In 2023, the Holcim Foundation Awards recognized the “Stream Co-habitat” project in Turkey - an innovative endeavor designed by Openact Architecture.
Carlos Zarco Sanz and Zuhal Kol - the architects - whose base is between Istanbul and Madrid - sat down with the Holcim Foundation to discuss the winning work. This project focuses on ecosystem regeneration and urban re-engagement for the agricultural town of Tuzla, near Istanbul, which was rapidly transformed into a significant industrial hub in the mid-20th century.
“The city of Istanbul has many complex issues, from political to economic, to ecological problems and climate problems,” explains Carlos Zarco Sanz.
“The project was trying to tackle all these problems together.”
Stream Co-habitat aims to restore Tuzla’s dynamic identity by integrating water into its natural and urban fabric. The project follows the route of Tuzla’s Umur Stream, harmonizing green patches between an inland lake and the sea. It establishes a looping framework that defines urban, ecological, and infrastructural design, reconnecting the city with its natural surroundings.
“Tuzla always had an identity with water. The idea of the project was to understand that these water resources continue to exist. Still, they are suffering under this immense pressure of urbanism, and the idea was to recuperate the area,” says Zuhal Kol.
The project incorporates various green infrastructure elements, including rain gardens, bioswales, and porous surfaces, to manage stormwater and promote biodiversity. Additionally, it introduces 8.9 kilometers of cycleways and converts 11,000 square meters of asphalt into green spaces, creating habitats for local fauna.
“The idea of recuperation came from reclaiming the land from the asphalt roads, from the cars, back to the plants, the streams, and the human inhabitants,” adds Kol.
The Holcim Foundation Awards jury recognized the project as a transformative force within the region, particularly for its innovative approach to addressing the challenges of rapid urbanization and industrialization. By fostering a participatory co-design process and promoting socio-ecological recovery, the Stream Co-habitat offers a vision for revitalizing local ecosystems and nurturing sustainable communities. It is a beacon of hope in a rapidly urbanizing world.
“We tried to address the global issues that our planet is facing. This is not a project trying to bring a solution to a specific location, but it is trying to answer the common problems we face worldwide,” says Kol.
Read more about the project on the Holcim Foundation website.
“In that sense, we were happy that the Holcim Foundation recognized these values of the project and awarded the project; it reinforces our ideas and our effort.”
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