Abstract:

What is the role of the new in historic cities?

This project examines the controversy surrounding Yedikule Bostans, the endangered historic market gardens of Istanbul, Türkiye, threatened by rapid population growth and profit-driven real estate development in recent decades.

The Bostans embody bostancılık, a centuries-old agricultural tradition and intangible cultural heritage. Located alongside the fifth-century defensive walls of western Istanbul, the Theodosian Walls, the gardens form a layered cultural landscape. Although both sites lie within the UNESCO World Heritage area, conservation efforts have largely prioritised the monumental land walls, contributing to the gradual decline of the historic gardens.

The project proposes architectural strategies that sustain the historic alignment and spatial relationship between the Bostans and the land walls, introducing the “new” with sensitivity to their cultural and historical significance.

The proposal adopts the Living Heritage Approach developed by ICCROM, which understands change in the context of continuity and emphasises the active role of the core community in safeguarding heritage.

Programmatic strategies centred on conservation, economy, education and recreation aim to strengthen community participation and reinforce the site’s cultural resilience. The architectural language responds to the geometry and material character of the historic walls, establishing a contemporary dialogue within the existing context.