The Valens Archway, an aqueduct in Istanbul built at the end of the 4th century by the Roman Emperor Valens, provided the city with water during the middle century. Today, however, the remaining section of the archway is nothing more than a forgotten landmark in the busy and historic Istanbul district of Fatih.
But it may not be forgotten for long, as Superspace, a Turkish architecture studio, has plans to transform the over 3000-foot-long structure into a recreational and residential space.
According to designboom.com, the proposal suggests building a vertical wooden grid above the archways that would serve as a linear underlay for wooden housing modules suspended above the walkway. Each volume of wooden housing units would be clad in a heat-treated wooden façade. The wood houses and the old stonework of the aqueduct would create a dichotomy of old and new, hard and soft, and heavy and light, the architects say.
The goal of the project is to generate “an alternate elevated life, keeping tabs on the city, instead of just being watched,” Superspace writes of the project on the studio’s website.
Rendering courtesy of Superspace.
Rendering courtesy of Superspace.
Rendering courtesy of Superspace.
Rendering courtesy of Superspace.
Related Stories
Multifamily Housing | Jun 2, 2021
San Antonio senior living community benefits from HUD 221(d)(4) funding
Cadence McShane Construction Company has completed the construction of Brookwood Senior Apartments, San Antonio, Texas, for repeat client Mission DG.
Multifamily Housing | May 25, 2021
A new condo tower in Brooklyn lets residents swim in the clouds
Brooklyn Point features an infinity pool that’s nearly 700 feet above the street.
Digital Twin | May 24, 2021
Digital twin’s value propositions for the built environment, explained
Ernst & Young’s white paper makes its cases for the technology’s myriad benefits.
Mixed-Use | May 19, 2021
Salt Lake City mixed-use residential community will feature micro units
KTGY is designing the project.
Multifamily Housing | May 18, 2021
Multifamily housing sector sees near record proposal activity in early 2021
The multifamily sector led all housing submarkets, and was third among all 58 submarkets tracked by PSMJ in the first quarter of 2021.
Multifamily Housing | May 13, 2021
Florida’s first LGBTQ+-focused affordable housing project for seniors opens
The project is located on The Pride Center’s five-acre Equality Park campus in Wilton Manors.
Multifamily Housing | May 12, 2021
Affordable mixed-use housing complex completes in South Los Angeles
KFA designed the project.
Mixed-Use | May 7, 2021
Mixed-use development tops out in Brooklyn’s Brownsville neighborhood
The project will bring 160 affordable housing units to the area.
Multifamily Housing | Apr 22, 2021
The Weekly Show, Apr 22, 2021: COVID-19's impact on multifamily amenities
This week on The Weekly show, BD+C's Robert Cassidy speaks with three multifamily design experts about the impact of COVID-19 on apartment and condo amenities, based on the 2021 Multifamily Amenities Survey.