Program: Urban design, Berlage research
Location: Istanbul, Turkey
Period: 2013
TAKSIM SQUARE
This project observes Istanbul’s metropolisation processby focusing upon a single fragment of it: TaksimSquare, major hub for tourism, leisure and mobility.Its space isinformal andfleeting, surrounded by a heterogeneousfabric of diverse programs: travel agencies, hotels,restaurants, fast-food chains. Yet, it is an epicentral,iconic urban space, with rich and complex historicaland political layers.
The proposal aims toreveal the access of Taksim as an urban square fordifferent gathering by discovering the potential of theundefined space. A colonnade structure as a newmediator is introduced at the in-between spaceto activate the border area of different voids within thesquare and manipulate the relationship between them.Along the colonnade, the existing program and trafficsystem within Taksimare integrated. Different connections and attractions invitepublic’s movement and gathering.
Taksim isin the end a square.
