Izmir Modular Docks - Think Micro
Micro manifesto for micro urbanism: think micro

The Modular Dock project came out of a discussion about the monotony of the Turkish coastline section. How the public is essentially cut off from the sea by high concrete walls and highways. The project is a counter to the top down mega-project that dominate urban design. Thinking micro and attempt to generate urban design through an urban „accupunture“.
The construction of the modules uses the most contemporary computational methods to create construction information and direct CNC manufacturing. The modules were assembled in the University workshop in the summer of 2014.
Each module is 4m2 and is designed for a specific function. These were developed through workshops with the students of the 2014 graduation class, Morphogenesis Design Unit. The docks are modular can be assembled in multiple assemblies. As such the dock can grow or shrink in time. The concept for the project aims to make the CNC patterns accessible to the public online, so anyone can essentially take a file to a CNC cutter and make their own module, adding it to the coastline.
The project aims to introduce a variety of uses to the shoreline by creating specialised 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.
Istanbul Biennale 2014
After the project was moved from Izmir harbour, it was exhibited at the 2nd Istanbul Biennale in October 2014.
The project represented Izmir in the ’2014 world cities challenge’ competition organized by UN-habitat and the Guardian newspaper, where it was awarded the second prize.

Collaboration project between AUDB, Iyi Ofis (Istanbul) and Izmir University of Economics.

Project design: Gudjon Thor Erlendsson for AUDB (www.au-db.com), Elif Ensari and Can Sucuoğlu from Iyi Ofis (http://www.iyiofis.com), Ertunç Hünkar from IEU

Project team: Aycan Terzioğlu, Mehmet Sadık Aksu, Gözde Damla Turan, Buket Oztürk, Gamze Sahin, Bengisu Ozpirinççi
Photographs: The above, F. Aydın Uluer and Alessandro Segalini

Copyright © AUDB (Gudjon Thor Erlendsson) and Iyi Ofis (Elif Ensari and Can Sucuoğlu)