Süleymaniye 535 Block Concept Project

 

A large portion of the Süleymaniye Urban Renewal Area, whose historical significance and symbolic value have been certified by national and international cultural institutions, is today a ruin that starkly contrasts with its historical narratives. The urban fabric on the slope facing the Golden Horn, aside from the monumental buildings of the complex, has almost completely disappeared. Once a vibrant area within Istanbul’s historic city center, this region gradually deteriorated, became worn out, and lost its historical identity by the late 20th century, and in the 21st century, it became a dilapidated area. Through this project, a proposal has been made for the block defined as “Parcel 535” within the Süleymaniye Urban Renewal Area, which is bordered by Vefa Street, Sarı Beyazıt Street, Vefa Tomb Street, and Azep Askeri Street. This block, which houses the Ebul Vefa Mosque, after which the neighborhood is named, has been one of the cultural centers of the district for a long time.


The main proposals are as follows:
– Vefa Street and Kirazlımescid Street, which define the two southern entrances of the area, are of critical importance. Strengthening these two axes, ensuring continuity at the ground level, and giving special attention to intersection points will enable a phased roadmap for the revitalization of the entire area.
– To ensure the functional diversity of the area, ground-level use should be increased by introducing small-scale commercial units that will attract businesses and entrepreneurs to the area.
– Considering the nearby Istanbul University and other educational institutions, it is crucial to propose small housing units rather than large ones.
– Vefa Street has the potential to become a thematic cultural route that connects the Şehzade Complex with the Süleymaniye Complex, passing by significant cultural monuments of Istanbul such as the Ebulvefa Complex and Atıf Efendi Library, as well as unique commercial venues like Vefa Bozacısı. The revitalization of Vefa Street should be targeted with this holistic perspective in mind.
– Kirazlımescid Street is a significant axis that opens towards the Golden Horn, where the Bozdoğan Aqueduct forms a natural gateway. The clarity of this unique perspective has been enhanced due to the demolition of surrounding buildings, and the street’s role as the gateway to the area should be reinforced.
– In the medium and long term, active pedestrian routes that will connect the area with Zeyrek and the Golden Horn shoreline should be proposed. The transformation of the Istanbul Manifatura Center (İMÇ) offers appealing potentials to achieve this. This complex, one of the significant works in Turkey’s modern architectural history, has terraces that follow the topography, offering many opportunities to overcome vehicular roads and create attractive routes in the third dimension. This transformation, which will also contribute to solving the existing problems of the İMÇ, can ensure strong connections between the Golden Horn, which is increasingly becoming a cultural and recreational basin, and both the Zeyrek and Süleymaniye Renewal Areas.
– Another significant feature of Parcel 535 is the walls surrounding the buildings in different textures. The high walls, which differ in texture and belong to different historical periods, stand out as the main architectural element defining the boundaries of private spaces. The function of these walls in defining boundaries and determining the level of permeability through openings is important. The Süleymaniye area offers rich examples of such uses of walls.

Info

 

Location: Fatih, İstanbul, Türkiye

Client: Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality

Partner Office: Suveydan Architectural Consultancy (SMD)

Team: Y. Burak Dolu, Şerif Süveydan, Koray Bayraktutan

Project Date: 2023

Indoor Area (m²): 4421

Land Area (m²): 4955

Type: Adaptive Re-Use, Cultural, Mixed Use, Educational, Hospitality

Program: Public Space, Public Building, Social Center, School, Mosque, Tomb and Monument, Detached House, Housing Complex, Guesthouse, Library, Archive, Commerce

Scope: Conceptual Design

 

 

 

 

Galery

Project Location

KOOP Architects

 

Şahkulu Mahallesi,
Kumbaracı Yokuşu, No:57, D:5,

Beyoğlu / İstanbul / Türkiye