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D1A70C2L

TAKSIM

URBAN DESIGN COMPETITION


from recreation to Taksim Square...

As it is understood from Taksim name, the square which was named “teferrucgah” (excursion spot) in Ottoman Turkish from the mid-18th century due to its reservoir and water distribution center served as an urban recreation area and promenade. The area gained a military identity after the completion of Artillery Barracks or Taksim Barracks in 1806. In the same period, the boundaries of today’s Taksim Square were drawn. Internal courtyard of the barracks was turned into a stadium and started to host the football matches in 1921. Construction of the Republic Monument began at the heart of the Square in 1926. It was designated as the new ceremonial and gathering grounds of İstanbul in 1936 upon the suggestion of Henry Prost who made the master plan of İstanbul. Known as Gezi Park, the area was redesigned in a way that a contrast with the romantic landscape of Taksim Garden and strict geometric plan of İnönü Gezisi that was designed by Prost. According to Prost’s plan, Taksim Square and Gezi Park was linked to Prost’s Park no. 2., including Harbiye, Maçka and Dolmabahçe through Taksim Garden to create a green system on urban scale. Thus, visitors of the park find the opportunity to experience a pretty wide green space away from the vehicle traffic. Taksim Square planned as a ceremonial and gathering grounds by Prost maintained its characteristics for many years. The square became the scene of the republic Day ceremonies and meeting point of the urban social life and grew in importance rapidly. In this way, the urban population regarded the square as the leading social center. The identity of Taksim Square was formed following the above periods. Such a spirited urban space that enabled the awareness of being an urbanite, and urban belonging to develop with its almost a century-old history and witnessed multicultural and multi-level moments should be approached through a multidimensional urban design.

urban design approach

The totality comprised by the square and Gezi Park pushes the square/park identity which does owned by numerous urban centers, to forefront. East, west and south axes of the square is surrounded by a dense urban fabric while the north side communes with the rich green areas of Gezi Park. Unfortunately, the square that has influential references has been debarred from the social and cultural life and crowds with the wrong decisions on transportation and urban planning taken in recent years. It is definitely impossible to design the primary gathering and meeting spaces of cities like Taksim, using only physical plans. To manage the process with the participation of social scientists, urban sociologists, urban historians and the city-dwellers in person is important for raising the life quality of urbanite while increasing the quality of physical environment, maintaining habits of life and protecting memories. Even though the transportation decisions taken by the former İstanbul Greater Municipality were based on the idea of making the square completely pedestrian by considering the vehicle and public transportation as the underground level, the square became empty at the moment because the strategic decisions regarding how to evaluate the large gap that emerged could not be produced. More precisely, due to the fact that not having the human factor, which is the most important subject of the quality of being a square, in the square, the activity programs and structural changes for the intensive use of the square by the pedestrians could not be realized and the square turned into a big unscaled empty space. However, the area defined as Taksim Square actually consists of the Republic Monument and its surroundings. On the other hand, undefined and dysfunctional spaces around the square damage the perception of the square. The project proposes a new scenario for Taksim Square, considering all these negative factors. This scenario is based on an approach that traces the past, strongly embraces the memories of the square, reveals the multi-national, multicultural contemporary face of Istanbul, and reduces the square to the human scale.

Taksim Square

First of all, the project accepted and utilized the fact that the squares not only consist of pedestrians but are formed from a whole its flora, fauna and transportation means. In this context, Mete Street, Gümüşsuyu Street and Sıraselviler Street and the vehicle roads attached to them were considered as an important urban argument that nourishes the square, keeps it alive, increases its safety, and brings the square together with pedestrians. In addition to meeting the service need of the square, it will also contribute to strengthening the relations with the subway, funicular, bus, taxi, minibus routes. The intense building stock surrounding Taksim Square cannot be linked to the square in any way. It is recommended that the lower floors of the buildings that face to the square are suggested to host square cafes / restaurants / artistic events within the scope of the project.

