Following the Workshop Inventory a temporary project base was set up: A former shop was hired. After initial renovation works were completed in July - all works were carried out by the project team in collaboration with students from Frankfurt and Istanbul, craftsmen from the neighbourhood as well as local volunteers - the “Gülsuyu - Gülensu Dükkânı“ (English: “Store”) has already become a key tool and platform for interaction with the community, research and the testing of pilot interventions.
Located in the centre of the neighbourhood, the Dükkân became the most essential tool to provide visibility of the project in the neighbourhood, and build trust with the local community. The space was officially opened on the 24th July 2009 with an invited group of puppeteers (“Kurmalı Salyangoz / Clockwork Snail”).
Gülsuyu-Gülensu Dükkânı, will function as a space for collecting the memory of Gülsuyu-Gülensu through meeting with the local people either passing by or arranging meetings. This archive will create one possible narrative of the neighborhood with the photos and documentation from periods of 50’-80’-90’, we ask from people concerning the past of the site.
The conducting of an inclusive alternative planning process will led to broad community mobilisation which require logistical planning, the setting up of venues for meetings and discussions, etc. What could a spatial, social and organisational scenario for this process look like? Cultural Agencies investigates and critically apply the role of the Dükkân in this, both as a location and generating content.
Gülsuyu-Gülensu Dükkânı is serving as a venue for numerous, partly ad hoc organized discussions, presentations and events. The Dükkân has begun to serve as a catalyst and “landing pad” for visiting artists seeking to learn about the locality and engage with its residents. At the same time, local residents have positively responded to the opportunity to meet and debate with “outsiders”.
The short story of Ayla str. no. 90
The shop, which Mrs. Sabire and her husband Haydar Sezgin, both 70 years of age today, constructed brick by brick 40-45 years ago, was first used as a car park then a confectionary shop. When they first came from Sivas to Uskudar, then to Gulensu, they built a shanty house onto the soil from briquettes, followed by the construction of the car park. After a while, they demolished the house and started constructing the multistory building in the back. The builders, for lack of expertise, built the foundation of the shop incorrectly. Later on, when they tried to rent out the space as a bar, the tenant said; “the tables don’t stand on the ground”. Concerned about the issue, Mrs. Sabire hired a constructor and paved the ground with cement.
