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==Saturday 16 | ==Friday 15<sup>th</sup> June== | ||
'''21:00''' meeting in front of the Sumocat Hostel | |||
==Saturday 16<sup>th</sup> June== | |||
===9:30 Excursion by public transport=== | ===9:30 Excursion by public transport=== | ||
Tanzimat reforms: mahalle system and modernisation in the ottoman empire. Example quarter: Koca Mustafa Pasa (by train from Sirkeci). | Tanzimat reforms: mahalle system and modernisation in the ottoman empire. Example quarter: Koca Mustafa Pasa (by train from Sirkeci). | ||
'''Meeting | '''Meeting at the station Karaköy (lower entrance to Tünel Füniküler)''' | ||
After noon: sight-seeing on your own in the historic peninsula and the Hagia Sofia. | After noon: sight-seeing on your own in the historic peninsula and the Hagia Sofia. | ||
==Sunday 17 | ===16:00 Meeting with Marmara students=== | ||
We will meet Kerem and Yağız in Taksim in front of Galatasaray High school. | |||
==Sunday 17<sup>th</sup> June== | |||
===9:30 Excursion by public transport / Taksim and proximity === | ===9:30 Excursion by public transport / Taksim and proximity === | ||
* Meeting Point: → AKM (Atatürk-kultur-merkezi) Taksim Square | |||
* ''' | * '''Taksim Square as a planned center of modernism''' a general introduction to the history of the Taksim Square with the help of maps. Origin and todays function of the Taksim Square and its surrounding quarters Talimhane, Harbiye and Macka. | ||
* '''Talimhane:''' | * '''Talimhane:''' transformation of a parade ground into a half-public Hotel area. | ||
* '''Dolapdere & Elmadag''': | * '''Dolapdere & Elmadag''': A brief look at the back side of the ridge. Aufstieg durch die Elmadag-strasse. Grossbürgerliche Apartment und Reihenhaustypologien des 19ten Jhdt. Und die transformation in ein exquistiten Hotelstandort in unmittelbarer Nähe zum Kongresstal. | ||
* '''Macka.''' Geplant als Park durch den Masterplan von Proust bietet das Mackatal mehrere interessante öffentliche Gebäude der klassischen Moderne | * '''Macka.''' Geplant als Park durch den Masterplan von Proust bietet das Mackatal mehrere interessante öffentliche Gebäude der klassischen Moderne | ||
** Hilton Hotel (public space becomes corporate) | ** Hilton Hotel (public space becomes corporate) | ||
** TU Macka (Umnutzung der Militäranlagen durch die technische Univerisität) | ** TU Macka (Umnutzung der Militäranlagen durch die technische Univerisität) | ||
** | ** Open air theatre | ||
** | ** Congress center (Istanbul als a city of conventions and congresses, planning and connection to traffic of the two valleys Macka and Kagithane ) | ||
* '''Nisantasi<ref>Nişantası was planned as a new town for the ottoman aristocracy in the early 19th century. Its strict layout according to a rectangular grid and the location to the north of Pera shows a parallel to the planning of Haussmann for the modern city of Paris. For its location on the hills, Nişantaşı was never subject to a drastic demographic change. Until today the social specificities of its inhabitants can be categorized as rather established middle class, so does the shopping environment assembled by expensive boutiques and globally exclusive fashion brands indicate. At early times the density of Nişantaşı was very low. Each building plot was planned for the construction of one Konak, a wooden city villa and some smaller secondary housing for the attendants and servants of the household. Over the decades and with the expatriation of the ottoman owners, the construction of Nişantaşı gradually changed into a block perimeter with a street facing façade and backyard garden. These backyards can still be found in Nişantaşı today. They have however shrunk more and more due to densification and an increase in building hights.</ref>''' spaziergang durch Nistantasi, die „Bond-Street“ Istanbuls. Von Osmanbey weiterfahrt mit der U-bahn nach Metro: | * '''Nisantasi<ref>'''Nişantası''' was planned as a new town for the ottoman aristocracy in the early 19th century. Its strict layout according to a rectangular grid and the location to the north of Pera shows a parallel to the planning of Haussmann for the modern city of Paris. For its location on the hills, Nişantaşı was never subject to a drastic demographic change. Until today the social specificities of its inhabitants can be categorized as rather established middle class, so does the shopping environment assembled by expensive boutiques and globally exclusive fashion brands indicate. At early times the density of Nişantaşı was very low. Each building plot was planned for the construction of one Konak, a wooden city villa and some smaller secondary housing for the attendants and servants of the household. Over the decades and with the expatriation of the ottoman owners, the construction of Nişantaşı gradually changed into a block perimeter with a street facing façade and backyard garden. These backyards can still be found in Nişantaşı today. They have however shrunk more and more due to densification and an increase in building hights.</ref>''' spaziergang durch Nistantasi, die „Bond-Street“ Istanbuls. Von Osmanbey weiterfahrt mit der U-bahn nach Metro: 4.Levent. | ||
