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TAKSIM URBAN DESIGN COMPETITION

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ANALYSIS

TAKSIM ?

PHYSICAL SPACE OR AN IDEA?

INITIALLY ASSOCIATED TIGHTLY TO THE 1928 REBUBLIC MONUMENT TAKSIM HAS GROWN THROUGH THE YEARS AND NUMEROUS URBAN INTERVENTIONS TO BECOME A SPACE OF ILL-DEFINED PHYSICAL BOUNDARIES. IN A PARADOXICAL MANNER THE LACK OF BOUNDARIES IS WHAT MAKES TODAY THE IDEA OF TAKSIM AS A SYNONYM FOR EQUALITY, SECULARISM AND DEMOCRACY MORE VIBRANT THAN EVER. TAKSIM URBAN DESIGN COMPETITION

AZ135924 THE NEED TO STITCH DIFFERENT PARTS TOGETHER The Competition Area comes together as an amagalma of successive urban interventions, following political and social aspirations of various parties in the course of

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ECO BR IDG E

the years.

As the city grows in size, thus Taksim Square’s presence and symbolic heritage grow in importance. Through the latest urban developments and their counteractions, from 2013 up to this day a new expanded terrain has emerged where the century-long symbolic and ideological struggle continues to take place.

Shifting away from the sole traditional point of reference that has for decades been the Republic’s Monument, the new urban conglomeration of the expanded Taksim Square area and the Gezi Park have now assumed an equally important and comple-

L A P CI

I N U M RK PA

mentary role.

ATATU RK LIBRA RY

The rather fragmented current urban condition needs to be stitched together in a way that allows people and ideas to flow and coexist harmoniously.

GEZI PARK

OS

MAKS

,M

RE M PU TAKSIM ON B UM LIC EN T

EM

E U Q

AKM

to be stitched here

AGHIA TRIADA

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TAKSIM SQUARE ANALYSIS

TAHRIR SQUARE EGYPT

With an estimated size of 3.65 Ha, Taksim

On the opposite side of the spectrum lie

Square, in its current form, is among the

traditional urban plazas, like the ones

largest public open spaces in the world.

typically found in Paris, London, Madrid

It is an urban space defined by it sur-

and other major European capitals.

roundings, rather than designed in the first place. Its shape and function are

Our proposal understands that in this

closer to that of Alexanderplatz in Ber-

open, rather chaotic, and open-end-

lin and to some extent to Tahrir Square

ed constant transfprmation lies Taksim

in Egypt, two equally extremely vibrant

Square’s both strenth and weakness.

urban clusters, and familiar with social uprisings and demonstrations.

ALEXANDERPLATZ BERLIN

06 Taskim Square is well defined by the road network

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PLACE DE LA CONCORDE PARIS

03 01 08 02 TAKSIM SQUARE

TAKSIM SQUARE

2010

INSTANBUL

Taskim Square’s clear boundary is lost. The new

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06

Buildings that dominate its

PIAZZA SAN PETRO ROME

skyline impose a new condition for the ground plane

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07

05

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03

PIAZZA SAN MARCO

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VENICE

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TAKSIM SQUARE 2020

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MAIN DESIGN CONCEPT

TAKSIM SQ.

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GEZI PARK

TOGETHER FORM A NEW URBAN CLUSTER THAT INTRODUCES AN URBAN SCALE APPROPRIATE TO THE SCALE OF TODAY’S ISTANBUL. THE IMPORTANCE OF TAKSIM AS A BEACON FOR DEMOCRACY AND LIBERAL RIGHTS IS NOW TRANSCRIBED TO THE EXPANDED TERRITORY. THE PROPOSED DESIGN EMBRACES A SOCIETY IN FLUX AND ACCOMODATES THE CONSTANT FLOW OF PEOPLE AND IDEAS.

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IN OUR PROPOSAL WE IDENTIFY TWO MAJOR AXIS OF INTERVENTION. ONE IS THE SOUTH-NORTH

DESIGN PROPOSAL CONCEPT

AXIS DEFINED ESSENTIALLY BY THE HISTORIC GEZI PARK STAIRS WHICH ARE PRESERVED AND THE GENERAL SETUP OF THE GEZI PARK. IT IS THE AXIS THAT, STARTING FROM TAKSIM SQUARE, FLOWS THROUGH GEZI PARK AND ENDS UP THROUGH THE ECOLOGICAL BRIDGE TO CONNECT BEYOGLU TO THE GREEN AREAS OF MACKA.