Cumhuriyet Avenue

The Cumhuriyet Avenue axis has the size of a second square as a large space due to the lower quota of vehicle roads. On the other hand, since there is no interesting and attractive usage for pedestrians around the west side, it has turned into a passage corridor only for those who want to go to the square and Istiklal Street. With the project, it is suggested that the lower floors of the buildings on the west face be converted to Street cafe functions to a large extent. Thus, the unrelatedness and integration problem of the Talimhane District with Cumhuriyet Avenue and the square will be eliminated. The relationship of Gezi Park, which is located on the east side of Cumhuriyet Avenue, with this area will also be strengthened. The existing steps to the park have been preserved, the green area has been extended to the street about 5 meters, and street cafes, art gallery and florists have been positioned in a part of the beveled area. The building traces planned by Prost and the grid texture of the training house were inspired in the positioning of the buildings. The tops of the buildings are completely designed as green areas. Thus, green urban balconies and sloping areas overlooking Cumhuriyet Avenue are integrated into the street. The central axis of the street is defined by plane trees in two rows. Plane trees also describe the respect for the big plane trees that were cut during the underground transportation construction period. Under the plain trees, tables and chairs have been proposed to cover the middle axis of the road. Thus, Cumhuriyet Avenue will have a public space identity that is used intensely throughout the day and has strong ties to the square. At the point opposite the wide stairs leading to Gezi Park on the middle axis, “Child Rights Monument” was proposed for the memory of the “Child Rights Declaration”, which was read by Teacher Nakiye at Taksim Square in 1930, firstly in the world.

Mete Street

Mete Street, which is located on the western axis of the square, operates as 2 traffic lane and 1 parking lane. Although it does not have a very heavy traffic, it covers a large area and restricts the pedestrian movements towards this square from this area. With the project, Mete Street was reduced to a single lane, while the pavement widths of the Gezi Park and the Buildings opposite it were increased. Thus, this important axis gained the identity of pedestrian boulevard that connects the square to the congress valley. The lower floors of almost all qualified buildings that have faced Mete Street have been turned into street cafes. Thus, the need for the square and the service needed by Atatürk Cultural Center was met to a large extent. Thanks to this, the unused and isolated western facade of Gezi Park had the potential to be used actively.

Atatürk Cultural Center

In order to eliminate the disconnection between the Atatürk Cultural Center and the square, the level of Mete Street has been lowered to the square level, thereby integrating the square with the cultural center. Wide green areas and a dynamic pool proposal were introduced between the square and the cultural center. This pool is a dynamic pool with various functions. While meeting the identity of the square when the demonstrations or shows are held, it turns into a 3 cm thick reflection pool in the morning and sunset hours, turns into a children’s playground by hosting the water shows coming out of the ground and special illuminated fog cloud shows during day and night. Green areas and proposed square trees in the square will create a strong ecosystem where city residents and visitors will enjoy being in the square, sit and rest and meet. Existing floors are preserved in areas other than this one. The vehicle road that passes in front of The Marmara Hotel and connects İnönü Avenue and Mete Streets to Sıraselviler Street is protected as a two ways lane and designed at the square level. Taxi drop-off pockets are proposed at two points on the road. İstiklal Street-Aya Triada Church-Taksim Mosque Istiklal Street, which connects the historical city with the modern city, maintains its position as the most important generator of the project. “Aya Triada Church”, which is located at the point where Istiklal Avenue meets the square and establishes a visual and physical relationship directly with the square, and “Taksim Mosque” are considered as a whole as two important buildings that integrate the multicultural and faithful structure of Istanbul in the square. Especially for today, the unqualified building stock that broke the Aya Triada Church from the square has been demolished and the church has been integrated into the square. The elevation differences between the church and the square have been converted into an opportunity, so the use of the stairs connected to the church as a sitting and resting element has been proposed. In the area called Church Square, there are plane trees and a cascaded pool. The surroundings of the mosque were consolidated and integrated into Taksim Square.

Gezi Park

Gezi Park can be defined as the urban park icon in the modernization process of Istanbul. Because of preserving its historical identity and originality to a large extent, a proposal for landscape restoration has been introduced in the park as a staple for Taksim Garden and Prost plan. It is important to address the issue by a group of experts, with conservation awareness and technique, in order to avoid the problem of identity degradation in Gençlik Park, in Ankara and Kültür Park in Izmir. The project has approached the issue with this awareness. In order to ensure that Gezi Park is used more intensely, stronger relationships have been established with the square. It is recommended that the wide meadow area proposed in accordance with the Prost plan in the park will host classical music concerts, jazz festivals and art events.


Main Development Stages

1786-1807 Kauffer Lechevalier

1795-1800 Antoine-Ignace Melling

1880-C. Stolpe

Abdul Hamid II Collection 1880-93

1944 Pervititch

Taksim square 1940’s

future...


