Set within the ruins of Istanbul’s Imperial Place, “Weaving a Tale of The City” aims to question how architectural forms are conceived and in particular how architecture has the potential to incorporate the laws of projection and perspective used in drawing as part of the design process. The “palimpsested” nature of Istanbul established the thematic framework for the thesis. Early design investigations began with drawing studies that fore grounded several existing layers of history which are evident in the city. These are the urban grids of the old Roman city and the Ottoman grid. The layering of these grids alters the geometry of the existing city block creating left over spaces. The project consists of building fragments that actively engage with the cut landscape of the site and operate as mechanisms for the archaeological excavations while extending the limited tourist route. The ruins will be excavated in phases but the site as a whole will continue to remain active; several screening devices will roam the Imperial Palace site for ten year periods. Fundamentally, this thesis considers the apparent conflict between archaeology and architecture; one builds up and constructs, while the other cuts away and reveals.
