Taksim MeydanÄą competition stage 1 C71598YU
C71598YU
Benefitting from the unique topography + 64
People for Taksim –– Taksim for People
Gezi Plateau formal topography
Today‘s topography can be reduced abstractly to two levels: First the potentially natural soil. A gently modelled topography that slopes down to the north and south. The square has its significance due to this particular altitude, because it was from here the water was distributed into the city. Secondly, the architecturally formal topography of Gezi-Park. A plateau that has its origin from the time of the Topçu barracks.
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We want to use the potential of this topography and design a new Taksim that pays adequate tribute to the layers of time and enables new communication with its edges.
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Taksim is one of the most important intersections of global and local life in Istanbul. During every period it has been the place for everyone and everything: a platform for public self-expression. Over time, it has become the most important square in the city, where different parts of society can feel at home. Our design respects the past and focusses on the future: We offer a resilient development for Taksim that pays tribute to both history and a modern citizenship.
Urban Surface dynamic topography
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1 –– 2
We identify the key social and historical layers, highlight them and integrate them into a new urban topography. In this way we generate memorable atmospheric settings that form a bridgehead for the future of Istanbul.
Highlighting the qualities of Taksim Square & Gezi Park
Atatürk Library
historical, cultural & urban layers AKM Atatürk Culture Centre
As one of the oldest squares in Istanbul, the Taksim represents like no other place the colorful and eventful history of the city. A place of reclamation, water supply, socio-culture, politics and religion. - a true urban hotspot! To identify these unique layers is one of the tasks of this design. On the one hand there are many historical reminiscences of past eras: The Maksem as the central water supply, relics of Henri Prost‘s planning in the form of walls, and steps, historical views, the Monument of the Republic. On the other hand we find an assemblage of rather modernist layers, embedded in a very heterogeneous urban scenery. We intend to reintegrate these layers into an overall context. The fundament for this is the idea of an urban topography.
extremely different heights of the city silhouette
historical elements, views steps and walls
Cumhuriyet Anıtı Taksim Monument
Maksem & Mosque
In the centre of the Taksim Gezi Park is located. The prominent plateau with its strong geometry has the potential to form interesting spaces on its edge. New paths connect for example the AKM, the Atatürk Library or the square around the Monument of Republic with the plateau. Of course historical pathways, such as the central north-south axis through the park, are preserved. The new connections restructure the Gezi edge into a playful line of bends and niches. The park becomes visible and approachable from the square. The edge of the plateau becomes a communicator between Taksim Square, Gezipark, Hill Park and Boulevard. The border literally operates according to Peter Sloterdijk‘s principle of spheres. Each sphere (here: each location of the site) is strong in itself and offers its own atmosphere and protection. But only if the spheres are bent and folded at their shells, uniqueness, tension and liveliness is created. The principle of folding becomes especially interesting when it respects the existing structure. Thus one of our important goals is to protect and preserve almost all trees. Some of the trees on the plateau date back to the founding period of the parks. They deserve special attention. The new park edge respects the trees and integrates them in the future development. Wherever possible, smaller trees are moved to other parts of the park. After all Taksim is one of the remaining squares in Istanbul with large trees. The site will keep on offering this great feature to its inhabitants in the future.
boosting connections
Keeping the historical axes
creation of niches
Taksim Meydanı ––
Istanbul Technical University
People for Taksim –– Taksim for People
Developing a communicative interface between Gezi park and Taksim square
C71598YU
The heart of Beyoğlu will be a playful topography The transformation of the edge increases in elevation. Wide handicapped accessible ramps connect the square below with the park. They break down the barriers between the levels. New hills allow panoramic views and a beautiful view of the sunset over the Golden Horn is animating. As in Sloterdijk‘s theory, the deformations and folds make it especially fun to explore the area. The citizens discover their Istanbul with a totally new perspective. The topic of an urban, programmed topography continues on the square. In general, it is kept free – an open and democratic square! At the edges, where the slopes get too steep, we generate places to stay. The urban life on Taksim Square with thousands of people crossing can be wonderfully explored from these elevated places.
welcome entrance to the park
Waterfilm lat water film, reflects the city scenery in daily life, dry at events or demonstrations
Quiet Hill Place to linger and rest on the lawn
3 –– 4
Taksim Outlook: platform for vistas over the entire sqaure on top of the subway entrance Sky Hill sunset view Golden Horn Beyoğlu Fold sitting area facing both: Taksim and Refik Saydam Caddesi
What represents a square that is protected by its citizens and at the same time offers people identification and a feeling of being home? It is about its possibilities and atmospheres. Thus the intention of our proposal for the Taksim is to create a democratic experience of urban public space that incorporates the sensitivities of all social classes. To do this, it is necessary to create a place of many possibilities. With formal and informal offerings, such as benches, playgrounds, calm areas, lush vegetation or edges and multi-coded surfaces, embedded in three main atmospheres:
Gezi-Plateau lush vegetation, cooling effect of shade and water, cultural activities and playgrounds
– As a link to the Beyoğlu green belt, Hill Park offers walking paths and routes of new mobility to neighboring districts of Istanbul. The connecting communicator between these three atmospheres is the Taksim edge. It mediates between spatiality and citizenship and fulfils a social task. People for Taksim and Taksim for people!