THE OTHER IS A NEW AXIS THAT RUNS DIAGONALLY TO THE FIRST ESSENTIALLY BRINGING THE ATATURK LIBRARY IN A MORE IMMEDIATE RELATIONSHIP TO TAKSIM SQUARE. THE INTERSECTION OF THE TWO AXIS ALLOWS GEZI PARK TO ASSUME A NEW DISTINCT CHARACTER

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ALONG ITS TWO BOUNDARIES.

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EXISTING TREES ARE OF CRITICAL IMPORTANCE TO ANY DESIGN DECISION TO BE MADE. OUR OBLIGATION IS THE

DESIGN PROPOSAL CONCEPT

PRESERVATION OF THE MAXIMUM EXISTING VEGETATION POSSIBLE AND ESPECIALLY THE PRESERVATION OF THE LARGEST TREES OF THE PARK MARKED IN THE DIAGRAM BELOW.

ALONG THE HIGHLIGHTED ZONE BOTH IN GEZI PARK AND THE MUNICIPAL PARK ELEVATIONS NEED THEREFORE TO REMAIN AT THE CURRENT LEVELS. THE LOWER PART OF GEZI PARK IN CONTRAST CAN BE REDESIGNED WITH THE MAJORITY OF ITS TREES - SMALL IN SIZE - POTENTIALLY

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TRANSFERABLE TO OTHER PARTS OF THE PARK.

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HISTORICAL TRACES OF THE INITIAL GEZI PARK DESIGN WILL BE MARKED AND PRESERVED. THOSE INCLUDE, AT

DESIGN PROPOSAL CONCEPT

FIRST NOTICE, THE HISTORIC GEZI STAIRS WITH PART OF THE ACCOMPANYING RAMP AND REMAINING SOUTH EAST WALL. ON THE NORTHERN BOUNDARY, THE REMNANTS OF THE OUTER PARK BOUNDARY WITH ITS BALUSTRADES WILL ACCORDINGLY BE MAINTAINED AND PRESERVED.

OUR DESIGN PROPOSAL INCORPORATES THESE FRAGMENTS OF HISTORY IN A CAREFUL MANNER, ASSIGNING THEM THEIR PRIMARY FUNCTION AND NOT

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TREATING THEM AS SCENOGRAPHY.

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THE CORE DESIRE OF THE DESIGN PROPOSAL IS TO AUGMENT THE GENERAL FEELING THAT TAKSIM SQUARE

DESIGN PROPOSAL CONCEPT

HAS BEEN - AND WILL ALWAYS BE - A PLACE FOR EVERYONE AND EVERYTHING. THE STRONG HERITAGE OF THE 2013 GEZI PROTESTS IS A CONSTANT REMINDER THAT EVENTUALLY NO POTITICAL POWER CAN OVERCOME THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE. IT IS FOR THESE PEOPLE, FOR ALL PEOPLE, THAT WE ALL COLLECTIVELY SUBMIT OUR EFFORTS TO THIS COMPETITION.

RIGHT IN THE HEART OF THE COMPETITION AREA, IN THE ENTRANCE PLATEAU OF THE GEZI PARK, A SPACE FOR DEMOCRACY IS ENVISIONED : AN OPEN-AIR AMPHITHEATRE COMBINED WITH A SUBMERGED, COMMUNAL MULTIFUNCTION SPACE WHERE SEMINARS, DISCUSSIONS, EXHIBITIONS ETC. OF ALL SORTS CAN TAKE

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PLACE.

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THE LATEST ADDITION OF THE TAKSIM MOSQUE TO THE ALREADY CONTESTED SKYLINE OF TAKSIM SQUARE

DESIGN PROPOSAL CONCEPT

CREATES A FURTHER CONGESTION OF SYMBOLIC REFLECTIONS ON THE GROUND. THE ONCE DOMINANT MONUMENT OF THE NEWLY FOUNDED REPUBLIC IS NOW OVERSHADOWED BY AN OUT OF PROPORTION EDIFICE OF ISLAMIC FONDAMENTALISM. ON THE OTHER END OF THE SQUARE LIES THE RESURRECETED YET ALSO PHARAONIC IN SCOPE AND PROPORTIONS ATATURK CULTURAL CENTER. A LACK OF HUMAN SCALE IS TO BE EXPERIENCED ALSO ON THE GROUND.

