TAKSIM URBAN DESIGN COMPETITION
Dissolving Taksim
Since the late Ottoman period and the foundation of the Republic, Taksim has always been central to the historical, socio-political, and cultural narrative of Istanbul. On one hand, this centrality created a space of multiplicity and heterogeneity through trade and cultural activities. On the other hand, it brought a huge amount of pressure which eventually turned the square into a battleground of ideologies, political statements, protests, and demonstrations. It is a place that is and will continue to be in flux. In line with this reality, our approach suggests moving away from traditional, closed, and static structures, into open and dynamic arrangements.
S3OG16BJ
battleground of ideologies
activity nodes
visual relationships
taksim beyond the square urban experiences
ecological infrastructure TRANSIT
CIVIC & COMMERCE
Mecidiyeköy
Bomonti
TRANSIT
Osmanbey
COMMERCE
Nişantaşı CIVIC & COMMERCE
Teşvikiye
CIVIC
Kurtuluş
Maçka CULTURE & MILITARE
Harbiye
distributed configuration
Harbiye
EDUCATION
Maçka HOTELS
CULTURE & EDUCATION
Talimhane
Dolapdere
resilience to future indeterminacy
CIVIC
CIVIC
EDUCATION & CIVIC
Taşkışla
Taksim is the pulse of Istanbul. It should make all people who use the public space feel welcome, respected, safe, and accommodated—regardless of who they are, where they come from, their abilities, how old they are, or how they use a public space.
Kabataş
injecting nature
R DA
Taksim Square is geographically and historically at the heart of the city, but it has been seen and perceived as a construction site in recent years. As a result of political decisions, the square has lost its diverse and multicultural identity within the fabric of Istanbul. Our goal is to redefine the relationship between the square, the park and the surrounding city and make it a destination again for Istanbul residents.
Can Taksim act as a place for intercultural dialogue and exchange?
TRANSIT
KADIKÖY
Can Taksim reclaim its role in Istanbul’s civic life?
EDUCATION & CIVIC
Gümüşsuyu
KÜ ÜS
Revitalize Urban Welcome All Character
Istiklal
Beşiktaş
ÜSKÜ
DAR
CIVIC
Cihangir
TRANSIT & COMMERCE
Şişhane CULTURE & EDUCATION
TRANSIT & CULTURE
Tophane
Haliç
Karaköy
Balat
TRANSIT & COMMERCE EDUCATION & CIVIC
mobility
TRANSIT & CIVIC
CIVIC
enhanced connectivity
KÖY KADI
Taksim is where Istanbul comes together; Taksim is where Istanbul dissolves.
We have set six ambitions in the beginning of the project to guide us throughout the design process. Taksim’s continuity lies in its persistent use as a public space. Our goal is to renew this character by tackling mobility issues, ecological infrastructure, and programmatic questions. In this process, we embrace the complexity of its past and reveal opportunities for engagement. The new Taksim Square reflects on contemporary values of resilience, inclusiveness and sustainability in a simple yet strategic series of spaces, ready to welcome everyone.
CIVIC
Galatasaray
CULTURE
Hasköy
multi-scalar
TRANSIT & CIVIC
Taksim
CIVIC & COMMERCE
inclusiveness
Ortaköy
Akaretler
COMMERCE & CIVIC
Tarlabaşı
CIVIC
COMMERCE
Eminönü
KA
DIK ÖY
Cibali
social and ecological network
Reintroduce Nature
Maximize Accessibility
Reveal Invisible Layers
Increase Resilience
Can Taksim Square strengthen and enhance the ecosystem of the city?
Can Taksim Square become a node in a well-connected network on various levels?
Can we future-proof Taksim against the risks of natural catastrophes?
Taksim has become a symbol for aggressive redevelopment of the city. We want to explore the relationship between the park and the square and the landscape at large , creating a celebration of sustainability within a new aesthetic that not only changes the current perception of Taksim but also functions as an urban oasis. In order to create an environment that people want to spend time in and escape into, we need to establish and balance a dialogue between urban needs and much needed natural processes and ecosystem services.
Despite the fact that private vehicles dominated the past century, the future lies in alternative modes of public transport: bicycle, shared bicycles, subway, buses and tram. An important function of Taksim Square is its ability to link these various modes of transport. We imagine Taksim could become a place where cyclists and pedestrians feel both prioritized and welcome.
Can Taksim create opportunities for individuals to reconnect with the past and get a new understanding of the space and the society they live in? Taksim has always been a highly charged space where governments and administrations scrambled to claim their power or to erase the traces of predecessors. While the monuments and buildings are constructed to be the focus of our attention, they inevitably become invisible in the public’s eye.
We have recently experienced how the world as we know can change within a few weeks. We must prepare Taksim for climate change, expected Istanbul earthquake, and stormwater flooding with tools responding to the need for resilient design in urban and public space. With its strategic location and open space capacity, Taksim will have to be resilient and adaptable to different uses in case of an emergency.