Taksim Edge Communicator and multiplier of a community
Taksim Square stage of urban life, exciting and open, a place of participation
Bike Lane comfortable ways, linking the neighbourhood
The current pandemic crisis makes us rethink our public squares and parks to keep them fit for the future. Staying in welldesigned open spaces is conducive to public health. That‘ s why it is important to maximize the ecological potential of parks. It controls the macro and micro climate of a city and reduces environmental stress. People‘s desire for physical activity and social interaction should also be possible with distance. This includes wide, metropolitan paths that are not overcrowded. Similarly, long benches that can be populated with many people but also promote community at a distance. This is supported by the principle of „stage and stands“, which we pursue at all our locations. Stages are formal or informal, such as open plazas, playgrounds, lounging areas, lush vegetation or a scenic view. Especially the informal surfaces and objects are important, because they encourage appropriation and interaction. We understand our urban topography as a large multi-coded free space of possibilities.
– Taksim Square as an urban melting pot. Open, wide and framed by the very heterogeneous city scenery. A place of everyday use for crossing, meeting, skating etc. but also a political place for expressing your opinion and for demonstrating. – On top the Gezi Park as a formal garden with walking paths, an amazingly rich vegetation of old and new trees, shrubs and perennials, cooling water, comfortable benches and sunbathing areas. A refreshing oasis on hot days in the very center of the city.
Hill Park natural topography, meadows and trees, landscape with large solitary buildings
Our special concern is the establishment of climate-friendly transport. We propose several comfortable bike lanes that cross the Taksim and connect the neighbourhoods. There is also space for bike parking, repair shops and loading stations. In addition, we are increasing the transfer connections between public transport. The Taksim will be an intermodal intersection.
Bus
Access Taksim tunnel
Mobilty Hub Taxi, Bus, bicycle parking
Connection Hub Gezi Plateau – Taksim Square – Bus – Metro
Taksim Meydanı ––
Places of participation, diversity and possibilities, embedded in powerful atmospheres
Learning from the pandemic – Supporting new mobility and perception of a new status of public open spaces
People for Taksim –– Taksim for People
Taksim Square is both an urban melting pot and a place to stay. The gentle film of water reflects the city scenery in everyday life and can be drained for large events.
C71598YU
InterContinental Istanbul
Hill Park literature pavilion playground water playground
AKM Atatürk Culture Centre playground
Quiet Hill Sunken Lawn culture pavilion
café
Park Plateau
water film
5 –– 6
Sky Hill seating steps Market Boulevard
Taksim Outlook
historical steps
lift
bus stop
bicycle lane
Beyoğlu Fold
Cumhuriyet Anıtı Taksim Monument
bus shelter
People for Taksim –– Taksim for People
Taksim Meydanı
Taksim Mosque
Taksim Meydanı ––
Maksem
maçka sanat park
teşvikiye mosque
s v all ey
milli reasürens (milli re)
res
military museum
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“Beyoğlu”. The urban layout of this neighborhood is aconsequence of both its historical heritage and its geographical setting. The urban context consists of three main layers which are “seafront: along kabataş to haliç, urbanization-footprint: the layout developed parallel to historical evoluation by direction of south to north, lastly, green penninsula / cultural valley: provides great green space within urban cluster. The Urban spine aims to integrate great potentials of those main layers while creating new backbone of social life for Taksim.
maçk high school
ng
Urban Characteristics
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Urban Context exploring the Beyoğlu
c. topuzlu open air theatre
nişantaşı high school
orduevi
de m oc
itü faculty
ra
istanbul radio
cy
hilton hotel
pa
le c
ar g-mall
tennis courts
toric
al b
küçük çiftlik park
ŞİŞLİ WEDD. HOUSE
taksim residence
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gazhane <tun
divan hotel
rand hyatt hotel
nel
süheyla a. park
itü faculty
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7 –– 8
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swissotel
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History + Present = Future
Beyoğlu has a rich and diverse mosaic, but it is in form of fragmented structure. Urban spine aims to increase connectivity of diversity by making the district massive mosaic and bring them all into Taksim Square.
Connecting two great different characterized green spaces with new gateway, creates supergreat green network for neighborhood and also city.
Taksim acts as an intersection point of where historical and present urban characteristics meet. That allows us to establish a vision for the future of Taksim by mixing potentials of history and present.
the ritz carlton
intercont. hotel
inönü stadium atarürk library
People for Taksim –– Taksim for People
Green Gateway
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gezi park
dolmabahçe palace
itü faculty
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un
ass erp
d
taksim square
taksim mosque
me
atatürk cultural center
maksem
tro
december 10 martyrs park
military hospital
dolmabahçe mosque
surp o. church french c. center
the marmara hotel
maksim
no
l sta
gic
t ra
m
hagia t. church
fu park bosphorus hotel
Mobility / Cycling the City
It’s defined through the interaction of the community with the physical landscape. The intention is to strongly connect social dynamics with cultural generators by urban spine, focusing the most representative activities and cultural landscapes of Beyoğlu.
