Today, Istanbul’s urban spatial structure has been dominated by three phenomena: informal housing, uncoordinated and uncontrolled urban intensification, and mass housing projects. It stands out particularly in the case of Kayabaşı neighborhood located on Istanbul’s Western periphery. Rigid, orthogonal layout of each group of blocks gives a dose of abstraction to the spaces in between them. Disregarded, considered boring and unsightly, generic buildings of this type are now proliferating the whole country, taking on residential, industrial and commercial functions, trying to keep up with the fast pace of economic growth. The feature that links them, muteness, is defined by me as ‘a state of being unable or not willing to speak, express or represent in a particular context’ (does not equal emptiness).
Project investigates the alternative scenarios of the peripheral spaces of Istanbul and potentials of erasing visual pleasure and lack of communication between the building and an observer, through theoretical approach and in-depth analysis of the subjective observations.
The research conducted during my graduation along with the project resulting from it aims to challenge existing aesthetic categories and shed light on a topic which is neglected by contemporary architectural practice. Hopefully, it will contribute to appreciation or at least stronger focus on the mute and introverted built objects , as they are already very present not only in Turkey and start to cover more and more land areas.

Architecture is used by political leaders to seduce, to impress and to intimidate. This ongoing romance of power and arts is a theme that has been known for centuries. 2019 marked a 70th anniversary of the introduction of Socialist Realism doctrine in Polish architecture, art and culture in general. That dictate lasted only seven years (1949-56), but during this time it managed to leave an indelible mark not only in the image and urban structure of Warsaw, but in many other cities as well, while bringing some new cities to life, like Nowa Huta or Nowe Tychy. The beginnings of scientific research on the aforementioned era in architecture date back to the 1980s. This period still arouses a full range of emotions among the inhabitants, scientists, historians and architects, which makes it difficult to objectively assess its material achievements, regardless of the ideological premises
underlying it. Nevertheless, the ideologists of Socialist Realism perfectly understood the role that architecture plays in creating human consciousness, they realized that with an appropriate architectural "setting" one can influence the way of life and the perception of reality. Dozens of prominent figures were involved in realizing this venture, which in fact turned out quite successful in its mission.