* '''Levent''' / ( | * '''4.Levent''' / (Garden City and CBD on the lots of the former factories) | ||
** Visit of the platform at the 50<sup>th</sup> level of the Sapphire) | |||
===13:00 Lunch in Sapphire=== | ===13:00 Lunch in Sapphire=== | ||
Weiterfahrt mit der U-bahn von Metro: Levent | Weiterfahrt mit der U-bahn von Metro: 4.Levent nach Metro: Gayreteppe | ||
View from the bridge towards the Zorlu Center. Exclusive living at the expressway intersection. | |||
* ''' | * '''Higher Büyükdere Street Mecidiyeköy<ref>'''Mecidiyeköy''' is an area which has been effected severely by the increase in motorized traffic and the shrinkage of open spaces. The construction of the first ring road and the development of the Büyükdere Cadessi into a main traffic artery with the construction of the Tarlabaşı Boulevard have turned Mecidiyeköy into a transit area. Due to the impossible infrastructural situation and high density public buildings and sportsfacilities have gradually disappeared from the area. For instance does Mecidiyeköy not facilitate the renovation of the the Galatasaray stadium, 'Ali Sami Yen' for the benefit of accommodating more visitors. In the year 2010 it will be destroyed and rebuild in a different spot. Before the construction of the highway the face of the district of Şişli to which Mecidiyköy belongs used to be dominated by walkable spaces and a high number of plane trees, most of which were planted in a row on the middle strip of the Büyükdere axis, a street that was planned under republican order as a green boulevard, lined by city apartments to house the republican bourgeoisie. The most popular of these normally 3 to 4 story high apartment houses, the house of Mustafa Kemal is still remaining and has been turned into a museum. </ref>''' (Mecidiyeköy is geography and transportation-wise the most central spot of the city and developps with high speed)<br />→ Trump Towers/ Brigitte Weber Architects: High living quality in high density (Visit of the interior) | ||
==Monday 18<sup>th</sup> June== | |||
'''09:00''' Meeting at the station Karaköy (lower entrance to Tünel Füniküler) | |||
''' | |||
'''10:00''' Arrival at Marmara University | |||
Please prepare presentations showing your background and your current project. Think about how you would like to involve the Marmara stundents. After the presentations there will be time to discuss and start your collaborations. | |||
* ''' | ==Tuesday 19<sup>th</sup> June== | ||
* '''Kagithane<ref>A large percentage of buildings in Kağıthane developed from informal settlements into apartment-blocks without close supervision of planners and architects. The gecekondus that settled on the slopes of the valley were attracted by the industries along the Golden Horn and the Cendere river. Today most of these factories have been moved out of the city deconstructing the demographic relevancy of what was formerly a working class area. The recent construction of a tunnel connecting the valley of Kağıthane with the Maçka valley in Beşiktaş has layed the foundation for a future development in which Kağithane will play a central role as a location for international events and conferences on one hand and a high yield residential area in the closest proximity to the cities financial district. Recent developments such as Santral Istanbul and several architectural projects for lofts and modern apartment blocks in the area are indicators for this development. | ===9:00 Excursion by chartered bus / Car city / new centrality in the proximity of the speedway / public space=== | ||
</ref>''' / informal urban | |||
