AIM OF THE PROJECT: “Activity Docs” sets out to discover alternatives to the Turkish coastal cities’ relationship with the sea. Projects such as “İzmir / Sea : Project for Strengthening Izmirites’ Relationship to the Sea” demonstrates İzmirites’ concern in the subject. (Why refer to another project?)
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 in Turkey’s to the urban coastlines.
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, a problem also mentioned in “Bigness and the Problem of Large” by R.Koolhas. 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.”
Within the scope of our project, we aim to investigate the relationship that Turkish cities form with their coastlines. Representing a decision made over an area too large to be designed; Izmir’s coastline was built with a single continuous cross-section, almost without any variation. This uninterrupted cross-section keeps the user behind a 50 cm parapet and removes him/her from the water with a 150 cm high step. The sea, for Izmirites, is scenery watched from a distance.
In Istanbul and Izmir, there are areas where coastlines are very effectively utilized without such a design approach. Shore ramps at Bebek Shore, rocks at Salacak Shore and steps built in Konak illustrate some of the examples of possible variations that can be applied.
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.
Adopting an open source design principle, popular worldwide, the components and manufacturing documents of the dock’s modules will be shared online and be available to anyone for easy reproduction and fabrication. No electrical tool or use of heavy machinery is required for the assembly of the parts. The designs, suggested by users will also be open for reproduction and modification by other users.
One speculative scenario suggests the growing and expanding of Izmir’s shoreline onto the sea. Izmir’s relationship with the sea can be revamped though several small initiatives made by its dwellers rather than a single top down decision, and can only develop in an organic manner.
Such bottom-up approaches, as opposed to top-down decision mechanisms, are born to answer needs and create opportunities, are sustainable, and produce results that are embraced by the urban community.