Beyoğlu with its large neighbourhood witnessed a great change in terms of the construction projects and socioeconomic revival took place in last years. Before, Beyoglu was almost lost the specialty of being a residence and occupation region for mid-upper classes especially during the last half of 20th century. The fall in the socioeconomic level of the inhabitants in the young republic and the drastic change in political atmosphere that forced many non-muslims to leave their homes also led the gradual abondon of the old Turkish inhabitants. Only the attached districts like Kasimpasa sustained being a traiditonal neigbouhood but at all the languages spoken, the faces seen and the shine in shop windows were changed dramatically. The social scene of Beyoglu was faded away permanently and would only be part of documentaries or touristic postcars. However, Beyoglu always sustained being the center for Turkish cinema industry, social life and cultural activities but was almost very different from the beginning of the century and despite being a center for cultural activities, lively cafes and taverns, the residents were overwhelmingly the impoverished and the buildings were left alone with their fate, waiting for ruination .
Beyoğlu and neighbourhood again became favored mostly by intelluctuals and the youth in 90s which initiated the revitalization and gentrification of the region in a larger scope as an entertainment hub and bohemian site. This process resulted in growing popularity of the region and today's "great projects" that appealed common interest these days. Even in the mid of first decade of 21th century, only small portions of Beyoglu was under this effect, many streets in Galata, Tophane, Kumbaracı Yokuşu, Vovoda Avenue, Tepebaşı was like half abondoned and leanly lightened at night and you could only see few lightened houses of the bohemians, some offices or poorly treated houses of the impoverished. Nowadays, many of the first floors of these apartments became stylish restaurants and most of the buildings after a renovation process - usually all the interior components are destroyed and only facade of these building is conserved- turned into guesthouses, renthouses, art galleries. On this page I am going to focus on some major projects accelerated this process and changed the fate of Beyoglu region - which are already completed or now still processing.
Demirören Mall or Revived ( ? ) Devaux
Demirören Mall with its shiny white facade and inappropriate look with the architecture of Beyoglu became a symbol of the country-wide invasion of the malls in the historical districts and the banalization of the big construction projects in very center of the cities and destruction of historical buildings. Demirören Mall with its big mass in the heart of Istiklal Avenue ( Grend Rue de Pera) was always an important building withs its changed forms as an arcade and as the modern complex of saray Sineması. I will chronologically explain the changes of the building starting from Devaux Apartments :
Devaux Apartment was one of the most significant arcades of old Pera, belonging to Monsieur Devaux , the general directorate of Ottoman Bank and a renown member of Pera-sien high society. This apartment was the house for the famous Cafe du Luxembourg , Cinema Luxembourg and Cinema Gaumont which was the first cinema in Istanbul and then operated with other well-known names : Varyete, Eldorado, Odeon, Eclair, Şark and Lüks Cinemas. Also, Greek owner of Luks Cinema and Lüks billard saloon , Tsangopoulo ( Çangapulo) was personal billard teacher of Mustafa Kemal , then he managed the same place with the name of Saray Sineması. The modern building erected in the place of Devaux Apartment was the house for Saray Sineması and famous Saray Muhallebicisi ( owned by family of city mayor of Istanbul that migrated from Black Sea region serving in Ottoman palace cuisine) for a long time till 1996 but a fire took place in 1980 changed the fate of the building and it was bought by Demirören family.
Original Devaux Apartments and the Demirören reconstruction with incompatible material
especially drywall looking facade and glass gallery at the center
When I started to live in Istanbul in 2007, the place where Demirören Mall exists was behind high construction barriers and excavation on the ground was observed as a crater on earth making a feel of fall and queasy. These high barriers stayed there for 4 years with a big İpragaz advertisement on it, inhibiting people to determine their direction in the crowd of Istiklal Avenue. Also, the construction harmed historical mosque of Hüseyin Ağa Camii - dating back to 16 th century- and the famous restaurant of Hacı Abdullah. Finally, after the barriers were removed it was simply a disaster that raped the soul of Devaux Aprtments rather than reviving it and harmed the structure of many historical surroundings.
Original Devaux Apartments and the Demirören reconstruction with incompatible material
especially drywall looking facade and glass gallery at the center
When I started to live in Istanbul in 2007, the place where Demirören Mall exists was behind high construction barriers and excavation on the ground was observed as a crater on earth making a feel of fall and queasy. These high barriers stayed there for 4 years with a big İpragaz advertisement on it, inhibiting people to determine their direction in the crowd of Istiklal Avenue. Also, the construction harmed historical mosque of Hüseyin Ağa Camii - dating back to 16 th century- and the famous restaurant of Hacı Abdullah. Finally, after the barriers were removed it was simply a disaster that raped the soul of Devaux Aprtments rather than reviving it and harmed the structure of many historical surroundings.
Another picture showing the shiny white facade of Demirören Mall and the
flag hanged on the facade announcing the revival of Devaux Apartment
before the 1890 fire
Devaux Apartments was only 1 or half floor higher than Circle D'Orient (Emek Pasajı) building but Demirören Mall is 2 floors higher which made the buiding a white shiny mass in the heart of Istiklal Avenue
In this picture, Circle D'orient shown as Emek Pasajı (Arcade) on left and Ağa Mosque is shown on right. All the blocks of Apartments between Emek Pasajı and the mosque including former Saray Complex are turned into Demirören Mall. Saray Complex was also erupted and functioned till 1996 and later it was empty and stand like a funeral for years..
Rüya & Emek Cinema
Tarlabaşı Urban Transformation Project
http://www.emlakkulisi.com/tarlabasi-kentsel-donusum-projesi-21-karede/130204
The Taksim Mosque Project
Haghia Triada Greek church on left and Vospegeran Church on rigth at the beginning of Istiklal Avenue gives the clue of christian heritage of old Pera and does not
Yenikapı -Taksim
Karaköy - GalataPort Project
Haliç Port Project
