İstanbul City Wall Visitor Center
Small touches were designed with the aim of consolidating and protecting the Istanbul Land Walls, which were included in the UNESCO World Heritage Sites list in 1985, to include them in urban life and to transfer them to future generations. In this project, which includes the BelgradkapiYedikulekapi (Bastion 15-19) and Silivrikapi Hypoge and its surroundings, the main wall, front wall, ditch and gates and their interrelationships were tried to be provided with elements designed in light, sustainable, transparent and demountable forms.
The walls have been subjected to various natural and human destructions. In order to stop this destruction and repair it with minimum intervention, projects that have been prepared for many years and studies are carried out under the consultancy of competent academicians. One of our contribution to these was our proposal to complete the ruined parts of the twin stairs between the T19-T18 bastions on the inner walls with wooden material, according to the restitution data.
Projects were studied for 2 different areas:
Belgradkapi-Yedikulekapi Landscaping and Visitor Center and Silivrikapi Hypogee Landscaping and Visitor Center.
The circulation starts with a visitor center accessed through the city wall. This place is also a place where information and security are located, where the visit begins. A cafe with outdoor seating areas and a temporary exhibition are accessed between the inner and outer walls. The visitor can then reach the part where the visitor can watch the remains of the T17 bastion from the free walking path. From this area, visitor can access the permanent exhibition between the moat and the outer wall. This area is then connected to the entrance-consultation unit outside the walls. Wood was used structurally in the design.
There are T15, T16, T17, T18 and T19 bastions in the area between Belgradkapi and Yedikulekapi. This area includes open, semi-open and closed spaces as well as open visiting walkways and visitor centers.
In the design in this area, the transition to the inner and outer walls is provided with the help of steps, starting from the inner wall, which has a lower height due to the fact that it is partially
collapsed, between the T19-T18 bastions. These steps also provide access to the twitching of the inner walls.
An area that can be used for concerts, invitations, cinema screenings, exhibitions, theater and performance arts has been designed for the hypoje courtyard, which is entered from Silivrikapı.
Access to the hypoje courtyard is provided from this area. The courtyard was designed as a semiopen space where many activities can be done and can provide maximum comfort in different climatic conditions. The retractable fabric cover connected to the wooden structure provides protection against different climatic conditions. It is possible to reach the level where the casemates are located from the courtyard with wooden steps. By enlarging the twitch area with a wooden platform, it was possible to travel more comfortably and to make a railing without interfering with the original flooring. 2 storage and service boxes were designed in the courtyard. In addition, a detachable stage was positioned in the area.
In the area between the inner and outer doors of Silivrikapı, a wooden entrance, information desk and a cafe were designed according to the design principle of T15-T19 area. Wood has been preferred because it is both ecological and removable-portable. A load-bearing system was constructed with 4 wooden posts and beams passing through it. Translucent polycarbonate sheets and tensile steel mesh were used as dividing elements in the design. Black water plywood was also used indoors with some air conditioning and safety requirements. As display
elements, exhibition boards coming out of the beams and fabric display elements hanging from the beams were designed.
Info
Location: Fatih, İstanbul, Türkiye
Client: İstanbul Metropolitan Municipality
Team: Y. Burak Dolu, Koray Bayraktutan, Saleh Malek, Gamze Yeşildağ
Project Date: 2021
Indoor Area (m²): 177
Land Area (m²): 2250
Type: Architecture, Landscape, Re-use
Program: Visitor Center, Cultural Center
Scope: Concept Project
Galery
Project Location
KOOP Architects
Şahkulu Mahallesi,
Kumbaracı Yokuşu, No:57, D:5,
Beyoğlu / İstanbul / Türkiye