Taksim Square Urban Renewal Competition Phase One Istanbul, Turkey
A3 Competition Booklet mm1122ra June 5th, 2020
Introduction Our approach to the design for this competition was to first create an urban analysis of the square - understanding the different layers of historical context, while highlighting some of the important features of the place and pinpointing some of the issues that we feel impedes on the overall urban experience. Within our analysis, we identified certain aspects of the place which we would call “priority” features - or components within Taksim that MUST be respected - which we would then base our conceptual design upon. The first priority we identified was Gezi Park - more specifically - Henri Prost’s original use of the park as an organizational space; where a strong North South Axis orients the entire space of the park and beyond, and a minor East West Axis also existing and intersecting at an important focal point of the central fountain. The second priority identified was the Monument to Ataturk and the Republic, which we feel is currently lost in terms of spatial relationship with the context, due to decades of rebuilding, so our design would need to allow to become an organizational node once again.
View of Gezi Park Axis Looking North
The third priority identified was respecting all the arcbitectural buildings that are protected under heritage laws; we feel that these buildings already serve as a strong boundary and urban wall within the space, and were adamant in preserving it in our design. The fourth priority was the major architectural cultural buildings, like the Ataturk Cultural Center, the Ataturk Library as well as the Maksem Mosque; we feel that whatever is to be designed needed to communicate effectively on a spatial level with these architectures. The fifth prioirty was retaining the programatic aspects of the buildings we choose to demolish - as in if we select any building we find we need to demolish to enhance the urban experience, then we would need to rebuild it with the same program with the same built up are. The subsequent pages discusses our attitude towards the design, the issues we find with the current / existing conditions, and our proposal on how to resolve said issues.
View of Gezi Park Axis Looking South