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Mosaicking

“Process of combining multiple, individual images into a single scene�

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Urban Green Network

ISTANBUL TAKSIM SQUARE

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Open Space Network

ISTANBUL TAKSIM SQUARE ISTANBUL TAKSIM SQUARE

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ISTANBUL TAKSIM SQUARE

landschaftliche Verbindung landschaftliche Verbindung

Taksim is one of the important intersections of the global and the local in Istanbul, and during every period, it has been the square, or “place for everyone and everything”.

It has served as a platform for the public’s self-expression throughout all periods, and over time, it has become the city’s most important square, where different sections of society are able to feel at home. The square assumed a symbolic importance with the construction of the Republic Monument in 1928. Within the framework of the Henri Prost Plan dated 1937, four military barracks were allocated to the public, with three to be used as educational institutions and one as a museum; Topçu Barracks was demolished to be transformed into a park: Thus, the square acquired a distinct new meaning as it was now integrated with the Culture Valley that extends as far as Maçka and Beşiktaş. Following the demolition of the barracks and its stables in 1940, the square became a public space with its physical borders close to the present day.

Squares are the meeting points of different social groups living in the city and a means of expression for the city’s multi-layered culture. Since the 19th century,

“Istanbul Is Yours” is the main principle as the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality announces a series of urban design compe“Istanbul Yours” the main as the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality announces a series of urban design competitions for Is the publicisspaces of principle the city, prioritizing a participatory approach at every stage of the process.

Public spaces must titions foraccessible, the public spaces of the city, prioritizing a participatory approach at every stage ofand theform process.

Public and spaces must be lively, free, cheerful, peaceful and secure places where people can breathe democratic social be lively, accessible, free, cheerful, peaceful and secure placesthe where people can breathe and form democratic and social relationships.

The Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality will shape design principles of Istanbul’s public spaces by consultrelationships.

Theand Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality willofshape the design of Istanbul’s public spaces by consulting stakeholders, listening to the needs and views the people of the principles city at events organized under the theme “Istaning Regains stakeholders, and listening bul Its Public Spaces”.to the needs and views of the people of the city at events organized under the theme “Istanbul Regains Its Public Spaces”.

Green Network Education

Green System

Context Istanbul is the largest city in Europe, the most populous in Turkey, and the country’s main economic, cultural and historic center. Taksim Square lies at its heart as the second most important public place in the city. Throughout the city’s history, it has continually evolved; either through a variety of urban developments, major cultural-socialreligious shifts or political manifestations.

Sport

Tourism

Culture

The site is located amidst a dense urban fabric, with bustling pedestrian streets, vibrant retail stores and iconic historical buildings. This urban neighbourhood includes two Higher Education Campuses, the new Opera House, the iconic Intercontinental Hotel, the Maksem Cami and Aia Triada Church.

Education

Monument Health Care Religious Cultur

Elevations Urban Context

Urban Center

Open Space Network - Instambul

Mosaicking

The square sits adjacent to an elevated green park, the Gezi Park, and the Republic Monument; a relevant historical landmark that contributes greatly to the significance and meaning of the square. The design intent is to strengthen the existing character of the area and transform the square from a “transition-corridor” into a lively attraction and meeting place.

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19th Century Taksim Artillery Barracks and Talimhane

18th Century Taksim Water Distribution Center (Maksem)

1930 - 1950 Taksim Republic Monument

1980 - 2012 1950 - 1980

Taksim occupied

by People

Istanbul Cultural Center (AKM)

2013 - 2017 Taksim became pedestrianised

2020 Taksim a Mosaic Place

Spatial Memory Taskim Square

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The existing structure of Gezi Park is retained and protected. The parking lots in the park are removed and replaced with additional green areas and trees. The new stairway structure allows for a connection to the green space extension. The new connections also allow for a better viewpoint to the Republic Monument and new Opera House, thus bringing more emphasis on the existing landmarks. The stairs include a ramp for persons with reduced mobility and a secure, barrier free area.

