The Trace of the Golden Horn: Rethinking Istanbul’s Waterfront

The Golden Horn (Halic), one of Istanbul’s most iconic natural landmarks, is undergoing a thoughtful transformation. This 3.5-kilometer-long urban design and revitalization project, stretching between Eyup and Sutluce, aims to reconnect people with the water, history, and public life of the city - all through a contemporary lens of ecology and design.

A New Urban Spine: “The Trace”

At the core of the project lies “The Trace”: a continuous pedestrian and recreational path that ties the entire shoreline together. More than just a walking route, it:

• Serves as a functional and symbolic urban spine
• Organizes different activity zones
• Enhances connectivity between the city and the water

This spine transforms visually and functionally as it weaves through parks, plazas, art installations, and wetland zones - adapting to the unique context of each segment.

Five Dynamic Activity Zones

The project introduces five thematic hubs, each tailored to its location’s cultural, social, or ecological character:

1. Cable Car Transfer Station - Eyup High School Zone

This zone includes a new urban campus with public access to the waterfront, sports facilities, and cultural heritage sites like Bahariye Mevlevihanesi. Aging buildings are replaced with elevated, transparent structures that allow visual and physical connection to the water.

2. Eyup State Hospital Park

A therapeutic city park designed for hospital patients and visitors. With preserved greenery, stress-reducing plantings, and a peaceful environment, this area fosters relaxation and well-being. A waterside café and accessible circulation improve the user experience.

3. Golden Horn Cultural Hub and Art Garden

Previously a wedding hall and dolphinarium, this space now becomes a public cultural node. The reimagined building hosts concerts and forums, while the shoreline is turned into an open-air art gallery featuring installations and environmental art curated by local artists.

4. New Recreational Plane

The most active and flexible zone in the project. This large green area includes:

• A multi-use sctivity meadow
• Children’s playgrounds
• Pop-up cafés
• Observation terraces
• And modular "activity hubs" supporting sports, art, and leisure

It offers the best panoramic view of the Alibeykoy Creek junction and Halic’s northern edge.

5. IGDAS Nature Park

Positioned at the edge of Alibeykoy Creek, this park is a green retreat designed to absorb traffic pressure and enhance biodiversity. Features include:

• Permaculture pods
• Thematic gardens
• Raised walking paths
• And an ecological wetland system filtering stormwater

Ecological Revitalization & Landscape Strategy

The design embraces a low-impact, restorative landscape approach. Key strategies include:

• Preserving and enriching the existing tree and plant ecosystem
• Creating constructed wetlands and bioswales for phytoremediation
• Introducing rain gardens to filter urban runoff naturally
• Connecting to the wider green network that extends toward Belgrad Forest

This ecological infrastructure helps regenerate natural habitats and supports urban biodiversity along the Golden Horn.

Mobility, Access & Integration

A modern city needs smart mobility. The project integrates:

• Pedestrian circulation via the trace
• Cycling paths throughout the site
• Electric scooter and bike rentals
• Reorganized parking and service roads
• Improved tram stop access linked with activity hubs

Crucially, urban loops reconnect inland neighborhoods to the shoreline, repairing long-standing physical and social barriers.

Architectural Language & Public Furniture

Modular and flexible design elements define the project's identity. These include:

• Observation Terraces
• Social Eaves
• Pop-up Structures for resting and socializing
• Activity Pods for kids, athletes, and creatives alike

This system is adaptive, lightweight, and visually integrated into both landscape and architecture: creating a unique morphological grammar for the Golden Horn shoreline.