The Production of Urban and Residential Language by Mixed-Use Mega Projects in Istanbul

Abstract

This paper examines the housing projects that are classified as mixed-use mega projects or urban enclaves in the scholarly literature in order to understand how the notion of mixed-use is redefined and practiced, and in return, what is the architectural language they produce in housing design. The exploration posits Istanbul as the case and investigates a selection of projects that are large investment whirlpools and representative of the mixed-use practice in Turkey. Following an extensive literature review on both notions, a critical analysis settles the architectural components of this new urban formation highlighting their involvement to the architectural language in the field of housing. Derived from the theoretical framework, the projects are analyzed and classified by three main spatial components named as (1) podium and tower typology, (2) floor gardens and terrace flats, and (3) numerical plan coding.