Alternative Views on Okmeydanı

Beyoğlu Belediyesi is working on urban transformation at Okmeydanı. They described the need of 100.000 residents as “Champs-élysées”! As the project degraded the historical neighbourhood to an empty area, it faced fundamental objections. In order to “resolve issues with deed” the concept of entitlement have been blurred with a process that did not allow dialogue and participation. Right holders developed refusal and resistance strategies based on their legal rights and have taken legal action. The process is not over yet, however, the dead ends of the projects have been legally put on table for discussion at each stage. Although the result of the process is still ambiguous, regeneration of Okmeydanı is still being marketed as "Turkey's prestigious real estate project" in environments like MIPIM.

Students of Bilgi university Architectural Design Masters Studio and Munich University Applied Sciences Urban Design Masters Studio have started thinking about parameters of an alternative urban transformation: at a place with such a central and strategical location and a large number of residents like Okmeydanı, what kind of a result would be obtained from an approach that goes off of the people’s needs?

Created by the owners and tenants in the area and reflecting on their needs and wants, Okmeydanı Environmental Protection and Beautification Association’s data and suggestions combined with the students’ independent observation in the field formed the main input in studio works. This method is a first step of a design and planning project with active participation.