** Santral | * '''Taksim Square''' / meeting at the AKM , drive via Sishane Kagithane. | ||
** Tekfen Offices (Kagithane ofis parki) / Emre Arolat. Informelle Stadtentwicklung als Architektur-Konzept. | * '''Kagithane<ref>A large percentage of buildings in '''Kağıthane''' developed from informal settlements into apartment-blocks without close supervision of planners and architects. The gecekondus that settled on the slopes of the valley were attracted by the industries along the Golden Horn and the Cendere river. Today most of these factories have been moved out of the city deconstructing the demographic relevancy of what was formerly a working class area. The recent construction of a tunnel connecting the valley of Kağıthane with the Maçka valley in Beşiktaş has layed the foundation for a future development in which Kağithane will play a central role as a location for international events and conferences on one hand and a high yield residential area in the closest proximity to the cities financial district. Recent developments such as Santral Istanbul and several architectural projects for lofts and modern apartment blocks in the area are indicators for this development. | ||
</ref>''' / informal urban development / history of industrialisation | |||
** Santral İstanbul / Museum for Contemporary Art and Campus of the Bilgi University. / pilot-project für die Umwandlung eines Industrietals | |||
** Tekfen Offices (Kagithane ofis parki) / Emre Arolat. Informelle Stadtentwicklung als Architektur-Konzept. Movie: http://www.kagithaneofispark.com/ | |||
* '''Göktürk'''/ Kemercountry / Entstehung eines neuen Bezirks aus einer Gated community | * '''Göktürk'''/ Kemercountry / Entstehung eines neuen Bezirks aus einer Gated community | ||
* '''Ümraniye<ref>With the construction of the second ring road the land in close proximity to the motorway interchange Kavacık has increased drastically in value. In the 90s the old neighbourhood of '''Ümraniye''' started up a development trend that attracted many international firms, many new residential developments and shopping centers. These have created a new urban focal point accessible by car and connected with the rest of the city by its strategic location between the 2 Boshporus bridges. The area of Çekmeköy developed just outside the second ring road as an agglomeration of a new typology of housing that incorporates the trend of separating living, working and enjoyment, facilitated by the use of private transportation.</ref>''' | * '''Ümraniye<ref>With the construction of the second ring road the land in close proximity to the motorway interchange Kavacık has increased drastically in value. In the 90s the old neighbourhood of '''Ümraniye''' started up a development trend that attracted many international firms, many new residential developments and shopping centers. These have created a new urban focal point accessible by car and connected with the rest of the city by its strategic location between the 2 Boshporus bridges. The area of Çekmeköy developed just outside the second ring road as an agglomeration of a new typology of housing that incorporates the trend of separating living, working and enjoyment, facilitated by the use of private transportation.</ref>''' | ||
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Meydan (Foreign office architects) Erfindung des öffentlichen Raum, Kiezzentrum und Einkaufsmöglichkeit für Bewohner der anliegenden Gated communities im Rahmen eines kommerziellen Grossprojektes | Meydan (Foreign office architects) Erfindung des öffentlichen Raum, Kiezzentrum und Einkaufsmöglichkeit für Bewohner der anliegenden Gated communities im Rahmen eines kommerziellen Grossprojektes | ||
* '''Ataşehir<ref>Just outside the second ring road on the Asian side of the city '''Ataşehir''' is emerging in the middle of waiting lands to become İstanbuls new financial centre. The development of Ataşehir, was jump-started in 2007 when Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan instructed the corporate headquarters of several state owned banks to relocate from Ankara to Istanbul. Ataşehir is considered ideal for development as it is located at the intersection of Sabiha Gökçen Airport and Istanbul's new metroline, and on the main road between Istanbul and Ankara. Along with the development of a subcentre in Kartal, Ataşehir is planned to counterweight the expansion of Levent financial district and with it, the high number of commuters caused by a concentration of the business sector on the European side of the city while the Asian side functions predominantly as a sleepers town. The rapidly increasing land costs and the construction of landmark architecture have turned Ataşehir into a hotspot for property speculation. Luxury apartments in projects such as Merdian by the international architecture firm RMJM are dealt at top prices presenting a change of ownership as high as 7 times before construction is finalized.