additional trees, a natural mini-park area shall be created in the mini amphitheaters.

Gezi Park-Taksim Square Interaction Mini amphitheaters are lined up on the border where Taksim Square meets Gezi Park. Mini amphitheaters are located replacing the ramp at this borderline; however, existing old walls and stairs have been preserved. The organic boundaries of the amphitheaters are integrated with the existing stone wall through natural planting and landscape.

SCALE: 1/1000

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AEROMECHANICAL FEASIBILITY AND ENVIRONMENTAL RESILIENCE EVALUATION Purpose and Scope The purpose of the report is to provide information on the measures to be formulated for the Taksim Urban Design Competition, to review factors such as aero-mechanical feasibility and environmental resilience, and provide information on the necessary measures and mechanisms to reduce possible risks. The report reviews these issues under two main aspects: balance factors and environmental factors. Balance factors include the static and dynamic stability of a single spherical module, the way it directs the fluids (wind/rain etc.) around the module, and the interaction of different modules.

Environmental factors address the resistance of spherical modules to external factors (weather conditions, people, etc.).

Balance Factors 1 Connection Points Ideally, the single spherical module shall be connected to a flexible, sturdy rod (thin metal tube, or durable plastic with low-thermal conductivity), so that it can float properly. If the module connection is desired to be made to look more like “floating", the connections should be from 3 points as shown in Figure 1. The connecting line must be connected to the module at at least 1/10 of the vertical spherical diameter, so that it is possible for the single module to remain stable in the horizontal plane.

Figure 1

Alternatively, it is possible to connect more than one module to a pole or wall in the lateral direction.

However, in this case, a connection on the ground will be required, which shall hold the module steady in the vertical plane. Figure 2.

Figure 2

2 Base Connection Distance Apart from keeping the module stable in the horizontal and vertical planes, the ground connections should be made in consideration of the winds coming from the horizontal plane moving the spherical module up/down. For this reason, it is recommended to make connections at ground level at at least one horizontal module diameter away from the center of the spherical module. Figure 3.

Figure 3

3 Entangling in Connections To prevent the modules from entangling, either at least one "link length" should be left between the modules, or the modules should be located so that they avoid each other’s downwind.

4 Floating Capacity of Modules The spherical modules must be filled with a gas that is lower than the density of the air (1 kg / m3).

At the same time, the shell thickness of the modules should be as thin as possible, without compromising structural integrity. Proceeding with this approach, the modules shall not have any problems in terms of floating/gliding.

5. Aerodynamic Interaction of Modules Since each module basically has a blunt shape, the air passing around it loses speed and breaks from the surface of the sphere at the downwind direction. Since this happens at every point of the back surface of the sphere, such flow separations create vibrations at a certain frequency behind the module. A diagram of this situation can be seen in Figure 5. If the modules are placed back to back, the modules at the back may be affected by this "dirty" air from the leading modules, and may run the risk of losing connections by the intensity of swinging up/down, entanglement or vibration.

There are 3 main ways to prevent this situation: • Giving the module the form of a "tear-drop". If the blunt side is on the leading edge and the pointed side is positioned on the trailing edge, the air will circulate more easily around the module, brushing the surface with reduced flow separation. (The extent of which the trailing edge is sharpened relative to the leading edge shall be adjusted according to the designers’ preference of geometry.)

• Opening perforated ducts on the horizontal plane or making them as rings. If the air is likely to pass through the module, the intensity of the flow separation can be reduced.

• A group of modules can be assembled/attached together with a certain sequence. Figure 4 shows the top of the Burj Khalifa building. The placement of 3 cylinders together has cancelled out the vibrations caused by flow separations from individual cylinders, increasing the building's resistance to wind vibration.

Figure 4

Figure 5

Environmental Factors 1 Wind The wind in Taksim square can vary between 5-35 kts. Major winds blow from north-east, south-west and north. In Figure 6, these directions are shown with arrows. If more than one module receives these winds directly in a vertical or parallel direction, it will cause entanglement, rupture or pattern irregularity. Preferably placing the modules at the corners or curved edges away from the center of the square, thus avoiding the direct or lateral wind will minimize the intensity of the wind on the modules. The red area in Figure 6 is an example of this situation. Since the winds flowing along Istiklal Avenue and AKM area do not have the energy to follow along the curved surfaces on the south of the square, “flow separation� occurs on such curved edges/corners. (This condition can be observed in the pink areas in Figure 7.) Weak re-circulating zones where the air slows down are the safest places for the modules in this concept.

Figure 6

Figure 7

2 Precipitation In order to reduce the downward force created by precipitation, bird's eye surface areas of modules should be kept to a minimum. For this reason, it is recommended that the modules are produced flattened from the sides or with holes/channels through which water can flow in the vertical direction.

Modules should be pulled down to lower levels in case of prolonged heavy rain.

3 Connection Configuration Lowering the modules in extreme weather conditions shall protect the module's ties from breaking.

Connections made of thicker materials or with materials of higher "elastic modulus" shall increase the tolerance of the connections to severe conditions.

4 Temperature Effects Especially on windless days, the sun's rays can increase the heat on the surfaces to higher temperatures than the ambient air temperature. The material of the spherical modules shall be able to withstand at least 70 ° C. The material must have minimum thermal conductivity for maximum resistance in the long term against temperature fluctuations.

Examples of unsuitable materials: Nylon (glass transition temperature of 47 ° C), PLA Plastic (glass transition temperature of 55 ° C)

Conclusion If the environmental factors and physical principles mentioned above are followed, the concept of the designer can be put into practice safely. Environmental and climatic factors can be demonstrated to people in an artistic and elegant way through these modules, and natural conditions can be exhibited in Taksim Square with an organic style.

Signed by “Aerospace Engineer” (identification is included in the “team list” document.)

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organization chart

CLIENT

LEAD DESIGNER

COMMUNITY&PRESS RELATIONS

PUBLIC ARTS EXPERT ARCHITECTURALTEAM SOCIAL ACTIVITIES TEAM LIGHTING TEAM

TRANSPORTATION TEAM SIGNAGE CONSULTANT

FIRE&SECURITY CONSULTANT

SUSTAINABILITY CONSULTANT

URBAN DESIGN TEAM

AERO-MECHANICAL TEAM

LANDSCAPE TEAM