Open Space Open Space Boundaries

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Concept

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The existing axis from the Republic Monument towards Cumhuriyet Street is retained as a strong axis using the existing linear fountains and the additional trees running along the western edge of Gezi Park.

The connection between the new Taksim Mosque and the new Opera House creates a second significant axis in the square. The intersection of the axes enhances the Republic Monument as a focal point and the view to and from Asker Ocagi Street. Palm trees, as an interpretation of columns of Basilica Cistern, are placed in a grid plan. The copse of palms will have a small canopy coverage over the open space, a contrast to the intense green space of Gezi Park.

The water element provides both an experiential quality and reflects the history of the waterline connections.

Taksim Square (Taksim meaning “division” or “distribution”) was originally the point where main water lines from the north of Istanbul were collected and branched off to other parts of the city. This is interpreted in a new water feature on the surface of the square. The changing ebb and flow of water will add a new sense of temporality between day and night, from summer to winter. Water will spread on the dry pavement and each time creating a different shaped pool. At night the mirror of water will reflect the new building of the Opera House.

Key Elements

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New Axes & Elements

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Mosaic is the art of creating images with an assemblage of small pieces of coloured glass, stone, or other materials. The unique mosaics from the Roman and Byzantine Empires, which survived the historical events and natural disasters, are today on display in major museums of Turkey. The world’s two biggest mosaic museums are found in Turkey. In addition to the ancient and Byzantine mosaics, Anatolian is also embellished by the mosaics pertinent to the Islamic era. Islamic architecture used mosaic technique to decorate mosques and palaces since the Arabs conquered the eastern provinces of the Byzantine Empire in the 7th century. Mosaic thus is a cultural element present of the both Bysantine and Islamic culture.

This symbol is reinterpeted as a pattern to form the pavement structure. For the entire pedestrianized square, a special natural stone pavement is contemporarily designed, inspired from the mosaics of the both Bysantine and Islamic culture.

New Pavement

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Additionally to the palms trees, groups of judas trees are placed on the square, as one of the symbol trees of Istanbul. The mosaics of Hagia Sophia Mosque are represented as a pavement, columns of Basilica Cistern are as Palm trees, Bosphorus and Maksem as a fountain.

Vegetation Network

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Vegetation Network

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The lighting concept ensures that the square is used 24 hours a day. The lighting design creates a feeling of security and safety for the public. The lighting consists of a high 12m street light for the square, placed within the copse of palms. The park lighting is small scale 5m high, for a imtimate human scale. Ground uplights are placed along both axes in the square, to soften and enhance the night atmosphere for pedestrians.

Lighting

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Lighting Concept

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Concept The design concept derives from the acknowledgment of Istanbul’s rich cultural background and from the existing diverse urban context. Thus, it proposes firstly to adopt a locally inspired design-motif and secondly to adapt the urban space layout to a simple coherent ground-surface, that can easily embrace the different forms of the surrounding urban life.

Alongside these conceptual transformations, the design considers the existing features of the square. It organizes the atmospheric qualities and defines a hierarchy of different programs, to improve the quality of stay, and to protect and highlight the presence of the iconic architecture.

Other key interventions include: the strenghtening of the East-West axis between the two most notorious landmarks: the mosque Maksem Cami and New Opera House; reorganisation of the Northern access to Gezi Park and an addition of two landscaping elements: a palm tree canopy and a water feature.

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Design Concept

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Elements + Activities

Vegetatio Structure

Surface

Desing Hierarchy

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Lighting Concept

Monumental Scale

Strong Axis

Cultural Reference

Green Pillars

Playfull Space

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Square - Park Connection

Monumental Scale

Green Heritage

Historical value

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Square Profile

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1:2500

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1:2500 Pla

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VISU

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With a new pavement structure, a palm tree canopy and a water feature, the design proposes a square that is in close dialogue with the cultural, social and past and future aspirations of Istanbul.

Mosaicking Taksim

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Taking into account the diversity of the place the geometrical design is based on four different shapes that come together to match an adaptable mosaic. This geometry allows the pavement to be easily adapt, creating playful image of the square that reflects the main idea of combining Istanbul’s cultural and historical richness .

Mosaicking Taksim

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