Bakirkoy Cumhuriyet Square Urban Design Competition
Year2022
LocationIstanbul, Turkey
ClientIstanbul Metropolitan Municipality
StatusCompleted
Area50000 m²
TypologyUrban Design
TeamAli Önalp, Burak Yardımcı, Erhan Arslan, Güney Gültekin, Elif Tan
EngineeringAGM Mühendislik, Artu Mühendislik, Elk Mühendislik
PhotographyBurak Yardımcı
Bakırköy, one of Istanbul’s most significant sub-centers, has transformed into a densely populated metropolitan district, shaped by its rich cultural heritage rooted in both the Ottoman and Republican periods.
Particularly since the 1950s, rapid urbanization and migration have turned the area into one of the city’s most dynamic and central regions.
Today, Bakırköy is a vibrant hub on Istanbul’s western side, attracting a wide hinterland with its residential surroundings, bustling commercial activity, and multicultural character.
The presence of shopping centers around the square and the expansion of transportation infrastructure have made the district not just a transit zone, but an integral part of daily urban life.
This project was developed as part of the “Bakırköy Cumhuriyet Square Urban Design Competition,” launched by the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality in 2020. The competition was part of a broader participatory planning approach aimed at reimagining Istanbul’s public spaces, and it brought together numerous design teams from across Turkey.
Our team was among the awarded participants with a proposal that thoughtfully addressed the square’s historical and spatial layers, transportation connections, and socio-cultural dynamics.
3D Visualizations
Following the competition, a public evaluation process was conducted, allowing Istanbul residents to contribute to the assessment of the winning proposals. This marked a significant example of a transparent and participatory implementation model.
After the competition results were announced, implementation projects were prepared, and the realization process began in coordination with relevant municipal departments. Today, the interventions taking place in Bakırköy Cumhuriyet Square aim to transform the area into a more accessible, functional, and user-friendly public space — the outcome of a collaborative and interdisciplinary design process.
