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TEMPORARY CITY ISTANBUL
THE DRY DOCK OF ISTANBUL
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LOCATION
The Golden Horn (Haliç) is an estuary which is formed by both Alibey and Kağıthane rivers. It is also a natural harbor that reaches 7.5 km in length and devides İstanbul into two parts in the north to south direction. Up along the estuary close to the banks of the Eyüp neighborhood, there are alluvial islands.
THE PROCESSES OF THE GOLDEN HORN IN THE HISTORY
Throughout the history the Golden Horn has always been a favorable location for people to settle due to its geographical condition as a well protected harbor.
Today, as well as in the past, Golden Horn has a huge potential in terms of the area it can provide with fort he current needs.
The first settlement in Istanbul Peninsula was founded in the 7th century B.C. and was located in the south-east of the Golden Horn around today‟s Topkapı Palace and Hagia Sophia. During the period of Emperor Constantine, the city became the capital and the trade centre of Eastern Roman Empire and at 324 A.D. Constantine had enlarged the city city-walls. The banks between the city-walls and the bay, the Eminönü- Unkapı area, used a quay which also had functioned as a ship repair and maintenance space. All residential areas were located inside the city-walls whereas olive and vegetable gardens were along the banks of the Golden Horn beyond the city walls.
During the 10th and 11th century, Golden Horn became an active trade centre for Mediterranean and the Near East. As of the 11th century, some of the Italian colonies, including Venice, Pisa and Genoa, had started to colonize on Golden Horn due to their trade connections with the Near East.
During the Ottoman Period, the Byzantine harbors along the Marmara Sea lost their importance whereas the banks of the Golden Horn became more significant. The quays and the warehouses surrounding them as well as the Grand Bazaar and the “han”s on the slopes overlooking the Golden Horn were all integrated to form organic parts of the commercial district. With the construction of numerous complexes, tombs and “han”s the silhouette of the city changed dramatically as its morphology gained a rather Islamic character.
Golden Horn primarily got its industrial function after the constructions of Haliç, Taşkızak, Camialtı and Hasköy dockyards in the 15th Century. By the 19th Century in regard to the developments of those dockyards, other small businesses have started on the banks. Today, the dockyards are still in use.
While Eyüp was the only settlement founded outside the city walls until the 16th Century, the city began to sprawl also outside the walls along the both sides of Golden Horn, towards Pera and its northern banks; and also along the Bosporus as of the 16th Century. During the Ottoman period the Golden Horn continued its development and functioned as a harbor,a trade centre, a dockyard and a zone for naval forces. Industrialization in Golden Horn began by the constructions of the dockyards in Haliç, Camialtı and Hasköy. Those dockyards are still being used. Each quay located in and around Golden Horn was named after the goods that has been traded, such as wood-quay, fish quay and flour-quay. ” In the 18 th century summer palaces and recreational facilities were built along the Golden Horn from Eyüp to Kağıthane.
The 19 th century witnessed the development of some industrial establishments along the horn mainly geared towards the needs of the military (like Feshane textile factory, Silahtarağa Electric Plant, spinning mill ect.). The construction of Galata Bridge and the use of steam boats for public transportation more connected the three parts of the city. In regard to the increasing accessibility, the Bosporus villages and the settlements on the Anatolian side gained popularity, especially among the elite and the wealthy.
The period until 1980s (industrial period): due to the increase harbor activities and the waterfront transportation, the Golden Horn became an attraction point for industrial facilities, especially from the late19 th century onwards.
According to the Prost plan of 1933, banks of the Golden Horn and Kağıthane were declared city’s industrial zone of the city. The development of factories and warehouses especially during the 1950s, had a great environmental and socio-cultural impact on the Golden Horn and its vicinities. Residential areas surrounding the Golden Horn lost much of their prestige and became working-class districts. In addition, rural migrants hoping for jobs who flocked the city after the 1950s and built squatter neighborhoods. These settlements, which lacked necessary urban infrastructure, together with the waste of the factories, became the polluters of the city. As a result, the Golden Horn, which had once been one of the major recreational areas of the city, was transformed beyond recognition and the relation between the water and the city got greatly damaged and lost.
1980s urban operations; marked yet another period of transformation for Istanbul, including the Golden Horn. Under the leadership of Mayor Dalan, major projects were undertaken in order to maintain Istanbul a more attractive city at the global level. Construction of new high rise office complexes, five-star hotels, improvement of infrastructure and the decentralization of industry were intended to make targeted Istanbul an international service city. One of the most radical decisions of the period was to clear the banks of the Golden Horn from industrial establishments. The building stock which formed the industrial heritage was all torn down and the area was redesigned as a green zone Although providing public facilities such as parks seems to be a positive contribution at the first sight, the way it was done brought major
drawbacks. Not only the heritage values were lost but also unsupported by diversity of other functions the area turned out to be a huge „no-man’s land.‟ The only positive impact of this project was the clearance of the Golden Horn from further pollution and purification of the water.
In the beginning of 21 th century; the idea to construct a new urban identity that flourished under the influence of globalization since the 1980s gained yet another impetus. The retreat of industry from the waterfront left behind a social environment marked by unemployment and buildings and spaces in disuse. Therefore today, the re-use of these idle areas, creation of new occupational opportunities as well as public spaces, which will reconstruct the traditional relationship of the people to the waterfront areas are the goals to achieve.
COMPONENTS OF GOLDEN HORN’S IDENTITY
Natural Components
Considering Golden Horn‟s natural characteristics, water element is the most important component among all of the other. Because Golden Horn has been a safe and natural harbor since the beginning of the first settlements in that area.
Civil- Military- Religious Components
City walls; docks; Galata, Atatürk and Haliç Bridges; Eyüp Sultan Mosque, Mihrimah Sultan Külliyesi, Yavuz Selim Külliyesi, Fatih Külliyesi, Şehzade Camii, Süleymaniye Külliyesi, Beyazıt Külliyesi, Sultanahmet Mosque, Hagia Sophia Mosque and cemeteries are important components of Golden Horn‟s silhouette and identity .
Function in the Whole City and Architectural Components
Banks of Golden Horn has been the core of industrial evolution since Ottoman period.
Some of the industrial facilities had been collapsed because of the pollution that they made in 1980s. In 19th century there had been 151 factories, but now only 10 of them left. Golden Horn dockyard (which situated on the north banks of Golden Horn), Lengerhane, Silahtarağa Electricity Factory, Cibali Tobacco Factory (which situated on the south banks) , Feshane-i Amire are some of the ones that are still exist today.
GOLDEN HORN DOCYARDS (HALİÇ – CAMİALTI – TAŞKIZAK)
Haliç dockyard’s total area is 72000m2. The ownership belongs to IDO Company and according to the year 1993 working report, there have only three ships been mending and 36 employees are working. But just in the beginning of 20th century, there were 4500 employees.
Golden Horn docklands area is also so special by including historical and industrial heritage:
In Haliç Dockyard; 3 dry pools, evacuation atelier, 2.dry pool’s towers, the surrounding walls, carpenter atelier, Azapkapısı.
In Camialtı Dockyard; stores that are using as ateliers today, piece of dockyard wall
In Taşkızak Dockyard; ateliers, iron section, warehouse, engine factory, Pavillion of Aynalıkavak, walls and tower are some important pieces of industrial and historical heritage there.
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