Bosphorus Landing Park Competition

Bosphorus Landing Park Competition

All the renderings and graphics in this submittal were created by the submitting architect’s internal team of professionals. Because this was an international design competition, the team paid specific attention to creating images and graphic representation that would bridge any language barriers, while clearly communicating the design intent of the submission. The images and rendering were then combined into a video (also included in this submission), which also helped to communicate the story of the design.

Located just north of Istanbul, Turkey, the importance of the Yavuz Sultan Selim Bridge and its remarkable setting presents an extraordinary opportunity: a new public park anchoring the bridge on two continents with the power to connect people to Turkey’s rich history, to the natural landscape, and to each other.

The team worked passionately to create a vision for the park that would be both respectful of Turkish history yet forward looking; a unique and memorable place with strong roots and a compelling future. The design concept integrates three key themes: Connecting Places, Performance Landscape and Enriched Experiences. Together these themes create a rich narrative and establish the framework for an architecturally integrated park experience that can only be found along the mouth of the Bosphorus Strait.

‘Connecting Places’ celebrates the rich cultural heritage of Turkey and the manner in which Istanbul facilitated trade between the furthest reaches of the world. The park geometry is generated by projecting lines across the site that literally link epicenters of trade during the height of Turkish influence, forming angular geometries unique to this specific site.

‘Performance Landscape’ merges historic Turkish garden design principles of site sensitivity with modern day sustainable practices, ensuring that the park is a harmonious blend of architecture and nature. Designed to perform as a large living machine, significant elevation changes across the site are utilized to cleanse storm water run-off from the adjacent highway, before being discharged back into the Bosphorus Strait.

‘Enriched Experience’ reflects the desire of the Turkish people for a public park that can be experienced throughout the year. The park is rich with possibilities for entertainment, observation, relaxation, prayer, learning, and play. Under the cover of a primary green roof, architectural pavilions provide shelter while creating versatile spaces for public art, performance or outdoor dining. Turkish history comes alive in the museum and didactic gardens, while an amphitheater and cafés benefit from spectacular views all the way to Istanbul and the Black Sea.

The ultimate goal behind creating such a public park is to create an experience that encourages people to return again and again, through different seasons of the year and of life.