IN AN EFFORT TO GIVE A CERTAIN DIRECTIONALITY TO THE FLOW OF PEOPLE IN AND AROUND THE SQUARE AND AT THE SAME TIME ADHERE ONCE AGAIN TO A HUMAN SCALE, A SYSTEM OF THREE PLATEAUS IS INTRODUCED. THE LOWER PLATEAU RECLAIMS AN AREA DEDICATED TO THE MONUMENT, WHILE A MIDDLE PLATEAU BRINGS THE LOWER PLATEAU AND THE PARK IN A MORE DIRECT

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RELATIONSHIP.

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DESIGN PROPOSAL DIAGRAMS

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INTRODUCING THE DIAGONAL AXIS

SPLITTING THE PARK FORMING THE MIDDLE PLATEAU

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DESIGNING THE OUTER BOUNDARY OF GEZI PARK DESIGNING THE AREA AROUND THE MONUMENT INTRODUCING LARGE CANOPIES

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01. Republic Monument 02. New Underground Exit

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03. Solar PV Canopy

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04. New Plaza dedicated to AKM 05. Urban Balcony over Park 06

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06. Middle Plateau with steps 07. Large Open-air Amphitheatre 06

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08. Gezi Park Open Lawn 09. Market over Large Canopies

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07 Area 10. Tourist Bus Parking

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05 11. National Park - Pavillion

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12. Ecological Bridge 03 03

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DESIGN PROPOSAL RENDERINGS

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Following up the Analysis and the main Concept Diagrams that showcase the Design Strategy of our Prososal, in this third and last section of the booklet we present the jury with a number of views, both from an aerial and a human-eye level .

The aim here is to portray various aspects and scenarios of the everyday use of the Square and the general ambience of the design rather than to suggest that certain elements of the proposal are finalized.

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TAKSIM SQUARE | RENDERINGS

01. VIEW OF PLAZA IN FRONT OF AKM 02. VIEW OF NEW TAKSIM PLATEAUS WITH STAIRS

DESIGN PROPOSAL RENDERINGS

03. VIEW OF THE NEW UNDERGROUND ENTRANCE TO THE MONUMENT

Large canopy

Sound Barrier

AKM Plaza

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Diagonal Axis Taksim Square

Intermediate Plateau

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Canopy Subway Entrance Republic Monument

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New Entrance to the Square

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GEZI AMPHITHEATRE | RENDERINGS

01. AERIAL VIEW OF THE ENTRANCE TO THE PARK 02. VIEW OF THE OPEN AIR AMPHITHEATRE

DESIGN PROPOSAL RENDERINGS

03. VIEW OF THE AMPHITHEATRE FROM THE CAFETERIA

Photovoltaic Canopy

Urban Balkony

Subway

Elevator

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Multi Purpose Hall Cafe

Outdoor Amphitheatre Event Space

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Cafe + Multi Purpose Hall Outdoor Space

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GEZI PARK | RENDERINGS

01. VIEW OF THE PARK’S WEST BOUNDARY 02. VIEW OF THE PARK’S ENTRANCE FROM THE ATATURK LIBRARY

DESIGN PROPOSAL RENDERINGS

03. VIEW OF THE PARK’S LARGE LINEAR WATER FEATURE

Existing Trees

Market

Elevated Pathway

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Existing Trees

Diagonal

Entrance from Ataturk Lib.

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Park / Hard Ground

New Trees

New Water Feature Park / Soft Ground

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AAZZ113365992244 15 15 SUSTAINABILITY CHART

PHASE B | ORGANIZATIONAL CHART

civil eng.

light. consult.

mech eng.

architects landscape arch. history expert

urban pl.

artist

agro consult.

1 Urban planner Object: Analysis and general design relationship of the area to the wider region of Istanbul

A team of 2 Architects Object: Urban design of the area including elements of

27.000m2 green area

bioclimatic design.

3.000m2 solar panels

1 Civil engineer

380 kw power production

1 Landscape Architect Object: Landscape design of Gezi Park and green areas generally.

Object: Necessary for checking feasibility of urban proposal.

1 Mechanical – Electrical engineer Object: Necessary in designing infrastructure’s systems, dealing with energy solar consumption systems, rain water storage and maintenance systems, outdoor lighting systems, etc

1.700m2 water surface RAIN water collection LED lights

1 Agronomist consultant Object: Necessary in choosing the proper kind of trees and planting system

1 History – Archaeology expert Object: Necessary to support social character of the area keeping history alive.

1 Lighting consultant Object: Necessary to create an impressive, friendly and secure space at night, highlighting its special interesting points.

material

1 Artist

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Object: Specification of Public Art Program

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