01 Studio Akbar
Maximum City.
Istanbul. Beyoglu district in transition.
Studio Master: Prof. Dr. Omar Akbar
Beyoglu is one of the oldest districts in Istanbul. The centre of the district is Taksim Square und Gezi Park. In recent decades, the area turned more and more to a
shopping and tourist centre. Currently part of the historic quarter is demolished for
luxury buildings and apartments. The results of these developments are that the
present inhabitants (most low income) are forced to leave the area. A radical social
and cultural gentrification is taking place. Further more, it is planned to convert the
public Gezi Park to an oversized mall. The malls architecture will be a kind of eclectic
statement, including different historic styles and ornaments.
S
As a result the planned and implemented projects will change the urban and architectural fabric of Beyoglu in a dramatic way. Because of private, partly public and
international ownership and interests th