G R O U N D I N G
Our project utilises gap space and the tradition of ‘finâ’ or the appropriation of unprogrammed space to enable local tradesmen and craftsmen to develop the site sympathetically. Istanbul’s recent building boom has resulted in the mass clearance of many old parts of the city yet the widespread construction of informal structures provides an archetype for resistance by locals.
The scheme utilises pulleys and screens as the language of the street. In this way we hope that the project is legible to the Istanbulite trader who would ultimately reconfigure the spaces of the intervention according to his needs.
The programme consists of two markets - one open, one enclosed - and a workmen’s hostel with workshops that sits above the existing built fabric. The scheme is adaptive and responsive, transforming from day to night and allowing space to be activated and to evolve in a variety of ways.
