Our project aims to introduce a variety of uses to the shoreline by creating specialized dock-modules floating on the water. These docks extending into the sea suggest an organically developing, physical relationship with the water, challenging the conventional and rather monotonous relationship with the urban coastlines in Turkey.
In developing countries like Turkey, a majority of design and planning decisions are made through top-down directives, primarily attempting to leverage political campaigns. These decisions lead to ostentatious “mega” projects that are usually impossibly big to be designed well. We believe in working in a scale at the opposite end of the spectrum: thinking in micro scale and making local decisions. Adopting this principle, our project commences with the thesis: “Micro Manifesto for Micro Urbanism: Think Micro.”
As part of our project, through workshops we conducted with Izmir Economy University Architecture Students, we identified various ways, means and durations of use, as well as materials utilized throughout the coast of Izmir (focusing on a section from Göztepe to Kordon). These studies produced design proposals suggesting a variety of uses with great potential that are usually overlooked in mega scales.
Floating activity dock brings a quick light and cheap alternative for design and production of public space. The docks are made out of 4m2 modules and could be extended and added. During September 2014, the first prototype of 32m2 has been opened to use in İzmir and have been heavily used. During November 2014 the prototype will be exhibited in 2.İstanbul Design Biennial. İzmir docks have represented İzmir among 36 other cities around the world in the World Cities Challenge organized by UN-Habitat and Guardian and has been awarded the second price.
