"Serra Gate" salutes to Taksim Square protests in Istanbul, will tour city in 2015

Nodding to the Taksim Square political protests in May 2013, the Serra Gate installation by Istanbul practice GAD Architecture artistically interprets and also invites passers-by to examine the influence of urban interventions in the public realm. Serra Gate, which was inspired by the large-scale sculptures of artist Richard Serra, highlights how protesters created makeshift living spaces inside the park and the streets including a library, dormitory, and a buffet.

Following Istanbul Design Week at Taksim Square, Serra Gate will be showcased in Halic Port and then in different neighborhoods throughout Istanbul in 2015.

Last year, Studio Vural conceptualized a monument commemorating the protests.

Read more about Serra Gate right below.

Project description:

"Being the site of the Gezi Park protests in May 2013, Taksim Square is considered as one of the most political places in Turkey’s modern history and controversial plans for its pedestrianisation are still being subject to national debate."

"GAD Architecture has developed a highly experimental approach, which led the practice to embrace the latest technological advancements. Using Stefan Wolfram’s software “Mathematica”, 3D printing technology played a crucial role in the conception and design process of the Serra Gate, where the final geometry has been converted into urban furniture. Featuring lightweight steel horizontal bearers and vertical panels, the angular organisation of the structural elements amplifies the focal point of the gate."

"The structure has been inspired by the work of the American minimalist sculptor Richard Serra, known for his ground-breaking sculptures, which explore the exchange between artwork, site, and viewer. Serra Gate is primarily defined as a piece of construction. GAD Architecture team looked into the structural pieces that have an artistic value in their nature. The aim of the installation is to create inspiration through constructional interfaces."

"Serra Gate was first exhibited in 2013 in the courtyard outside the Esma Sultan, a historic building located on the shores of the Bosphorus in Istanbul that was renovated by GAD Architecture & Gokhan Avcioglu in 2000."

More projects photos in the thumbnail gallery below.