Design
Why DIY Public Spaces Are Starting to Take Off in Turkey
"We felt a real hunger in Istanbul for projects that are bottom-up."
The seaside promenade in İzmir, a Turkish coastal metropolis of some 3 million people, is one of the city’s most popular gathering places, though it offers very little in the way of amusements or amenities.
“People are just constantly walking back and forth, as there’s really nothing to do,” says architect Can Sucuoğlu. “The space isn’t made to be occupied, but people still want to be there; they go and sit on the pavement and stare out at the sea,” adds his partner, Elif Ensari.