Impressions of the Istanbul Workshop
ISTANBUL – 6 NOVEMBER 2010
PARTICIPANTS 45Danubians: Tanja Bubic, Jan ter Burg, and Sophie Bloemen
Jury: Alfred Schaffer
Rashid Novaire
Necmi Mutlu
Sophie Bloemen
DREAM ISTAN
Ömer An, Ayesegül, Ufuk Akkaya, Zehra Üztürk, Sahmus Akbulut
In Dream Istan, the participants have looked upon Istanbul as a means of inspiration. Dream Istan envisions the hopes and dreams of its citizens, how a possible Utopian Istanbul might look like.
It has a dualistic approach since it portrays on the one hand the real Istanbul and therefore imperfect city and on the other hand the dreamed vision of this city.
Like Sartre we people ourselves are responsible for the “hell” we have created. L`enfer, c`est les autres. This hell is a result of our technology and lack of vision on human need for nature and space.
Istanbul a city that has the capacity to connect different cultures yet can also be in danger of becoming a victim of conflicting ideologies.
Yunis Cilgin, Gözde Mermer, Canan Korkmaz, Nahit Karaca, Asli Gügebakan, Sacid Arif Hasidek, Turgut Cilgin, Büsra Mugdesal
Mentioned in other concepts as well was the problematic traffic congestion in Istanbul. In order to overcome this issue No Traffic Istanbul envisions a city that has no traffic. In this concept Utopia is reached by creating a calm serene environment where people walk from on place to another, or even swim, as swimming would be as easy and quick as swimming.
Naturally the environment plays an important role in No Traffic Istanbul as well. Since in contemporary Istanbul so many green pastures have been redeveloped into concrete No Traffic Istanbul is highly conservationist. The green areas that exist must remain.
YILDILIZ KOLONINaturally the environment plays an important role in No Traffic Istanbul as well. Since in contemporary Istanbul so many green pastures have been redeveloped into concrete No Traffic Istanbul is highly conservationist. The green areas that exist must remain.
Buket Giresun, Mustafa Sefa Duran, Hakki Sencan, Sedat Kiris, Metin Ilhan, Köl Beyek
Within Yilidiz Koloni importance is stressed upon time efficiency and as such all manegement has been placed in the centre of the city creating one industrious beehive. Around this center there are concentric fields consisting out of green zones for leisure, a zone for travelling and a waste system between these layers, making sure everything runs smoothly and hygienically. This way the city is devoid of congestions, air pollution or other metropolitan issues.
In the field of morality everyone is equal without any differentiation since people have given up on religion. In Yilidiz Koloni people share a level of connection due to the lack of religious divides and therefor creating a more peaceful society. It is stressed that one does not have to be religious in order to have values and a sense of morality. Non-religious people can live their lifes just as meaningful, hence a religious belief-system becoming superfluous.
BIZIM CITYIn the field of morality everyone is equal without any differentiation since people have given up on religion. In Yilidiz Koloni people share a level of connection due to the lack of religious divides and therefor creating a more peaceful society. It is stressed that one does not have to be religious in order to have values and a sense of morality. Non-religious people can live their lifes just as meaningful, hence a religious belief-system becoming superfluous.
Faruk Celepkolu, Sevgi Süleymanoglu, Büse Busra Calis, Agit Akgöl, Metehan Budak, Tugba Kenar
Like the people of Greenville, BizimCity focusses on nature and harmony as well. Yet instead of portraying society as living in a forest, BizimCity consists out of one large tree, that represents society as a whole. This organic and holistic approach sees society as one living being where everyone is connected with everyone.
It serves as an anti-colonial critique since skyscrapers and other modern highrise stale and concrete structures are perceived as being placed by alien powers that try to impose their will on society. In an ideal world as BizimCity is, people would work and live in harmony instead of having powerful countries imposing their will on other countries.
Following the organic thought, BizimCity would have no technology nor cars, it truly would be a return to paradise.
GREENVILLEIt serves as an anti-colonial critique since skyscrapers and other modern highrise stale and concrete structures are perceived as being placed by alien powers that try to impose their will on society. In an ideal world as BizimCity is, people would work and live in harmony instead of having powerful countries imposing their will on other countries.
Following the organic thought, BizimCity would have no technology nor cars, it truly would be a return to paradise.
Dilan Balku, Dilan Yalman, Keziban Demirci, Emre Taflinow, Sefer Karabol, Günes Sen
In Greenville the urban fabric of cities is questioned. Do people really have to live in an urban concrete zone, does that constitute a city? The people who came up with Greenville offer an alternative. Like the philosopher Rousseau they want to return back to nature. Or perhaps even on a more metaphysical note, they see their Utopian City as a renewed garden of Eden where people and nature can be as one and live in harmony.
As such people would live in trees and transportation would take place via balloons and zeppelins. It is also the role of these airships that connect people in several ways, not only physically but also emotionally. These ships become a place of meeting and leisure, floating above an ethereal lush green city.
Not only is the environment spared in this way, it would reverse the global warming effect. Strong emphasis is laid upon democratic governance, as such the democratic representation of Greenville is placed in the centre to emphasise its equal acces for everyone.
TULIP CITY
Yagmur Ugurel, Ece Elif Uzlu, Gizem Kügükkaraca, Asli Cicek, Zeybep Yesilmen, Ayse Efe
Tulips are not only to be considered a typical Dutch symbol, for many centuries they have been a symbol for Istanbul and Turkey at large. As such this flower has been chosen as the quintessential representation of Istanbul.
Both sides of the Bosporus are shown with innovative tulip-shaped structures, beautifying and uniting this cross-continental metropole. This theme has been further used in the element of housing where living quaters are situated amidst fields of tulips, creating space and using once again this symbol of identity.
Transportation-wise the city is no longer in need of cars or other vehicles, since people would travel via air, with vehicles running on water, offering a solution to the traffic-congestion and using a widely available and environmentally friendly commodity, water.
The Danube Foundation organized the Utopian City Workshop at the Zeytinburnu Kültür ve Sanat Merkezi in Istanbul on the 6th of November 2010.
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