This project reimagines cinema spaces in Istanbul’s Beyoğlu district as community-oriented environments that resist the socio-political erasure caused by gentrification and state-led urban transformations. Beyoğlu’s historical role as a cinematic and cultural hub serves as the foundation for exploring cinema as a social common. This concept positions cinema spaces as inclusive public arenas for collective memory, cultural exchange, and democratic engagement.
The design draws inspiration from the rich legacy of Turkish cinema, which was deeply rooted in Beyoğlu. By referencing its themes, settings, and cultural significance, the project builds an understanding of the spatial and social dynamics that shaped the district’s identity. Site-specific architectural interventions are employed across abandoned buildings, open spaces, and intimate interiors. These interventions engage Beyoğlu’s diverse urban fabric, reviving its cinematic legacy and architectural character. By reactivating underutilized spaces, the project fosters environments for film viewing, social interaction, and public dialogue. The approach emphasizes the district’s layered history, using its unique ambiance and narratives to create spaces that inspire new encounters and strengthen communal bonds.
The project operates at three scales: interior rooms, urban landscapes, and a network of in-between spaces. It focuses on thresholds between public and private realms, transforming them into vibrant links within the urban fabric. Each intervention responds to its specific context, creating connections that integrate Beyoğlu’s historic architecture with its evolving cultural needs. These designs remain subtle yet intentional, preserving the district’s heritage while fostering its continuity.
Through this framework, the project positions cinema as a tool for urban connection, cultural resilience, and democratic participation. It offers a model for honoring Beyoğlu’s historic identity while shaping inclusive spaces that enrich public life.

This research paper is ment to create a redevelopment vision (PvE) for the area of Schioever in Rotterdam, The Netherlands. Hence this paper will analyses the current situation, problems, potentiaal target audience and current market trends. From this analysis a vision will be created.