Intensity of economic activities in Beyoğlu district, follows along the urban spine. Connecting fragmented commerce, creates greater economic infrastructure for the community.
New mobility pattern aims to integrate new way of acces by cycling with strong transportation network and infrastructure in Beyoğlu, but also in Istanbul.
pier taksim research hospital
transfer center (tram, funicular, ferryboat)
german hospital
cihangir park
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bo
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lar
am
Economic Landscape
cu
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Cultural Landscape
ni
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fındıklı park
transportation cycling route project area urban nexus
Taksim Meydanı ––
Multi-Layered Urban Spine
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Equity Proposed program aims to increase the proportion of visitors using the open space reasonably mirrored the race, gender and income demographics of the city.
C71598YU
Social Life bringing people together Participate!
Creative Innovation New Taksim aims to create opportunities for the city act as a facilitator and invite community organizations to co-create new art, culture and technology based events in the public space. To allow street space to be re-purposed and reclaimed in a way that seemed impossible before.
people for taksim!
this area filled with 20cm water for play. Now, without it, demonstration area. Amazing!
Taksim creates opportunities for people to recognize or meet new people and to spend more time outside in its communities. With large amount of proposed events, that further allow it to diversify programming and invite for broader participation in Taksim.
I will join the open workshop at pavillion.
taksim for people! Did you taste wet burger? Let’s walk down!
mom, can I make sandcastle with sis?
let’s have cup of tea and watch sunken in peace.
Love to read mag with bosphorus view!
9 –– 10
Dude, you can see whole square from this platform!
really like to meet new people here!
Connectivity
see? I’m walking on water
It’s organic market this week, tell your dad.
Access
Inclusion / Belonging Design elements promotes safety found little to no evidence of fences, gates or other physical barriers that prevented users from freely moving in and around the Taksim Square.
New Taksim increases user/visitor density of public space in neighborhood and also city, by ensuring access to open, public space, and that lack access to transportation. Proposed bicycle line network integrated into mobility pattern to provide new way of access to Taksim.
Taksim Meydanı ––
there is free bike park under this observation platform, did you know?
People for Taksim –– Taksim for People
The design improves perceptions and feeling of safety in the public space. This presents an opportunity to align square implementation with vision zero initiatives to calm traffic and improve safety.
existing trees
new trees
+82.5 +78.7 Market Boulevard
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Gezi Plateau
Ramp
Section D-D‘
C71598YU
Topography formation of niches & views
Sunken Lawn
1/500 Ramp and Water Playground
Sunset Platform meadow
11 –– 12
+86.5
+82.7 +80.8 Sunken Lawn
D–D‘ Literature Pavilion
existing trees
Taksim Outlook Lift
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+82.8 +80.7
+78.7 access Underground
B–B‘
Playground
Sunken Lawn
1/500 west to east – Gezi Topography and Sunken Lawn
A–A‘
Section B-B‘
C–C‘
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existing trees
Kiosk +83.8 +80.5
Historical Steps
Gezi Square
Seating Steps
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+79.5 Sunken Lawn
Section A-A‘
1/500 south to north – from Taksim Square to Hill Park
Water Playground
Hill Park
People for Taksim –– Taksim for People
1/500 Sky Hill
Taksim Meydanı ––
Section C-C‘
A topographically formulated edge forms niches that communicate with the levels. With its green edge the park gains a stronger presence in the urban landscape.
People for Taksim –– Taksim for People
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Taksim Meydanı ––
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Gezi means „take a walk“. Thus the plateau does honour to its original idea: A place to stroll and enjoy a pleasant stay. The vegetation becomes lush and more luxuriant, small pavilions invite to cultural events and visits.
RS
TAKSIM
13 –– 14
COL LA B RS TO RA O
S T N A T
C71598YU
Team Organization
AS SI S
In the middle of the Gezi Plateau, a sunken place with a large lawn for relaxing and a cooling water feature is being created around the existing fountain, based on the current topography.
C71598YU
Taksim Mosque
French c. center
Mobility Hub
Maksem
Beyoğlu Fold
Hagia t. church
bicycle lane
Cumhuriyet Anıtı Taksim Monument Market Boulevard
Maksim
stone benches
Taksim Outlook
new trees Quiet Hill
Sky Hill
lift
Taksim Meydanı
15
Divan Hotel
playground
existing trees café seating steps
Sunken Lawn
water playground
the Marmara Hotel
People for Taksim –– Taksim for People
historical steps
bus stop
playground grandstand water film
culture pavilion
Park Plateau
literature pavilion
seating steps
Grand Hyatt Hotel InterContinental Istanbul
historical walls and steps bicycle lane
AKM Atatürk Culture Centre
ITÜ Faculty
Taksim Meydanı ––
Gezi Square
Hill Park