</ref>''' (CBD auf der grünen Wiese/ Umsiedlung staatlicher Banken von Ankara nach Istanbul. | * '''Ataşehir<ref>Just outside the second ring road on the Asian side of the city '''Ataşehir''' is emerging in the middle of waiting lands to become İstanbuls new financial centre. The development of Ataşehir, was jump-started in 2007 when Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan instructed the corporate headquarters of several state owned banks to relocate from Ankara to Istanbul. Ataşehir is considered ideal for development as it is located at the intersection of Sabiha Gökçen Airport and Istanbul's new metroline, and on the main road between Istanbul and Ankara. Along with the development of a subcentre in Kartal, Ataşehir is planned to counterweight the expansion of Levent financial district and with it, the high number of commuters caused by a concentration of the business sector on the European side of the city while the Asian side functions predominantly as a sleepers town. The rapidly increasing land costs and the construction of landmark architecture have turned Ataşehir into a hotspot for property speculation. Luxury apartments in projects such as Merdian by the international architecture firm RMJM are dealt at top prices presenting a change of ownership as high as 7 times before construction is finalized.</ref>''' (CBD auf der grünen Wiese/ Umsiedlung staatlicher Banken von Ankara nach Istanbul.<br />Meridian (eine cooperation zwischen RMJM und VARYAP) / Bodenspekulation und Immobilienblase (Besuch des Verkaufsbüros, falls erwünscht) | ||
Meridian (eine cooperation zwischen RMJM und VARYAP) / Bodenspekulation und Immobilienblase (Besuch des Verkaufsbüros, falls erwünscht) | |||
Drop off in Bagdat Cadessi / individuelle Rückfahrt mit dem Dolmus. | |||
==Wednesday 20<sup>th</sup> June== | |||
* 10:00 Meeting at the Karaköy Iskelesi ferry terminal | |||
* 11:30 Presentation by the students at the Marmara University | |||
==Thursday 21<sup>th</sup> June== | |||
* 16:00 visit of a street market and eating together with the Marmara University students/staff | |||
==Friday 22<sup>th</sup> June== | |||
* '''19:00''' Food and drinks with Marmara students. Meeting in Taksim in front of French embassy (Consulat de France). The coordinates of the meeting point are: 41,0360912, 28,983842 it's on İstiklal caddesi right below Taksim Square. | |||
== | ==Monday 25<sup>th</sup> June== | ||
*'''9:15''' group meeting at the sumocat hostel – we have to decide on a few things together | |||
==Tuesday 26<sup>th</sup> June== | |||
''' | *'''17:00''' Presentation of the current state of your projects at the Marmara University followed by farewell drinks | ||
*18:45 Presentation by Gunnar Green @ Superpool | |||
==Addresses== | ==Addresses== | ||
===Hostel Galata=== | ===Hostel Galata Sumocat=== | ||
Mueyyedzade Mah Luleci Hendek Cad<br /> | Mueyyedzade Mah Luleci Hendek Cad<br /> | ||
Ali Hoca Ar 34425 Galata - Beyoglu<br /> | Ali Hoca Ar 34425 Galata - Beyoglu<br /> | ||
+90 (212) 292 7866(SUMO) | +90 (212) 292 7866(SUMO) | ||
===Superpool=== | ===[http://www.superpool.org Superpool]=== | ||
Mumhane Caddesi 18, 3<sup>rd</sup> floor<br /> | Mumhane Caddesi 18, 3<sup>rd</sup> floor<br /> | ||
34425 Karaköy | 34425 Karaköy | ||
=== | == Map == | ||
<display_points service="openlayers" layers="osm-mapnik,osmarender,osm-cyclemap,osm-oepnv,bing"> | |||
41.0360912,28.983842|French Embassy (Meeting point) | |||
41.0229,28.9741|Tünel | |||
41.02436,28.979|Hotel Portus House / Superpool | |||
41.025856,28.97613|Sumocat Hostel | |||
</display_points> | |||
< | |||
== References == | == References == | ||
<references/> | <references/> | ||
[[Category:Excursion]] | [[Category:Excursion]] | ||
Latest revision as of 08:46, 25 June 2012
Friday 15th June
21:00 meeting in front of the Sumocat Hostel
Saturday 16th June
9:30 Excursion by public transport
Tanzimat reforms: mahalle system and modernisation in the ottoman empire. Example quarter: Koca Mustafa Pasa (by train from Sirkeci).
Meeting at the station Karaköy (lower entrance to Tünel Füniküler)
After noon: sight-seeing on your own in the historic peninsula and the Hagia Sofia.
16:00 Meeting with Marmara students
We will meet Kerem and Yağız in Taksim in front of Galatasaray High school.
Sunday 17th June
9:30 Excursion by public transport / Taksim and proximity
- Meeting Point: → AKM (Atatürk-kultur-merkezi) Taksim Square
- Taksim Square as a planned center of modernism a general introduction to the history of the Taksim Square with the help of maps. Origin and todays function of the Taksim Square and its surrounding quarters Talimhane, Harbiye and Macka.
- Talimhane: transformation of a parade ground into a half-public Hotel area.
