(Ebook) The Scale of Public Space: Taksim Square in Istanbul by Dr. Senem Zeybekoglu Sadri * Department of Architecture, Girne American University, Turkey

(Ebook) The Scale of Public Space: Taksim Square in Istanbul by Dr. Senem Zeybekoglu Sadri * Department of Architecture, Girne American University, Turkey

This article aims at following the traces of the transformation of public sphere inTurkey through its manifestations on urban public spaces with the case study of TaksimSquare. In this attempt, the article illustrates how Taksim square, as a public space,has been shaped by struggles between different ideologies, discourses, politicaldecisions and daily activities taking place at personal, interpersonal, local, national,supranational and global scales. Through this way this article also aims atunderstanding how these contestations at different scales are affecting people,individually and collectively, from daily life practices to political integration. Thearticle also discusses that our daily life practices and preferences are politicaldecisions and our participation in public sphere occurs through those daily actions ofthe personal spheres. Therefore, the article suggests that a paradigm shift is needed inthe design and production of the built environments that will facilitate the coexistenceof multiple counter publics.JOURNAL OF CONTEMPORARY URBAN AFFAIRS (2017) 1(1), 67-75.https://doi.org/10.25034/1761.1(1)67-75