TAKSIM SQUARE
Beyoğlu/İstanbul︎ 2013 ︎Construction Area: 60.000 m2 ︎ Site: 60.000 m2 ︎ Urban Design ︎ Aykut Köksal, Hakan Deniz Özdemir, Hakan Tung, Nevzat Sayın, Rafet Utku




We undertook this project on Taksim Square and Gezi Park entirely on our own as a “mission” and without any soliciting after the highly debated and discussed Gezi movement. We can say that it’s a superposition project that evaluates all the works done on Taksim, Gezi and environs from 1806 to 2013. The project is based on the idea that the square, situated around the monument, is connected to Gezi Park by extending the latter towards the east and leveling it with the AKM entrance at its north and associating it with the monument at its south as an amphitheater in various levels. Located on the exact axis of the road running from Harbiye, the monument is almost on the axis of İstiklal Caddesi, which always has pedestrian circulation.
Creating a more well-defined square by rebuilding the surrounding buildings, the project not only strengthens the transition from Taksim to Harbiye by rebuilding the stores in the south of Gezi Park and revives the road leading up to the Military Museum, but also requires a reconsideration of Taksim Square for marches and demonstrations. Created by extending the plateau of Gezi Park eastwards, the elevation facing the square is transformed into an amphitheater, allowing people to watch the square and simultaneously providing ample additional space for the square itself.