- Dolapdere & Elmadag: A brief look at the back side of the ridge. Aufstieg durch die Elmadag-strasse. Grossbürgerliche Apartment und Reihenhaustypologien des 19ten Jhdt. Und die transformation in ein exquistiten Hotelstandort in unmittelbarer Nähe zum Kongresstal.
- Macka. Geplant als Park durch den Masterplan von Proust bietet das Mackatal mehrere interessante öffentliche Gebäude der klassischen Moderne
- Hilton Hotel (public space becomes corporate)
- TU Macka (Umnutzung der Militäranlagen durch die technische Univerisität)
- Open air theatre
- Congress center (Istanbul als a city of conventions and congresses, planning and connection to traffic of the two valleys Macka and Kagithane )
- Nisantasi[1] spaziergang durch Nistantasi, die „Bond-Street“ Istanbuls. Von Osmanbey weiterfahrt mit der U-bahn nach Metro: 4.Levent.
- 4.Levent / (Garden City and CBD on the lots of the former factories)
- Visit of the platform at the 50th level of the Sapphire)
13:00 Lunch in Sapphire
Weiterfahrt mit der U-bahn von Metro: 4.Levent nach Metro: Gayreteppe
View from the bridge towards the Zorlu Center. Exclusive living at the expressway intersection.
- Higher Büyükdere Street Mecidiyeköy[2] (Mecidiyeköy is geography and transportation-wise the most central spot of the city and developps with high speed)
→ Trump Towers/ Brigitte Weber Architects: High living quality in high density (Visit of the interior)
Monday 18th June
09:00 Meeting at the station Karaköy (lower entrance to Tünel Füniküler)
10:00 Arrival at Marmara University Please prepare presentations showing your background and your current project. Think about how you would like to involve the Marmara stundents. After the presentations there will be time to discuss and start your collaborations.
Tuesday 19th June
9:00 Excursion by chartered bus / Car city / new centrality in the proximity of the speedway / public space
- Taksim Square / meeting at the AKM , drive via Sishane Kagithane.
- Kagithane[3] / informal urban development / history of industrialisation
- Santral İstanbul / Museum for Contemporary Art and Campus of the Bilgi University. / pilot-project für die Umwandlung eines Industrietals
- Tekfen Offices (Kagithane ofis parki) / Emre Arolat. Informelle Stadtentwicklung als Architektur-Konzept. Movie: http://www.kagithaneofispark.com/
- Göktürk/ Kemercountry / Entstehung eines neuen Bezirks aus einer Gated community
- Ümraniye[4]
14:00 – 15:00 Late lunch in Meydan
Meydan (Foreign office architects) Erfindung des öffentlichen Raum, Kiezzentrum und Einkaufsmöglichkeit für Bewohner der anliegenden Gated communities im Rahmen eines kommerziellen Grossprojektes
- Ataşehir[5] (CBD auf der grünen Wiese/ Umsiedlung staatlicher Banken von Ankara nach Istanbul.
Meridian (eine cooperation zwischen RMJM und VARYAP) / Bodenspekulation und Immobilienblase (Besuch des Verkaufsbüros, falls erwünscht)
Drop off in Bagdat Cadessi / individuelle Rückfahrt mit dem Dolmus.
Wednesday 20th June
- 10:00 Meeting at the Karaköy Iskelesi ferry terminal
- 11:30 Presentation by the students at the Marmara University
Thursday 21th June
- 16:00 visit of a street market and eating together with the Marmara University students/staff
Friday 22th June
- 19:00 Food and drinks with Marmara students. Meeting in Taksim in front of French embassy (Consulat de France). The coordinates of the meeting point are: 41,0360912, 28,983842 it's on İstiklal caddesi right below Taksim Square.
