URBAN ACUPUNCTURE IN TAKSIM GEZI PARK: IMPROVING SOCIAL LIFE FOR COMMUNITIES

Abstract

Urban acupuncture provides an adaptive framework for the design and regeneration of neglected public spaces (urban voids, lost places) to strengthen the social infrastructure of a city. Urban acupuncture believes urban design and regeneration should occur through a bottom-up, democratic, pluralistic, inclusive, innovative and interdisciplinary approach. Small-scale, low-cost, fast implementable, innovative and problem-solving idea projects are developed using this new planning approach to produce fast and punctual solutions to urgent needs against the slow traditional planning processes and create exceptional places by making small touches in the urban landscape. This study aims to improve the social life of communities in Taksim Gezi Park in Istanbul, Tu?rkiye, developed through an urban acupuncture idea project. This paper introduces urban acupuncture and the explanation of the study area. Data were collected by case study and observation methods and analysed using document analysis, visual material analysis and SWOT analysis methods. The paper introduces the urban acupuncture approach and then the information of the case study -Taksim Gezi Park. A SWOT analysis of Gezi Park based on fieldwork and observation is presented. From spatial analyses, the site-specific urban acupuncture idea projects were developed to improve Taksim Gezi Park to be more comfortable and beneficial for social communities, including plants and animals.