[KUMKAPI]
PUBLIC MARKET
Location: Kumkapi, Istanbul
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Project Objective: To design a vibrant and welcoming public market which responds to the surrounding environment and acts as a social anchor in the community.Trade and exchange have been at the centre of public life in Istanbul for several centuries.Public markets are important elements of the urban fabric. Kumkapi is a neighbourhood in flux. The site is empty in an otherwise densely packed area. My design concept draws on the historic and contemporary contexts, and aims to strengthen the sense of community. Moreover, the permeable structures invites passers-by while appealing to their senses.
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The dynamic edges animate the adjacent,
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while the structural details and changeable stalls act as a part of the colourful tapestry that is Istanbul. The public market aims to reanimate the underused space and to accommodate the existing exchange activities taking place around the site. Kumkapı is an old neighborhood with Greek and Armenian heritage, in the Fatih district of Istanbul, in the southern part of the peninsula.The quarter is famous for its many fish restaurants,attracting locals and tourists year round. The site is bordered by the Sevgi Sokak Street to its east and by the Molla Tasi Cd. to its north. Not too far from the Kumkapi fish market, this location enables a network of economic, social and cultural encounters. The project
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mandate called for vendor stalls, community workshops, a tea house and a public space. We incorporated the entire volume of the space and sought to create a three dimensional sensory enclave.
Traditionally, markets provide a multi-sensory experience, with vivid colours, intriguing aromas, delightful sounds and rich textures. We took cues from the neighbouring buildings to create a straightforward form that would envelope these sensory stimuli. The amazing public markets of Istanbul provide a lot of inspiration in terms of architecture and spatial planning.