106_S3OG16BJ

Page 1

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.


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.