Taksim Square Reorganization and Reconstruction of Topçu Kışlası
Istanbul, Turkey

Click here for the video! (http://video.milliyet.com.tr/Iste-yeni-Taksim-Meydani_1_50785.htm?auto=1)

Taksim Square (Turkish: Taksim Meydanı) situated in the European part of Istanbul, Turkey, is a major shopping, tourist and leisure district famed for its restaurants, shops and hotels. It is considered the heart of modern Istanbul, and is the location of the Cumhuriyet Anıtı (Republic Monument), which was built in 1928 and commemorates the formation of the Turkish Republic.


http://www.hayal-et.org/images/taksim-cafe.jpg

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http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3067/5785905361_2d60f056ac_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/sunumer/5785905361/)
cam5 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/sunumer/5785905361/) von sunumer (http://www.flickr.com/people/sunumer/) auf Flickr

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5184/5785890913_56f504d923_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/sunumer/5785890913/)
alt1 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/sunumer/5785890913/) von sunumer (http://www.flickr.com/people/sunumer/) auf Flickr

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5106/5785936269_30145ba0d7_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/sunumer/5785936269/)
taksim_2 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/sunumer/5785936269/) von sunumer (http://www.flickr.com/people/sunumer/) auf Flickr

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5146/5785936459_1ba5f48362_o.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/sunumer/5785936459/)
taksim_ALT1 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/sunumer/5785936459/) von sunumer (http://www.flickr.com/people/sunumer/) auf Flickr


History

Taksim means "division" or "distribution". The Taksim square was originally the point where the main water lines from the north of Istanbul were collected and branched off to other parts of the city (hence the name). This use for the area was established by Sultan Mahmud I. The square takes its name from the stone reservoir which is located in this area. Additionally, the word "Taksim" can refer to a special improvisational musical form in Turkish classical music that is guided by the Makam system. There also used to be a military site built in the 19th century but it was demolished in the early 1940s.

Topçu Kışlası before the demolition:

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Topçu Kışlası during the demolition:

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Topçu Kışlası after the demolition:

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Taksim Square today

Taksim is a main transportation hub and a popular destination for both tourists and the native population of Istanbul. İstiklal Caddesi (Independence Avenue), a long pedestrian shopping street, ends at this square, and a nostalgic tram runs from the square along the avenue, ending near the Tünel (1875) which is the world's second-oldest subway line after London's Underground (1863). Surrounding Taksim Square are numerous travel agencies, hotels, restaurants, pubs, and international fast food chains such as Pizza Hut, McDonald's and Burger King. It is also home to some of Istanbul's grandest hotels including the InterContinental, the Ritz-Carlton and The Marmara Hotel.

Taksim is also a favourite location for public events such as parades, New Year celebrations or other social gatherings.

Atatürk Cultural Center (in Turkish: Atatürk Kültür Merkezi), a multi-purpose cultural center and opera house, is also located in Taksim Square.

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ths most elegant city in the MENA !!

Fantastic project, congratulations Istanbul :applause:


I'm especially fond of the reconstruction. Glad to see an Eurasian landmark coming back.

What was the Topçu Kışlası (what does that mean in English?) actually used for? And what's its future use after rebuilding it?
Do they have to tear down something for it? You can't really tell from the aerial shots above.

Thank you!

The park between the 2 highrises is the old and new location of the building.
http://i35.tinypic.com/24xm87t.jpg



Construction date: 1780
Commissioned by: III. Selim
Destruction date: 1940
Cause of destruction: construction of a park
Location: Taksim

Artillery Barracks that was built in the early 19th century in the period of Selim III affected the physical appearance of Beyoğlu and Taksim dramatically. Both its presence and absence shaped the specific character of the region. Taksim Artillery Baracks was the equivalent of the Selimiye Barracks on the European side, and had considerable long wings and a quite wide courtyard. Archive documents provide important information about restorations and spaces in the barracks. The entrance façade which is well known from pictures and could be described as a sort of “oriental flavored cake architecture” was formed during such a restoration; it reminds the architecture of resort buildings, factories or service buildings in Europe.

Beside military purposes, the Artillery Barracks was used for a variety of other activities, such as acrobatic shows, horse races or accommodation of Greek pilgrims. After its function as a military base has ended, new functions, such as a city museum or an exhibition center were suggested. It was sold to Ottoman National Company for Industry and Trade in 1913 after which it hosted many public events and its courtyard was used as a football stadium for many years. It was partially abandoned during the First World War and during the Invasion Years, it was reserved for Senegalese soldiers under French occupation forces.

After several modifications, it was finally decided to be destroyed according to the proposals of Henri Prost, a French city planner. According to his plans, after the demolition of the Barracks, residential and social buildings would be constructed on the empty area, and a big green park would stretch from there to Harbiye. During İsmet İnönü’s presidential period the area would also be used as a ceremonial ground with the name “İnönü Esplanade”to be integrated with Taksim Square. In front of the esplanade there would be a statue of İnönü and the Taksim Republican Monument would be moved to that point to maintain a unity in design.

However, only a few of these arrangements could be achieved after the gradual destruction of the Barracks. Taksim Square already took the place of stables in an early stage and Talimhane (the former military exercise ground) changed to be a modern residential area, and the Barracks was gone forever.

http://www.hayal-et.org/images/4-.jpg

I hope this isn't how it turns out.

Fantastic project, congratulations Istanbul :applause:


I'm especially fond of the reconstruction. Glad to see an Eurasian landmark coming back.

What was the Topçu Kışlası (what does that mean in English?) actually used for? And what's its future use after rebuilding it?
Do they have to tear down something for it? You can't really tell from the aerial shots above.

Thank you!

Kışla means army base. There'll be cafés, galleries and shops in the building, and a small garden.

They won't tear down anything as far as I'm aware.

@erbse:

Topcu Kislasi heißt Kanonier(s) -Kaserne

Project blocks walking ways except İstiklâl.

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http://galeri3.arkitera.com/var/albums/Haber/2012/01/17/Yayala%C5%9Ft%C4%B1r%C4%B1lamayan-Taksim/3.jpg



http://galeri3.arkitera.com/var/albums/Haber/2012/01/17/Yayala%C5%9Ft%C4%B1r%C4%B1lamayan-Taksim/5.jpg

if you wish you can sign for Taksim: http://www.taksimplatformu.org/english.php

http://www.hayal-et.org/images/4-.jpg

I hope this isn't how it turns out.

I couldn't agree more. This image shows everything tasteless that can be done with a building. Rebuilding something at extreme costs only to put tacky ads and those horrible ac fans on the elevations... seriously?

Great project! I really like the idea or putting the busier streets underground!

http://haber.sol.org.tr/sites/default/files/imagecache/buyuk-haber/images/ozel/201202/agaclar.jpg


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edit;/
commented on the worng thread

I don't really know what to make of this project yet...the renders are so amateurish that it's quite difficult to tell how it will look when it's complete.

if they built it wouldn't be different from a shopping centre.

I really support this project! Hope they will start soon with the construction..
As per the primeminister there won't be any shopping mall inside the building. But we all know how politicans are, right? Everthing else than malls should be just OK.