Basin of Recovery

a "basin of recovery."

Trabzon Ortahisar Industrial District

from urban "agnosis to gnosis."

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The project seeks to revitalize Trabzon’s Değirmendere Valley, transforming it from a neglected “non-place” suffering from urban agnosia into a vibrant space of gnosis (spatial awareness). By dismantling the rigid boundaries between industrial decay and residential life, the proposal introduces a hybrid model that weaves production, ecology, and everyday life into a symbiotic urban fabric.

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Key interventions focus on ecological restoration, such as liberating the riverbed from concrete and implementing “sponge city” principles to create a resilient, living infrastructure. The design promotes transparency by allowing the public street to permeate buildings and fostering modern modular housing based on traditional social bonds.

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A central feature of the project is the “Sanayi Square,” which repurposes an old cement factory into a cultural and industrial heritage hub. Ultimately, the proposal transcends simple renovation; it becomes a sensory and cognitive journey that reintegrates the valley into the city’s heart and collective memory.