The proposal for the City Hall for the Greater Municipality of istbnbul aims to present a rational and reasonable design strategy in response to the problems that may result from the dense building activity required to take place on the competition site.

The spatial requirements listed in the competition brief and architectural programme may be grouped under four main headings:

1. The "Mayor's Office" and corresponding units.
2. "Offices" for the administrative staff.
3. "Miscellaneous spaces" to serve social and educational functions.
4. "Technical Services" and "ancillary units".

The proposal has addressed both the individual configuration and inner circulation of these individual units, and the spatial relations between separate units as a main criterion for design. Hence, the "office spaces" have designed as "courtyard" buildings, connected to other units via vertical shafts spaced at optimum intervals. Each office unit is elevated from the ground by 5.50 m. high pilotis, with a "courtyard level" defined below them. The interior arrangements provide a modular, clear cut, functional and flexible working space.

The park around the Independence Memorial extends towards level 122.00, and continues beneath the office buildings. As a significant "public space", this 100.000 m2 park area provides a vast outdoor area for various public functions. The courtyard level has been designed as a continuous, uninterrupted outdoor space with no visual/architectural barriers except the pilotis and vertical circulation shafts of the office buildings. Also due to the continuity of outdoor spaces, the site attains an inviting "flow of spaces" when viewed from the E-5 motorway. On the other hand, the "lower gardens" placed on level 117.00 accommodate the social, educational and recreational functions for the City Hall.

These main design decisions facilitate the conservation of outdoor spaces without resorting to a high- rise architectural solution. Besides maximising the perception of the Independence Memorial and enlivening its urban character, such decisions also "provoke" public integration with the City Hall without disrupting its functional efficiency.

The extended park area beneath the office units is open to public activities throughout the day, while municipal units continue to function above. The park is articulated with amenities such as social and recreational platforms, promenade and picnic areas, and also with landscape facilities that aim to provide ground for new cultural activities in the city, including open-air exhibition and installation spaces, graffiti /art walls and waterscape features.

Norman Foster's new design for the Berlin Reichstag is also defined with people-oriented terms such as a "public realm" or "democracy in Berlin". The new dynamism the project introduced to its urban environment, and its integration with the Platz der Republic and the Tiergarten park result in a significant urban contribution. We believe that the City Hall for the Greater Municipality of istbnbul, together with the Independence Memorial and park shares common conceptual criterion, if only from a socio- cultural perspective.

We are not against high-rise buildings. However, considering its urban location, we disapprove of a high-rise solution for the competition site. As the major components of the project, the office units are arranged in linear layout with reference to landmarks along the Piyale Pa?a Boulevard and the E 5 motorway with their main façades exposed to the north and south thus resulting in a climatically sensitive solution.

The building's basement floor becomes partially exposed on level 113. 00, keeps in line with the contours of the Piyale Pa?a Boulevard, and thus forms a visual demarcation line for the boundary of the site. The block housing the Mayor's Office faces the Ka?ythane Avenue, and forms a building with large eaves placed on a main entrance plaza on level 117.00.

All decisions concerning the general layout of the building units, the arrangement of their interior spaces and their architectural language have been reached in line with a modernist, contemporary architectural approach.