ABOUT THE PROJECT URBAN INTEGRITY AND SENSE OF PLACE Istanbul is a metropolitan city transforming rapidly in terms of economic, social, cultural and physical fields: these rapid changes fragment the continuity of heritage accumulated in historical layers and can create a social confliction. Taksim Square has a multi-layered structure in socioeconomic terms due to its proximity to different residential, commercial, cultural and educational districts. The surrounding neighborhoods Tarlabaşı, Osmanbey, Nişantaşı, Teşvikiye, Beşiktaş, Kabataş, Tophane, Cihangir, Şişhane, to name a few, have their own roles in the urban pattern, each have strong characteristics and maintain a sense of belonging within the Taksim area. However, in recent years, Taksim Square, which has maintained its importance especially since the Early Republican Period, is in a danger of losing its place in urban memory due to social fractures that interrupt the historical continuity. This is partly the result of the closure of the Ataturk Cultural Center, which has held a significant place in the memory of the cities’ inhabitants as a common meeting place, the character of the Republic Monument that has become less defined with the Taksim pedestrianization project, and the social activities that have been systematically removed from the area. A reflection of this can be seen as the diversity of user profiles has decreased in Taksim Square and Istiklal Street, which connects the Square to Galata and from there to Karakoy, Tophane and to Historical Peninsula. It is now clear that the cities’ inhabitants no longer feel that they are a part of Taksim. They felt estranged. A SHAPE FOR TAKSIM SQUARE As of today, despite its symbolic meaning, Taksim Square is a space lacking a defined form and character, being surrounded by individual elements that do not communicate with one another. Hence, the project proposes a framework of actions, introducing some simple features that can completely transform the area of interest by creating a cohesive dimension for the square. THE EMBELLISHED “CARPET” A new embellished pavement delineates the rectangular section between the Republic Monument and the Atatürk Cultural Center. Adding shape to the existing area, the new flooring enhances the value of this exceptional public space. A common ground, plain and clear, without obstacles, for democratic and social relationships. THE NEW PROMENADE A slender colonnade supports an elevated linear promenade that creates a pivotal connecting element between Taksim Square and the adjacent Gezi Park. The promenade represents an iconic element for the location, commencing at the fringe of the park and then further extending to delineate the Northern side of the square. The promenade is an elegant component of the square, enabling the view of the newly embellished pavement, as well as of the recently restored park. THE ROW OF TREES The façade of Taksim Square opposite to Gezi Park is currently characterized by uneven buildings of low architectural quality. A new row of trees gives order to the location, by restoring the appearance of the Southern side of the square. THE CITY FROM ABOVE The Eastern end of the new promenade elevates into a panoramic tower, an open parallelepiped structure 40 meters high. Designed to be an effortless landmark building in the square, the main value of
the tower is its elevated terraces, each level offering visitors extraordinary views of the city culminating with a view of the Bosphorus. Consequently, it is a landscape tower, for it allows the appreciation of the surrounding landscape given its unique location, as it overlooks the buildings of the city to unveil the scenery of the Bosporus strait providing a new orientation and perspective. The ensemble of promenade, terraces and tower will create new exceptional sights of Taksim Square and the surrounding city, without visually obstructing the main facade of the adjacent Atatürk Cultural Center, but rather enhancing its presence. The aim is to give to all citizen the opportunity to admire their city from a unique point of view, visitors and tourists will experience being part of the city from its beating heart. THE COLONNADE The promenade rests on slender metal pillars that are radially arranged to reference and enhance the presence of the nearby Republic Monument, thus emphasizing its symbolic and historical value. The colonnade then expands towards the historic staircase of Gezi Park and Cumhuriyet Caddesi, lengthening of the park. ENHANCING THE HISTORY OF THE LOCATION The memory of the building that once occupied the square in the nineteenth century is suggested in the form of the new pavement near the Republic Monument, where the perimeter of the embellished flooring curves to accompany the circular space of the historical flowerbeds delineating the footprint of the nineteenth century structure. Moreover, the abundant historical iconography of the monument enables the philological restoration of the flowerbeds through the reintroduction of the original vegetation, as it was in the original design by Guilio Mongeri: topiaries with an edge of small trees. Gezi Park will also be restored by eliminating all the