Monday 25th June
- 9:15 group meeting at the sumocat hostel – we have to decide on a few things together
Tuesday 26th June
- 17:00 Presentation of the current state of your projects at the Marmara University followed by farewell drinks
- 18:45 Presentation by Gunnar Green @ Superpool
Addresses
Hostel Galata Sumocat
Mueyyedzade Mah Luleci Hendek Cad
Ali Hoca Ar 34425 Galata - Beyoglu
+90 (212) 292 7866(SUMO)
Superpool
Mumhane Caddesi 18, 3rd floor
34425 Karaköy
Map
<display_points service="openlayers" layers="osm-mapnik,osmarender,osm-cyclemap,osm-oepnv,bing"> 41.0360912,28.983842|French Embassy (Meeting point) 41.0229,28.9741|Tünel 41.02436,28.979|Hotel Portus House / Superpool 41.025856,28.97613|Sumocat Hostel </display_points>
References
- ↑ Nişantası was planned as a new town for the ottoman aristocracy in the early 19th century. Its strict layout according to a rectangular grid and the location to the north of Pera shows a parallel to the planning of Haussmann for the modern city of Paris. For its location on the hills, Nişantaşı was never subject to a drastic demographic change. Until today the social specificities of its inhabitants can be categorized as rather established middle class, so does the shopping environment assembled by expensive boutiques and globally exclusive fashion brands indicate. At early times the density of Nişantaşı was very low. Each building plot was planned for the construction of one Konak, a wooden city villa and some smaller secondary housing for the attendants and servants of the household. Over the decades and with the expatriation of the ottoman owners, the construction of Nişantaşı gradually changed into a block perimeter with a street facing façade and backyard garden. These backyards can still be found in Nişantaşı today. They have however shrunk more and more due to densification and an increase in building hights.
- ↑ Mecidiyeköy is an area which has been effected severely by the increase in motorized traffic and the shrinkage of open spaces. The construction of the first ring road and the development of the Büyükdere Cadessi into a main traffic artery with the construction of the Tarlabaşı Boulevard have turned Mecidiyeköy into a transit area. Due to the impossible infrastructural situation and high density public buildings and sportsfacilities have gradually disappeared from the area. For instance does Mecidiyeköy not facilitate the renovation of the the Galatasaray stadium, 'Ali Sami Yen' for the benefit of accommodating more visitors. In the year 2010 it will be destroyed and rebuild in a different spot. Before the construction of the highway the face of the district of Şişli to which Mecidiyköy belongs used to be dominated by walkable spaces and a high number of plane trees, most of which were planted in a row on the middle strip of the Büyükdere axis, a street that was planned under republican order as a green boulevard, lined by city apartments to house the republican bourgeoisie. The most popular of these normally 3 to 4 story high apartment houses, the house of Mustafa Kemal is still remaining and has been turned into a museum.
- ↑ A large percentage of buildings in Kağıthane developed from informal settlements into apartment-blocks without close supervision of planners and architects. The gecekondus that settled on the slopes of the valley were attracted by the industries along the Golden Horn and the Cendere river. Today most of these factories have been moved out of the city deconstructing the demographic relevancy of what was formerly a working class area. The recent construction of a tunnel connecting the valley of Kağıthane with the Maçka valley in Beşiktaş has layed the foundation for a future development in which Kağithane will play a central role as a location for international events and conferences on one hand and a high yield residential area in the closest proximity to the cities financial district. Recent developments such as Santral Istanbul and several architectural projects for lofts and modern apartment blocks in the area are indicators for this development.
- ↑ With the construction of the second ring road the land in close proximity to the motorway interchange Kavacık has increased drastically in value. In the 90s the old neighbourhood of Ümraniye started up a development trend that attracted many international firms, many new residential developments and shopping centers. These have created a new urban focal point accessible by car and connected with the rest of the city by its strategic location between the 2 Boshporus bridges. The area of Çekmeköy developed just outside the second ring road as an agglomeration of a new typology of housing that incorporates the trend of separating living, working and enjoyment, facilitated by the use of private transportation.
- ↑ Just outside the second ring road on the Asian side of the city Ataşehir is emerging in the middle of waiting lands to become İstanbuls new financial centre. The development of Ataşehir, was jump-started in 2007 when Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan instructed the corporate headquarters of several state owned banks to relocate from Ankara to Istanbul. Ataşehir is considered ideal for development as it is located at the intersection of Sabiha Gökçen Airport and Istanbul's new metroline, and on the main road between Istanbul and Ankara. Along with the development of a subcentre in Kartal, Ataşehir is planned to counterweight the expansion of Levent financial district and with it, the high number of commuters caused by a concentration of the business sector on the European side of the city while the Asian side functions predominantly as a sleepers town. The rapidly increasing land costs and the construction of landmark architecture have turned Ataşehir into a hotspot for property speculation. Luxury apartments in projects such as Merdian by the international architecture firm RMJM are dealt at top prices presenting a change of ownership as high as 7 times before construction is finalized.