In the city, a boundary is not only an element of physical separation, but also an idea that shapes social relationships and the experience of space. Walls, roads, landscape elements or invisible social divisions separate different ways of living from one another, while also creating new identities and forms of belonging.

On the site:

Side by Side, and Apart

Although different ways of living sit physically side by side on the project site, no strong relationship forms between them. In the traditional neighbourhood fabric, the street and neighbourly relations are an important part of daily life, whereas the new housing developments are organised around a more inward-looking way of living.

As a result, different groups of people living in the same area experience the place in different ways, and social separation becomes visible.

Boundary and the Wall Effect

…walls, security elements and dense planting define the edges of the settlement. These boundaries provide privacy and security on the one hand, and reduce the relationship with the surroundings on the other.

The restriction of visual contact in particular sets the settlement apart from the neighbourhood fabric around it and creates a “wall effect”.

The Relationship with the Street

In traditional neighbourhoods there is a more permeable relationship between building and street. Gardens, entrances and semi-open spaces support neighbourly relations.

In the new buildings nearby, controlled entrances and boundary elements limit the relationship with the street. This gives the settlement an inward-facing character.

Transport and Accessibility

One of the things that sets the project apart is its closeness to city centres and main transport routes. As in many housing projects today, quick access is an important reason for choosing to live here.

Yet this advantage of transport infrastructure cannot, on its own, integrate the settlement with its surroundings; physical closeness does not always become social closeness.

In the Beykoz Residential Campus, the boundary is not just a physical enclosure. While providing security and privacy, it also acts as a threshold that defines the relationship with its surroundings. Set in an urban context where different ways of living exist together, the project offers a chance to observe how boundaries affect spatial and social relationships.