The proposal aimed to create a contemporary landmark space that celebrates and highlights Taksim’s historical monuments and creates new ones for the future. By turning the isolated and barrier-like elevated Gezi Park into an interactive unifying landscape, hidden relationships in Taksim are revealed paving the way to new activities to take place, new users to walk in and stay, and above all, to a unique and inimitable landscape-cityscape to be born in Istanbul.

This difference in level between Gezi Park and Taksim square offers an opportunity to create a unique cityscape that capitalizes on this split level condition, By carving spaces in the elevated Gezi at the city level, an exaggerated landscape is born where a new relationship to the existing trees can be experienced, and new activities can sometimes be tucked below the elevated landscape without compromising the surface.

New nodes are embedded within the landscape in the form of mounds and valleys, offering a modern backdrop to the Republic monument and adding life to the western edge of the park.  An elevated free-form bridge links Ataturk Library, a new pavilion and Taksim Metro Station, hosting and extending cultural themed activities from Ataturk Library into the park and gently sloping in response to topographical changes.

A diagonal alley is carved within Gezi Park, visually connecting the Taksim Republic Monument with the northeast corner of Gezi Park where the new pavilion for Ataturk Library is proposed. The carved Diagonal Alley becomes the Flower Market with large trees above. It can also host bazars and temporary crafts markets or exhibits.

A second strategic axis is created, connecting the northern Taksim metro station with the new Ataturk Library pavilion. The two alleys start at the surrounding city level and gently ramp up towards the pavilion, increasing park accessibility. Nodes and axes were located in areas that require minimum or no relocation of existing trees.