Teaching Portfolio.

Abstract and Brief

 

“What does a sustainable, successful, healthy city look like? The answer? It looks like a child-friendly city.” – Tim Gill, Rethinking Childhood

 

Urban growth - in population and capital - sets priorities and ambitions for Istanbul. Though roughly 28% of Istanbulites are children, their impact on urban design is questionable. Similarly, design education has overseen the child, around the world there are very few design courses or programs that specifically focus on childhood, perhaps classifying it as a ‘domestic’ or ‘less-than-professional’ subject.

 

If you could experience a city from 95cm – the height of a 3-year-old – what would you change? Istanbul95 asks this bold but simple question to designers, architects, planners and innovators. The studio is a part of a larger initiative called Urban95 led by Bernard van Leer Foundation. Along with Istanbul Urban95 is launched in Amsterdam, Bhubaneswar, Boa Vista, Bogota, Lima, Sao Paulo, Tirana and Tel Aviv. Through implemented projects, Urban95 aims to spread the idea that the best measure of a vibrant, prosperous, and healthy city is the well-being of the babies, toddlers and families who live there. If we can design the city for a 3-year-old, we have designed an urban environment for everyone. Within this context Istanbul95 studio will focus on play spaces in Istanbul and have access to the research and resources of the larger initiative. The design studio will conclude with a pop-up exhibition at Studio-X Istanbul. For more information on the larger initiative: bernardvanleer.org/solutions/urban95/

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Research Partners

Bernard van Leer Foundation

Studio-X Istanbul

Istanbul Studies Center (ISC), KHAS University

Beyoğlu, Maltepe, Sarıyer and Sultanbeyli Municipalities

 

Playgrounds and Child in the City

First playgrounds in the history were outcomes of the ‘child-saving movement’ during the industrial revolution at the end of the nineteenth century. Besides the German-influenced outdoor gymnasium areas with gymnastic equipment, the Sand Gardens in Boston is counted as the first playground in America in the late 1880s. Since the nineteenth century, the concept of playgrounds changed frequently. After the Second World War junk (adventure) playgrounds came to exist in the 1960s. In meantime ruled also standardization and all playgrounds began to look same. Susan Solomon called this phenomenon of standardization as the Mcdonaldsification. Today we can also say children’s publics are withdrawn in the shopping malls. In this semester, based on the history and the main discussions Istanbul95 will question today’s playgrounds.

Aldo van Eyck the Dutch architect who built more than 700 playgrounds in Amsterdam between 1947 and 1978 describes in his essay ‘playgrounds’ the child as ‘Lord of the city’ after the snow. Snow is ‘a miraculous trick of the skies- a fleeting correction’. However, ‘we need something permanent than snow’ for the children in the city. With this understanding, Istanbul95 will discuss the city as play space.

 

Expected Final Outcome

● 3 minute- Videos for the exhibition at Studio-X

● Posters and Flyers

● A short article in academic format which supports the design approach​​