The Park ve Bahçeler Müdürlüğü is located on the Asian side of the Bosphorous, set within a dense residential neighborhood. The 52 hectare park serves as an important cultural resource for the surrounding community. Inadequate maintenance and lack of program have left significant areas of the park underutilized, which has prompted the local municipality to request a master plan that will create a new vision for the park.
The proposed master plan builds on the existing strengths of the park to create a new and iconic space for nearby residents. Playing off the rich tradition of Istanbul that boldly combines an ancient civilization with a modern society, the Park ve Bahçeler Müdürlüğü features contemporary elements within a traditional park framework.
Three primary areas establish the foundation for a variety of programs that are linked by a comprehensive pedestrian network of promenades, paths, and trails. Large turf areas offer everyday passive and active play space while allowing room for large cultural festivals that celebrate the rich heritage and tradition of Istanbul. New fountain terraces adjacent to the large turf fields can be used for play, picnic, or community events. A wetland area frames the east edge of the fountain, and combined with the fountain terraces will offer a retention and filtration system that cleans urban runoff before it enters the city’s storm water infrastructure.