Izmir, Turkey
Turkey is currently undergoing a period of social unrest because Turkish citizens, especially young graduates, feel that their government neglects them of basic rights such as freedom of speech, a free economy, and public green spaces. This project explores issues of social inequity and to resolve these issues by exploring public ownership of spaces and buildings through design.
The site is on a rocky and unbuildable hill near the coast. The view to the coast is currently being blocked by a massive 8 story concrete apartment building. But physical structures are not the only barrier that citizens of Izmir, Turkey face. They also face social, economic, accessibility, education and ethnic barriers on a daily basis. The challenge imposed is how to physically build around these borders to in turn bridge the invisible social borders as well.
This proposal includes a public park raised to the level of the 8 foot waterfront apartments, topped with a series of viewing towers and a pier with a series of platforms.
The redeveloped pier provides meeting spaces and creates intimate places where people can begin to rebuild a relationship with the waterfront that they are prevented from using today.
The towers make a visual connection between users and waterfront that so many people are neglected of. They create an icon in the skyline and break the concrete monotony.
The final proposal and form insists that to reform a city and society, it must simply reflect on itself. The pier’s plan is a reflection across the income axis of the city. The final form breaks every border explored in the beginning phases of the project, creating an icon in and a reflection of the skyline.
“Reflections are a war of breaking things up, creating coherence.” - Robin Evans
2015
Clemson University