KÜÇÜKÇEKMECE ECO-CULTURE BASIN
The Küçükçekmece Lagoon Basin is a unique but endangered ecosystem, home to diverse flora and fauna alongside an archaeological heritage spanning hundreds of thousands of years. Despite its immense potential, the basin has nearly disappeared due to urban pressure. The core vision of this project is to rehabilitate the area through gradual micro-interventions that seek to understand the basin’s essence rather than imposing radical changes. By fostering eco-cultural awareness and mediating the natural landscape’s effort to restore itself, the project creates a socio-ecological system where urban and wild life coexist in harmony.
The project initiates with a multidisciplinary research phase—covering hydrological, geological, and cultural surveys—which informs a comprehensive planning strategy. This framework addresses waste management, biocultural heritage protection, and urban transformation with sustainable principles. The intervention is structured across four distinct zones: The Urban Green Belt around the lake features the Bathonea Archaeopark and Natural Science Village. The Sazlıdere Wetland serves as a rural-urban ecotone with aromatic plant parks and beekeeping pastures. The Sazlıdere Dam area is transformed into an ecotourism corridor with glamping and nature parks, while the northern Rural Development Area focuses on organic farming, seed gene banks, and eco-villages to support local livelihoods.
To ensure a cohesive architectural language, the entire basin is equipped with modular units such as ecological observation towers, floating phytoremediation islands, flood ponds, and insect houses. These elements are interconnected through various “Experience Routes”—ranging from water and culture routes to eco-village paths—supported by electric excursion boats. Ultimately, the project transcends traditional landscaping; it functions as an integrated ecological education and awareness tool, turning a damaged landscape into a resilient, self-sustaining socio-ecological hub for the future of Istanbul.
