ISTANBUL | Taksim Square Reorganization and Reconstruction of Topçu Kışlası | Pro

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.

I hope this isn't how it turns out.

erbse said:

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!

Click to expand...

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.

Project blocks walking ways except İstiklâl.

_Dilettante said:

I hope this isn't how it turns out.

Click to expand...

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?

...



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İstanbul’daki başkonsoloslarla kahvaltıda buluşan Başkan Kadir Topbaş, Taksim, Beşiktaş, Aksaray ve Beyazıt meydanlarını çevreye zarar vermeden yenileyeceklerini belirterek, “Taksim Meydanı’nda Tarlabaşı’ndan Osmanbey’e dönen ve trafiğin en yoğun olduğu caddenin yeraltına alınması projesini Koruma Kurulu onayladı, ihalesini de yaptık. Burayı bir yıla varmadan ve insanları rahatsız etmeden bitireceğiz” dedi.

http://www.ibb.gov.tr/tr-TR/Pages/Haber.aspx?NewsID=20671

Mayor says only Tarlabaşı Boulevard and Cumhuriyet Avenue will effect the project for now.