The Formatin and Decomposition Process of the İnönü Park and Park Number 2

Public Open Spaces

Public Open Spaces

Campus

Campus

Formation scheme of park number 2 ‘Güzelleşen İstanbul’ - 1944

Implemented park number 2 - 1950

Mid-eighteen century Traces of park number 2

19’ century


Public Buildings Semi - Public Open Spaces Public Open Spaces Campus Public Open Spaces - 2020

Vehicle circulation 1930 - Aerial view 2020

Aerial view - 2020

1951

Vehicle circulation 1951 - Aerial view 2020


Land-use

Open Spaces

Harbiye

Congress Valley

ITU Macka

Taşkışla

İnönü Stadium Dolmabahçe

Taksim

ITU Gümüşsuyu

Military Parks Goverment Hotels

Public Open Spaces

Trade

Semi-Public Open Spaces

Housing + Trade

Private Open Spaces

Housing

Public Buildings

Kabataş

Rapid Transit Network

Metrobus

Tram Line - Under Construction

Metro - Under Construction

Tram Line

Metro

Funicular

Marmaray


Urban Nodes

Squares

Mixed Square | Taksim, Eminönü, Kadıköy Urban Icon Oriented Squares | Ortaköy, Dolmabahçe, Üsküdar, Tophane, Galata, Eyüp, Sultanahmet, Beyazıt Culture and Trade Focused Squares | Şişli, Beşiktaş Transportation Transfer Focused Squares | Mecidiyeköy, Kabataş, Karaköy, Yenikapı Urban Icon Oriented Squares (Proposel) | Sarayburnu, Sütlüce/Haliç, Topkapı/Sur İçi, Harem Culture and Trade Focused Squares (District scale) | Gaziosmanpaşa, Kağıthane, Zeytinburnu Culture and Trade Focused Squares (District scale proposel) | Bayrampaşa, Ümraniye Meeting Focused | Çağlayan, Kazlıçeşme


Macroform

1- Harbiye 2- Congress Center 3- Congress Valley 4- Nişantaşı 5- ITU Maçka 6- ITU Taşkışla 7- Talimhane 8- Gezi Park 9- ACC 10- ITU Gümüşsuyu 11- İnönü Stadium 12- Kabataş 13- Cihangir 14- Galatasaray Square 15- Tophane 16- Paint and Sculpture Museum 17- Istanbul Modern Art Gallery


Vehicle and Pedestrian Network

Culturel Axis

Education Axis

Green Infrastructure

1- İstiklal street

1- ITU Gümüşsuyu

1- Harbiye | Macka

2- Taksim square (Gezi park, Atatürk Culturel Center)

2- ITU Taşkışla

2- Gezi Park

3- ITU Maçka

3- Taksim Square

3- ITU Taşkışla

4- Inonu Avenue

4- Harbiye

5- Dolmabahce

5- Maçka Park

4

5

3 2 1

1

3 2 1

2 3

5 4


1

Pedestrian Axis Inadequacy of the pedestrian connections that feed the square except İstiklal Street, Cumhuriyet Avenue, and partially Mete Avenue. Pedestrian discontinuity with Gezi Park on the East-West axis. Lack of pedestrian connections in the North-South axis.

2

Mosque and Church Disintegration of the new Taksim Mosque with the city square. Physical and visual disconnection of Aya Triada Church and Taksim Square. Spatial disconnection between the church and the mosque.

3

Atatürk Culturel Center Lack of design language integrity between Atatürk Cultural Centre and the square. Weakness of pedestrian connections with Mete Street and İnönü Avenue. Integration problems of Atatürk Cultural Center with the nearby urban fabric.


4 Gezi Park Lack of relationship with the park and the square. The disconnection between the northern green system of the city and the park.

5 Cumhuriyet Avenue Solid-void problems. Integration problem between the avenue and the square. Weakness of pedestrian relations with Harbiye Street.

6 Taksim Low potential of pedestrian uses on the square. Solid-void problems. Integration problems between existing urban fabric and the square. Pedestrian connection problems with Gezi Park-Maรงka-Dolmabahรงe green system.


Sections

Taksim Republic Monument | Taksim Mosque

Aya Triada Square

Cumhuriyet Avenue | Gezi Park

Aya Triada Square | Seating Steps

Architectural Concept Diagram

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a lab

r Ta

Cumhuriyet Avenue

Gezi


Cumhuriyet Avenue


Taksim Republic Monument | Aya Triada | Taksim Mosque Square


AtatĂźrk Culturel Center | Taksim Square


Taksim Square Activity Program

Organisation Chart


1 / 1 000

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