Project 2

An extension to the existing Atatürk Library on the edge of Taksim Square — a project that reads the square through its breaking points and replies with a modular mass.

Taksim Square has remained a landmark from past to present through its geographical character, urban texture, socio-cultural structure, and socio-economic roles. This square, which is physically adjacent to the project site, played an influential role in the design process. The analysis section of the project focuses on two main questions regarding the square. The first question is: Does the square have a boundary? In other words, can the influence of the square be considered limited to the structures and/or areas surrounding it? The second question is: Is the square a political representation tool shaped by the cycle of destruction, reconstruction, and new additions of the structures that have characterized it throughout history? Within the framework of these questions, the analysis section examines how the areas and structures surrounding Taksim have historically transformed through various turning points. The structure formed by these turning points is then expressed through a collage, based on the conditions under which certain visuals come together. In the final product, Taksim Square is approached holistically. The project site is considered as one of the design decisions taken at the scale of the square. The project takes its name from the street adjacent to the site (Kütüphane Çıkmazı — Impasse Library). In this context, the project is conceived as an extension of the existing library. The massing design references the characteristic features of the existing structure in a way that relates to the idea of modularity.