VitrA Çağdaş Mimarlık Dizisi - Arkitera

Considering the spatial identity and cultural heritage of Eyüp and its surroundings, the
major design objective of this project was to incorporate characteristics that achieve
cultural continuity while avoiding the sense of artificiality that can be caused by an
additive approach. In this respect, the functional program was separated into four
different spatial components that represent four different periods: “the Green Courtyard”,
“the Riwaq Wall”, “the Green Shed” and “the Flower”. The combination of these
different components pays tribute to the cultural and spatial heritage of Eyüp. Meant
to be perceived and experienced as additions from various periods, these four different
components were designed to appear as if theyhad lost some features over time. This
approach provides an additional loosening and moderation in the spatial structure.
✎
The local authorities in Istanbul aimed to improve the alluvium infill zones around
Alibeyköy Stream in Eyüp until it flows into Haliç Bay, developing a series of social and
sports facilities on the green corridor obtained by this improvement. The Metropolitan
Municipality of Istanbul has commissioned the design of the former plantation area on
this green corridor to include social spaces that respond to the needs of the region.
Similar to the urban and social variety of Eyüp, four different functional areas have been
brought together along a zigzag pedestrian path that diagonally traverses the park area.
Besides the varying programs, views, colors and textures that they present, these four
areas also provide a rich experience with transitions from the calmness to dynamism,
from silence to noise, from soft ground to paved ground and many others. Rather than
using a constant design language and rigidly defined functions, this idea of transition
has also been influential in the design process through concepts such as fragmentation,
dissolution of borders and intertwining that allow the coexistence of different spatialities
and territories. Rather than a rigid geometrical formation, a design approach in
which different fields and programs are intertwined and fragmented architectural and
structural components are distributed over the site has been chosen. Different from
the modernist approach in the conventional environmental and landscape projects designed
as spaces with rigid borders the park has been organized with L-formed pieces
of walls that have a strong spatiality and components that have indefinite territories,
such as the steel tree structure. Besides the plurality of the design techniques that it
exhibits, Green Courtyard (Eyüp Ottoman Park) stands out as a manifesto among the
examples of environmental design in Turkey with its sense-based and intuitive design
approach.
Initiated with the title “Eyüp Park Environmental Design-The Green Courtyard”, the project
significantly differs from the formalist environmental design approach commonly
observed in contemporary park designs. With its extraordinary design approach that
generates the sensory experiences of the guests and intuition, and the contemporary
language used to construct this approach, Eyüp Ottoman Park can be considered one
of the most striking urban and environmental design projects recently carried out in
Turkey.
312
1
2
3