bakırköy cumhuriyet (özgürlük) square*

Defragment + Re-scale

Bakırköy Cumhuriyet Square is one of the major urban nodes of İstanbul, with problems amassed over the years. The new design of the square determines a fragmented spatialization with overly-dense nodes in the square and its surroundings, as the major design problem to be overcome.

While the various urban functions exist together with a fragmentary character, the existing square is a space which is beyond human-scale and usually empty. On the other hand, its walls on the border pressures the surrounding urban circulation, and creates density. Therefore the re-scaling the square along with the defragmenting the surrounding functions become the basic focus of the new design. These focus includes the functioning of the underground market, the Marmaray Station, the subway station and the bus stations in tandem, around a pedestrian-priority approch.

The tension around the old district governorate building intended to be reduced by breaking it off from the General Şükrü Kanatlı Street, thus a large pedestrian area is acquired. The bus stops are moved to this area to reduce the density around the square. Together with the subway stations the transportation is integrated to the recreational area organized in this new pedestrian zone.

The spatial disconnection between the Fahri Korutürk Street and the main square proposed to be reduced by the enlargement of the bridge above the railroad. The level of this bridge organizes a low-level redbud garden which interrupts the immensity of the existing square. By this way the square is intended to be re-scaled. The monument is re-positioned according to the re-scaling and regarded as an element that strengthens the perception of the square.

The encouaregement of cycling as a transport mode is another major concern of the project. In addition to the bicycle roads organized in the project area a principal design scheme which organizes cycling routes adjacent ro railroad lines is suggested as a potential layout which may be applied throughout İstanbul railroad network.

The spatial communication between the underground market and the Fahri Korutürk Street is strengthened by a slit through the end of the street. The entering galeries organized as an element of sub-squares arranged around the landmarks on Fahri Korutürk Street.

*In collaboration with Ilgın Şenses