The project “Harmonica”, proposes a small-scale urban intervention on Kıbrıs Şehitleri Parkı in the Alsancak, Izmir. It responds to the underutilization of an existing public open space that, despite its central location within the urban fabric, fails to function as an active social condenser due to fragmented spatial organization and undefined programmatic boundaries. A collective analysis of demographic and socio-economic user profiles within the surrounding urban context revealed that the site remains spatially disconnected from everyday patterns of use. Irregular circulation networks, residual urban voids, and the rigidity of the adjacent street infrastructure contribute to the limited appropriation of the space by diverse user groups.
Within this framework, the proposal introduces a series of spatial interventions aimed at redefining the site as an actively programmed public interface. Newly articulated linear elements reorganize the previously undefined ground into a sequence of performative zones capable of accommodating varying degrees of social interaction.
he intervention incorporates two open-stage platforms intended for informal street performances, alongside a renewed playground area that reflects the site’s existing functional identity. These programmatic insertions encourage collective use and interaction among users of diverse age groups and social backgrounds. By reconfiguring cir-culation patterns and introducing graduated seating landscapes, the project transforms a residual urban fragment into an inclusive socio-spatial environment. The resulting public realm facilitates both transient and prolonged forms of occupation, allowing the space to function simultane-ously as a site of movement, gathering, and cultural expres-sion.
Notes:
1. No AI tools were utilized in the development or post-production processes of this project.
2. This project was developed collaboratively by a team of two within the scope of the Urban Design and Culture course, under the supervision of Prof. Dr. Seçkin Kutucu.
2. This project was developed collaboratively by a team of two within the scope of the Urban Design and Culture course, under the supervision of Prof. Dr. Seçkin Kutucu.
