Istanbul, Turkey
Creating safer streets and inclusive spaces for students and residents
The Project
The Game Street project aimed to develop safe, lively, and joyful streets and to improve pedestrian safety, mobility, and visibility using the power of art. The project on Prof Dr Sulhi Donmezer Street in the Maltepe Altaycesme neighborhood connected three schools, prioritized children’s safety, and encouraged vibrant street play through the artistic interventions. With a focus on inclusivity, the project also offered an opportunity for direct community and artist involvement in shaping the larger area’s ongoing renewal.
Best Practice Highlight: Pop-Up Street Experiment
Prior to the project’s implementation, a pop-up event was held at the project site for local residents to help design the artwork for the street. Among the day’s activities were a sketching workshop with children, interviews and surveys conducted with neighborhood residents, sports activities, and a street renewal workshop. These activities proved instrumental in understanding the area’s needs and connecting with residents before the implementation, as well as raising awareness about the upcoming street renewals. Simultaneously, it provided valuable insights for municipal authorities to assess the traffic flow on the street and pilot the proposed redesign.
Use the slider to see the transformation
“We aim to remind [residents] that the city belongs to the people and people are the main component to a city. So that people can advocate for their rights to the city.”
Yeşim Özer, EKA, Kainak
“We realized that participation methods that worked in other places in Maltepe did not work very well for residents in this area… we realized that different approaches should be adopted by the municipal authorities in different project areas with diverse populations.”
Bahadir Kesan, Director of Maltepe Municipality Strategy Development Directory
For inspiration and tips for the creation of art on roadways and public places, download the Bloomberg Associates Asphalt Art Guide which features successful plaza and roadway art activations around the world, as well as key steps for developing such projects.