incongruous elements, such as bus parking, and respecting the original vegetation choices: adding trees where the design has been lost, cutting trees that are in poor condition and replacing them with species suitable for climate, exposure and coherence within the existing vegetation. EXPANSION OF GEZI PARK AND NEW FUNCTIONS The restoration of Gezi Park focuses on the central historical space and aims at maintaining the present design. Additionally, the park is also expanded with the incorporation of part of Cumhuriyet Caddesi. This extension reshapes the relationship between the park and the city, by introducing new accesses to the park without any architectural barrier. Indeed, three wide flat cuts pave the way from Cumhuriyet Caddesi to Gezi Park, thus making the green area accessible to all by creating a unicum among the park, the walking paths, and square. Between the various accesses to the park, a sequence of small single-store buildings are destined to cafes, bookshops, ateliers, and other attractive functions, to transform Cumhuriyet Caddesi from a transit space to an attractive and valuable location for seasonal usage, special events, day and night use, and various alternative scenarios. WATER On the opposite side from the Atatürk Cultural Center, the historic aqueduct delineates one of the short sides of the square. In continuity with the aqueduct building, the project inserts a body of water to further embellish and enrich the location, a horizontal plane of water with jets of different heights and intensities.
N1T8F9A7 ART Art can introduce a unique illuminated nightscape bringing light to the public space: works of art made with light tubes and site specific installations bring a living atmosphere also by night. Intended to be the catalyst for a cultural strategy to bring art closer to people. Possible placements could be in the park expansion as well as in the park itself. The facade of the tower could also be itself a place for installations and temporary exhibitions and cultural communication. The steel facade will be used to display the cultural richness of Istanbul. SAFETY AND ACCESSIBILITY Currently, the unregulated transport services, informal bus parking, the police station occupying the main entry point to the park from the square, vehicular traffic on the Mete Cd. on the east side of Gezi park and the height difference between the Gezi park and its surrounding streets negatively affected the quality of public realm from the accessibility point of view. The lack of access ramps for people with low mobility has reduced the permeability of the area. The project aims to increase accessibility through two main actions: introducing two ramps for easy access to the park and providing lift access points, one lift from the square to the park and two lifts to reach the top of the tower. MOBILITY STRATEGY The current mobility proposal includes prioritizing pedestrian access to the square and park from the surrounding neighborhoods by revising the vehicular flow on Mete Cd. and Tak-ı Zafer Cd., removing on-street parking and dedicating specific drop-off and taxi stations. This allows the activation of the building fronts, stitching the entire urban fabric together, and facilitating fluid pedestrian and cycling access towards the square from important nearby landmarks such as the university and Ataturk historic library; improving the quality and permeability of the public realm. In addition, the proposal suggests the most convenient routes for implementing cycling facilities, especially in the one way streets, and suitable locations for bike sharing points and bike parking. It is also recommended to relocate the police station in a new place behind the mosque with easy vehicular access from the primary road of Tarlabaşı BLVD. freeing the Gezi park area from vehicular traffic except for the park maintenance. The access point to the metro and underground bus hub is improved and integrated in the proposal, which will encourage more use of public transport and easier navigation and way finding for tourists and visitors to the area. LIGHTING ATMOSPHERE The lighting design reveals the identity of the space during the night and creates visual hierarchy in Taksim. It gives the emphasis to the main architectural features, putting others in the background. Ataturk Cultural Center, the Republic Monument and Maksem are the main landmarks of the night: a sort of storytelling with illumination. As an additional architectural feature for the square, the promenade and the tower have a subtle yet bold lighting design to link the history with the future. The precious marble of the embellished carpet inserts are gently backlit to make the carpet shine at night, recalling the unique colors of sunset in Istanbul. Existing lighting would be replaced by designs sympathetic to the characteristics of the area. While safety and security for the user is paramount, a lighting control system is proposed to optimize energy use, creating energy savings and eliminating light pollution. Instead of using standardized luminaires for such a special area, the project proposes customdesigned light poles.
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