Collective Rooms

Abstract

After 2000 there has been a great globalization and enormous development in Istanbul. Which has ensured a strong economic growth, but had some negative social influences. With “Kentsel donusum” (urban transformation) projects, deprived neighborhood have been transformed. The inhabitants of these neighborhoods were forced to move somewhere outside of Istanbul, an example of “gentrification” projects. An advantage of this Kentsel donusum was that these people could live in a new home. But in addition, they had to build a completely new social life, adjust their daily habits, their school ,work, etc. An example of this type of neighborhood is Balat, where projects have been designed since 1980. None of these projects have been realized due to the removing of the historical and social identity. Balat is an old neighborhood where Greek Christians and Spanish Jews lived. Over time, other migrants such as Romanians Bulgarians and now Syrians have come to live. An old resident of Balat describes his neighborhood as the neighborhood where you learn the real life and learn to survive. The colorful neighborhood is characterized as a deprived area and criminality. But Balat is a neighborhood with harmony between the inhabitants of today and earlier and where even the old ateliers of Istanbul still exist. Most buildings are in poor condition and are not strong enough to survive the expected earthquake. Also, the public buildings and public spaces are not maintained and out of use. The aim of this project is to design collective rooms that can be an example of how you can protect the social and historical identity of Balat and to expand the social and educational possibilities for all the layers in the society.