Context and Geometry
Şişhane Park is a bold shift regarding the public spaces in the center of Istanbul.
Located between the southwestern edge of Beyoğlu and Tarlabaşı Road, the site
used to be a park with a fire station that was connected to the water front before
the road with a heavy traffic was built in the 70s. With reference to that, the
geometry of Şişhane Park is carefully crafted to give a 360 view of Istanbul’s past
and future urban cultures. The design intention is to re-engage residents and visitors
into the natural qualities of that unique urban environment as an alternative
public space where people could enjoy together in the middle of a dense city.
The park is in a dialogue with the sweeping views and flora of the Haliç (Golden
Horn); meanwhile it creates a large open public space for cultural programing
as well as contrasting intimate spaces for resting, enjoying the shade of trees,
playing and spending time as a group. Its geometry and terracing surpasses the
negative perception of the underground parking. Besides, Şişhane Park ascribes how
the site has always been in-between and on the edge of the city and therefore needs
a clearly identified place in Istanbul’s shared future.
The park penetrates into the streets of the city with an alternative approach and unconventional
elements considering the other parks in Istanbul. It is defined by three
main features: the silhouette walk, the decks and the outdoor room. These elements
are framed by a rich landscape of various species unique to the Haliç in order to
enhance the feeling of delight and comfort. It is aimed to have deep site lines, be attractive
for quality social life and make people touch natural materials including wood
rails to lean on and orient one-self within a complex city. There are unique places and
experiences waiting for people of all ages to discover in Şişhane Park.
Şişhane Market-Underground Parking
Animating the public space, Şişhane Park has a multi-modal service both to the public
and private transportation of Istanbul. Directly connected to the Şişhane Metro,
it links the pedestrians to the bus/dolmus hubs and Kasımpaşa while the 1,000 capacity
car park solves the parking problem. A system of motion sensor for lighting
and LED for stair wells allow the parking to use energy on demand. The top level of
parking is open to the air and natural light while the lower 5 levels are ventilated with
cross ventilation and an automated fan system. A water recapture system allows
the extensive green roof-scape and the 30% landscaped surface, wood decks and
choice of light granite significantly reduce the negative impacts of heat island effect.
The landscape, water recapture and the permeable pavers also minimize the projects
impact to the storm water infrastructure in the historic area.
The market place, on the other hand, will be a mix of services, retail and cultural platforms.
Hence, meeting point for various transportation and other services will create
a dynamic movement of people buzzing through the city in Şişhane Park.
Celebrating the city’s unique geography and nature
Seasonal change, the choreography of the sun from dawn to night,
cultural events and the spontaneity of people enjoying the park
amenities are intended to create familiar but ever-changing experiences.
To do so, materials are selected with the aim of offering
acquaintance; yet alternative textures are added to the hardness
of the city surfaces to trigger narratives on the surface design and
engage people’s imagination to the city beyond.
Challenging to the design and clarity of circulation there is a twelve-
meter level difference from the upper urban entry to the lower
under-pass road edge. The challenge is turned into a chance of creating
terraces. The upper terrace creates a viewing deck through
Haliç enhancing the intense, noisy and polluted area of the six lane
road of Tarlabaşı, the middle creates a defined/protected outdoor
space and the third allows a flood of natural light and ventilation
to entrance level of the parking area. Both upper and lower amphi-
seating is set up to face the equinox and summer solstice while
the vegetation and terraces mitigate the noise pollution of the city
center and the adjacent six-lane road.
The design team’s aim is that Şişhane Park forms a gateway to
Galata and to the other districts of Beyoğlu as well as a link to the
social life of Kasımpaşa. It is envisioned as a place to experience the
infamous spontaneous urban life of Galata to have a strong connection
with the rich natural environment around while offering a new
formal and informal platform for cultural venues to program and
engage the public in public space. Reflection on design during the
realization, there is already a collection of stories from social media
sent to the design team after winter 2014:
“First underground parking I felt safe as a women especially at
night. Thank you for this gift to Istanbul!” A. Uludağ.
“It is so beautiful. I am going to bring my family.” Stone Master Ali
